iPads and Business

Did you know that more than 500 of the over 11,000 iPad applications are in the business category?  While most of us think of apps such as “Angry Birds” or remember Phil admiring his birthday cake from Modern Family, this statistic shows how business-savvy the new iPads really are.  Imagine the impact of a presentation with the variety of features an iPad offers?  From sales guys to attorneys, more and more professionals are turning to iPads to get the biggest (and smallest) bang for their buck.

The Ergonomic Implications

It’s one thing to play a game or admire a flash image and quite another to type or work from an iPad all day.  The inevitable down side is that over time, extended use of an iPad can compromise basic ergonomics.

• Keep your monitor at eye level.
• Never bend your neck to see the screen.
• Don’t cock your wrists or bend them awkwardly to reach a  key.
• Dock your laptop for best ergonomics over a long period of time.

When you have to hold the iPad, unlike a laptop, it doesn’t support itself close to eye level.  Rather, you have to lay it down on a flat surface to type, which may or may not keep your eyes, neck, and hands in a good ergonomic position.  Similarly, even while reading or skimming text, finding a comfortable position for more than a few minutes can prove challenging.  Thus, using the iPad all day at work can be an ergonomic nightmare as hands start to cramp and fingers strain to find the smaller keys.
A few helpful add-ons you might benefit from are a stand, a mini keyboard, and a swivel mount.  All three iPad accessories are made specifically to improve iPad usability for sustained periods of time.  You can even try a bundle and save a bundle.