Measuring Computer Style: The Frequency and Distribution of Computer Keyboard Behaviors

Abstract

Although computer use is a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders, there is currently no valid and reliable method to measure computer keyboarding style in the workplace. This paper provides the frequencies and distribution of items of the Keyboard Personal Computer Style instrument (K-PeCS), a 20 item criterion-based observational instrument that can be used in the workplace to document computer keyboard workstyle. The K-PeCS was used to rate the computer keyboarding style of 21 computer users in their workplace. The resulting frequency and distribution suggest that the K-PeCS documents a variety of postures and behaviors that occur during computer keyboarding tasks, and that the criterion selected are reasonably well-distributed amongst this sample of computer keyboard users. The K-PeCS, therefore, is adequately capturing the varied aspects of computer keyboarding style.