Workstation Reconfiguration:

After checking out a number of options a few years ago the combination of the Rubbermaid 9637 (now discontinued) keyboard platform and the Knoll Surf Mouse Pad (also discontinued) with retractable arm were chosen. The 9637 is simple in design and strong but still provides the functionality we need. It also provides the important negative tilt. We have yet to find a better or equally economical solution to substitute for these two products.

Knoll had the mouse pad with the widest range of adjustment. It is interesting to note that the tracks and mechanisms of both products we chose were almost identical.

The keyboard and mouse are off the main work surface, and with the monitor placed at arms length, there is about a 12" (300mm) space for papers or books directly in front of you. When not needed both the keyboard tray and mouse pad slide under the work surface and out of the way.

As we found with further research, the chair is just one piece of the puzzle. We had long term tests of many models and found that forward tilt which allows you to get yourself in a prone position was preferred for intense periods of computer work. On the better models you can lock in this position or better yet free-float all the time so you can keep moving and lean back during those important rest breaks. After these investigations we found Keilhauer Respons 624 was our final choice.

Many of our workstations have this configuration and some other slightly different combination keyboard platform/mouse pads are also in place to suit individual preferences. The desks receiving the mouse pads and platforms all had a work surface height of 29" (735mm) or more, which without a keyboard or mouse platform is too high for proper keyboard and mouse use. We cut down the legs most of most of the metal frame tables that have been here for many years to provide a revised work surface/keyboard height of 26 1/2" (675mm) to 27" (685mm) for people who had laptops or do not want to switch to keyboard trays. More recently we have been switching to Teknion Ability adjustable heigh mobile tables that can have keyboard trays when set a a high height or no tray when set lower.

Source:
REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY - A Computer Users Guide
Emil Pascarelli, MD and Deborah Quilter