How does Guardian-EOS™ address the major risk factors for OOS?
 

How does Guardian-EOS™ address the major risk factors for OOS?

Occupational over-use syndrome (OOS) refers to a number of conditions where there is constant pain in muscles, tendons and other soft tissues.
Early symptoms of OOS can include weakness and discomfort in all affected parts of your body. These symptoms may improve overnight and during weekends. OOS usually affects parts of the body that are used repetitively or that are required to maintain a static posture for extended periods of time.

The major risk factors for OOS from computer use include:
1. Incorrect workstation set-up
2. Static or Fixed Posture
3. Muscle Tension
4. Highly Repetitive Tasks




1. Incorrect workstation set-up

This can be a result of things like unhealthy work habits, lack of knowledge and lack of reinforcement.
Guardian-EOS™ addresses workstation set-up using:

a) ErgoAnswers
This feature allows users to take the initiative in trouble shooting problems in their own workstation set-up.
It is intended to be a complimentary tool to the training and procedures you already have in place.
ErgoAnswers provides basic ergonomic training on topics such as correct posture, workstation setup, healthy work habits, stretching, keyboard shortcuts and more.

b) ForgetMeNots
Enabling this option provides simple on screen messages that remind you of things like how you are sitting, whether you feel discomfort, even to "Relax and take a deep breath.". You can turn individual messages on or off and create your own personal ForgetMeNots.




2. Static or Fixed Posture

Often you will spend time at your computer where you have minimal mouse or keyboard use (such as browsing, reading online articles or emails etc).
In this situation, Guardian-EOS™ may not have made a break suggestion based on 'strain', but you will have been in a static or fixed posture for an extended period and so a break should be taken.
Guardian-EOS™ addresses static postures using:

a) AutoClick
Automates mouse clicks for you, removing the need to grip the mouse in a 'ready to click' static posture. The user has full control of all the AutoClick settings including filters to tell Guardian-EOS™ when you don't want AutoClicks to occur.

b) 'Maximum Time between Breaks'.
This setting will cause a break suggestion where:
  • No 'strain' based rest break has been taken (becasue there was not sufficient keyboard and/or mouse usage to trigger one)
  • No self-initiated rest break has been taken
  • No natural rest break has been taken, AND
  • The 'Maximum Time between Breaks' period has elapsed since the last time any break was taken.





    • 3. Muscle Tension

    This is caused by things such as static posture, poor posture, high keyboard & mouse 'strain', personal stress etc.
    Unresolved muscle tension leads to discomfort which over time may contribute to an overuse injury.
    Guardian-EOS™ provides features to address this issue including

    a) 'Strain' based Break suggestions
    This is explained further down on this page.

    b) High Quality Video Stretches
    These videos run smoothly (even on basic systems) and use multiple camera angles to clearly demonstrate stretches that can be done during rest breaks. Written instructions are provided alongside the video and you can choose an option to have the instructions spoken out loud. Stretches include all parts of the body from the eyes to the feet.

    c) ForgetMeNots
    Enabling this option provides simple on screen messages that remind you of things like how you are sitting, whether you feel discomfort, even to "Relax and take a deep breath". You can turn individual messages on or off and create your own personal ForgetMeNots.

    d) MicroBreaks
    Enabling this option will allow you to set very short rest breaks or micro breaks (usually around 5-15 seconds).
    MicroBreaks are an additional option that you can choose when the ForgetMeNot feature is enabled.




    4. Highly Repetitive Tasks

    Guardian-EOS™ models the 'strain' of both keyboard and mouse usage separately.
    This 'strain' relates to the amount of muscle tension involved in any keyboard or mouse activity.
    Monitoring the physical strain of the actions you are performing enables Guardian-EOS™ to more accurately make break suggestions at times where they are actually needed.

    Guardian-EOS™ offers the following features:

    a) Breaks based on 'strain'

    b) AutoClick
    Automates mouse clicks for you, eliminating hundreds of manual clicks each day and removing the need grip the mouse in a 'ready to click' static posture and

    c) KeyControl
    Allows you to perform mouse functions using the keyboard and set up hotkeys for repetitive functions.

    d) Keyboard Remapping
    Lets you swap the position of keys on the keyboard to a more convenient location.










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