For office works in Bangladesh, use of laptops has increased dramatically in recent years. With the price of laptops decreasing every passing year, business organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other offices prefer to buy laptops for their employees as these are portable and convenient. It is especially preferred by organisations whose employees and senior officials usually go on field visits.
As laptops are gradually replacing desktop computers, most employees are facing problems related to health. Most employees complain about how their eyes are affected by the smaller screens. Some people start having 'dry eyes', others get eye strain. Most employees in their mid-40s and above end up visiting the chambers of ophthalmologists. Many employees also complain of back-pain as they are often hunched over the laptop.
Most professionals are forced to bend forward to focus on the content in their laptops. This is very harmful. While sitting before a laptop, the body of the user should lie backwards on the chair at a 135 degree angle with his legs, according to Scottish and Canadian researchers. This posture is better possible when someone is working on the desktop rather than on a laptop.
Employees can do their part by taking care of their own health. Additionally, organisations need to realise that it is their duty to protect the eyesight of their employees. They can consider keeping both desktop computers and laptops for the employees. Employees can be allowed to use both devices depending on type of work, and where they are working.
It is understandable that 'one person, one device' philosophy and that device being a laptop is a cost-effective solution from business perspective. But senior management of organisations need to understand that ill-health of workforce can be more costly for the organisation in the long run.
Afroza Khatun
Adabar, Dhaka
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