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Established in 1914 by the state legislature, State Fund is California's most reliable provider of workers' compensation insurance and a vital asset to California businesses. State Fund supports California's entrepreneurial spirit and plays a stabilizing role in the economy by providing fairly priced workers' compensation insurance, helping California employers keep their workplaces safe, and restoring injured workers.



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Netbooks: Smaller and Lighter; But are They Better?

Compact mobile computing devices, often referred to as tablets, have quickly become a viable option for business and personal use when the latest trendy smart phone simply isn't enough.

Size Matters

While size and weight make them attractive in terms of portability and price, their diminutive size may pose risks to many users. Screen sizes on most netbooks range from 7–10 inches, which is considerably smaller than the average 15-inch laptop screen. The smaller the screen, the greater the risk of developing neck problems from sustained neck flexion.

Netbooks also tend to have small keyboards. Depending on the brand, they tend to be about 20 percent smaller than normal keyboards. This smaller size tends to put most adult wrists into ulnar deviation—outward twisting to the little finger side. Working with the wrists in this position puts extra strain on the soft tissues (tendons, muscles, ligaments, and nerves) of the hands and wrists.

Illustration of neck flexion and ulnar deviation

As with the growing popularity and convenience of smart phones, netbooks have a place in the world of mobile computing. And while the price is attractive, they should not be considered as a replacement for adjustable workstations, but merely a convenience for sending and receiving messages and minimal document work.

If you are considering a netbook, keep the following tips in mind:

For more information related to this topic, make sure to read the ErgoMatters® Texting Tenosynovitis, as well as Tech-Related Tension Neck.

Revised: 04/2017

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