Display Station Anthropometrics: Preferred Height and Angle Settings of CRT and Keyboard

Abstract

This study investigates display station physical adjustments preferred by a sample of visual display terminal operators. Participants in the study were selected to assure representation of extremely short and extremely tall persons, as well as persons of midrange physical stature. Individual operators were led through a step-by-step sequence to determine their preferred initial settings of seat height, keyboard height and slope angle, and CRT height and tilt angle. Each operator then performed a brief text input task, after which final preferred adjustments were measured. Intermeasure correlation strongly suggest that “flat” (low slope angle) keyboards are inappropriate for short operators who select low seat heights. In addition, the keyboard angle adjustments preferred by most operators substantially exceed a current German ergonomic display station requirement.