GB2366410A

GB2366410A - Computer user management system for a safer working environment

Info

Publication number: GB2366410A
Application number: GB0021789A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Benjamin Rohde; Yousuf Ali
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-09-05
Filing date: 2000-09-05
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Also published as: GB0021789D0

Abstract

A computer includes a user activity monitor 60 which monitors usage of the computer by a user. On usage reaching predetermined thresholds, for instance in terms of either actual keystrokes or usage time (time adjusted for breaks), the user activity manager 60 outputs instructions to the user to cause the user to take a break. The instructions relate to exercises such as stretches (or eye exercises) to be done so as to prevent possible repetitive strain injury (RSI). The instructions may be skipped. Periodically the user is prompted to answer a questionnaire, regarding for example their seating position and their posture and feedback is given on their answers if they are not eg. seated correctly (a system administrator may be notified). Both the users' answers to the questionnaires and their responses to the activity manager are logged for future reference in order to provide evidence of a safe working environment.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> COMPUTER USER MANAGEMENT DEVICE This invention relates to a device for managing usage of a computer. Particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to a device for managing usage of a computer to avoid pathologies resulting from excessive or inappropriate use of a computer, and for generating an ongoing assessment of risk of such conditions based on usage of said computer.

An office worker can spend a considerable period of time during a day working at a computer workstation. This can involve extended periods of typing, while looking at the computer screen. It has been found that prolonged periods of activity in this way can leave an office worker vulnerable to injury. These injuries are commonly known collectively as repetitive strain injuries (RSI), and comprise a number of distinct syndromes affecting the upper limbs and the back.

It has been found that the risk of RSI can be reduced by limiting computer workstation activity, possibly including interspersing physiotherapeutic exercises between periods of computer workstation activity. Further, it has been found that the posture of a user

relative to the keyboard and screen of a workstation is important.

It is also important that a worker is provided with an environment in which he or she can work comfortably for extended periods. This involves providing sufficient light and a comfortable office temperature, and also providing a chair which supports the back sufficiently and presents the user at the correct height for operation of a computer. This can be made the obligation of the employer by legislation.

It can also be legislated that an employer must provide a working environment in which an office worker is permitted to take regular breaks from working. This can reduce the likelihood of occurrence of RSI, which might arise from performing the same actions (for instance typing) for long periods.

Whereas the employer may be obliged to provide such a working environment for employees, there is no guarantee that a worker will follow advice relating to posture, and will take the recommended breaks from typing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a

means for encouraging a worker to operate in accordance with recommended work patterns. Further, the present invention aims to provide a system for collecting evidence that a safe working environment is provided for an office worker, in the event of any dispute between worker and employer. Such evidence can also be used in an assessment of risk, for a given employee, of the development of RSI type syndromes.

one aspect of the invention provides a computer apparatus comprising user activity monitoring means, for monitoring user activity with respect to period of use and extent of use, user guidance storage means for storing units of information for guiding a user with respect to injury avoidance, and user guidance output means for selecting units of information and for outputting said units to said user on instruction by said monitoring means.

Another aspect of the invention provides computer apparatus configured to monitor use thereof by a user, and to record events associated with said use for the purpose of assembling evidence in preparation for an assessment of risk of repetitive strain injuries.

Another aspect of the invention provides computer

apparatus connected in use to a keyboard, including means for monitoring operation of said keyboard and means for outputting signals to an output device on said keyboard activity exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Another aspect of the invention provides a computer program which, when loaded into a computer apparatus, causes said computer apparatus to be operable in accordance with any of the aspects of the invention identified above.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of controlling computer usage comprising monitoring image of an input device, storing information based on said usage reading one or more predetermined thresholds.

Preferably, said thresholds include a time threshold and/or a threshold based on number of input actions. Further aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a computer apparatus

with a user activity manager in accordance with a first specific embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the user activity manager illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a usage manager of the user activity manager illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an exercise processor of the usage manager illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 5 is an example of a graphical image displayed for an administration options interface of the user activity manager illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the user activity manager illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating initialisation of the usage manager; Figure 8 is a flow diagram illustrating selection of exercises to be presented to the user;

Figure 9 is a flow diagram showing initialisation of an override function; Figure 10 is a flow diagram showing operation of a time counter of the user activity manager illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 11 is an example of a graphical image displayed when user override is selected; and Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a computer network with a user activity manager in accordance with a second specific embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a computer 10 has a keyboard 12 and a mouse 14 for use by "a user, to control applications 42 to 48 held in memory 22 and managed by file manager 50. Alongside the applications 42 to 48 and the file manager 50, a user activity manager 60 monitors use by the user of the keyboard 12 and the mouse 14, and intercedes between the user and control of the applications 42 to 48 should the usage exceed a predetermined usage limit. For this example, the predetermined usage limit is set at 10000 keystrokes within a cumulative period of use of fifty minutes.

If either limit is reached, the user activity manager 60 causes an output at the display 16 and/or the loudspeaker 18, to present instructions to a user on exercises to reduce the risk of RSI. This output interrupts normal computer output and operation for a rest period of, for this example, ten minutes. This ten minute period is set aside by the computer to encourage the user to carry out operations other than typing and staring intently at the display 16.

In further detail, the computer incorporates a processor unit 20 for executing computer instructions. Computer instructions are stored in the memory 22 with a mass storage device 24 such as a hard disk. A disk drive 26 and a modem 28 are provided for receiving process.or instructions on suitable disk storage media 27 or signals 29 respectively, and a clock 30 provides a clock signal for configuration of all other elements in the computer. The computer applications 42 to 48 are stored in memory 22 for execution by the processor 20. An operating system 40 provides a platform on which the applications can operate, and which manages messages from the user, via the keyboard 12 and a mouse 14, to other applications and programs in use on the computer. The user activity

manager 60 is stored in memory 22 and runs as a background operation, monitoring instances of keystrokes over a period of time.

Figure 2 illustrates the user activity manager 60 in further detail. The user activity manager 60 has a usage manager 62 and a questionnaire manager 64, which manage two functions of the user activity manager. The usage manager 62 is operable in response to signals received from a keyboard buffer monitor 66, and from the clock signal generated by the clock 30. The questionnaire manager responds to signals received from a user initialisation monitor 68, which monitors initialisation of the computer by the user.

The usage manager 62 makes use of exercise files 70 to perform its function. Each exercise file contains data defining textual and/or graphical matter to be presented to a user, the text and/or graphics defining a set of instructions for presentation to a user. The instructions make up an exercise concerned with recovery from a long period of typing or the like. These exercises, and their definition files 70, fall into the following classes:

1. Neural stretches 2. Hand exercises 3. Colour or music (rest) 4. Eye exercises 5. Back or neck exercises The usage manager, when prompted, selects a number of exercise files 70 randomly from these classes, and presents the exercises defined thereby sequentially to the user. The overall selection should take about ten minutes, to allow a user to recover sufficiently from fifty minutes of typing activity. The usage manager responds to either 10000 keystrokes or fifty minutes of typing activity, whichever arises the earliest; generally, an experienced typist can be expected to perform 10000 keystrokes in approximately fifty minutes. Any activity by the usage manager 62 is recorded in a usage log file 72. This includes activities such as selection of exercise files, successful completion of exercises, and/or cancellation of exercises, whether by

a user or an administrator. Also, the identity of the user is recorded alongside such activities, to establish a record of usage of a computer by particular users for later analysis and assessment of risk of RSI.

The questionnaire manager 64 makes use of a questionnaire file 74 which stores data defining textual and/or graphical matter containing questions to be answered by the user. The questionnaire manager 64 presents the textual and/or graphical matter at the following times: i) each time the computer is switched on; or ii) each time the user returns to the computer after a period of inactivity (to be signified such as -by cancellation of a screen saver).

The occurrence of these events is monitored by the user initialisation monitor 68.

The questionnaire manager 64 displays the series of questions retrieved from the questionnaire file 74, for completion by the user before the user can proceed with use of other applications on the computer. The questions are presented conveniently in a windowing interface

environment, with check boxes for selection of answers. The questions relate to the user's position and working conditions relative to the computer. The following is a list of suitable questions, with the expected answer in parentheses: 1. Is the screen at arm's length? (Yes) 2. Are your hips higher than your knees? (Yes) 3. Are your elbows level with the keyboard? (Yes) 4. Is the top of the screen level with your eyes? (Yes) 5. Are your feet flat on the floor? (Yes) 6. Is the screen free from reflection and glare? (Yes) 7. Is the screen directly in front of you? (Yes) 8. Have you ever suffered from diabetes or a back problem? (No)

The expected answer, as indicated above in relation to each question, is also held in the questionnaire file 74. The answers provided by the user are logged in an answer log 76. If the user answers "incorrectly" to any of the questions, the user is given an opportunity to correct his working environment, following which the questions are presented again and the user can then enter corrected answers.

A purpose of the questionnaire is to ensure that the user is aware of the importance of his or her working environment. This ensures that the employer of the user is not solely responsible for the user's working conditions, and any failure of the user to inform his employer of a shortcoming in working conditions can -be noted. Also, the employer can be made aware of any shortcomings in the user's working conditions and these can be resolved. Any failure of the employer to resolve shortcomings in the user's working conditions can also be noted by the user's repeated incorrect response to questionnaire questions.

Once the questionnaire manager 64 has completed its task, the usage manager 62 takes over and monitors the user's use of the computer. The usage log files 72 and the

answer log 76 are saved in mass storage, for use at a later time in the event of any dispute as to working conditions of the user, or the actual use made of the computer, or to serve as evidence for an assessment of risk of RSI in a user, or in a group of users.

An administrator options interface 78 is accessible by an authorised person, by password entry. The interf ace allows an administrator to change the configuration of the user activity manager 60, including changing the maximum length of usage time from fifty minutes if required, overriding exercises when urgent tasks need to be completed, and also for adding new exercises to the system as they become available.

other configurable settings could be provided to control whether questions are to be asked in audio, or to be presented visually only, whether the questionnaire is to be presented to the user at every time the user returns to the machine after a period of inactivity, or only on logging on to the machine or switching the machine on, or whether the questionnaire is to be presented at set times of the day such as f irst thing in the morning and straight after a designated meal break.

The usage manager 62 will now be described in further detail with reference to Figure 3. The usage manager 62 receives a clock signal from the clock 30, keystroke messages from the keyboard buffer monitor 66, and is capable of receiving a user override message from the operating system. The keystroke messages are received by a keystroke counter 80, which is operable to count up to ten thousand keystrokes before sending a message to an activity monitor 82. Also, a time counter 84 is operable to count, with the aid of the clock signal, up to a f if ty minutes time lapse before sending a message to the activity monitor 82.

When the activity monitor 82 receives a message from either the keystroke counter 80 or the time counter 8-4, it triggers an exercise processor 86 to output information instructing the user on a series of exercises. The exercise processor 86 is operable to request an exercise selector 88 to select exercises from the exercise file 70. A series of exercises is comprised of exercises randomly selected by the exercise selector 88, on the basis of random numbers generated by a random number generator 90.

The exercise processor 86 is described in further detail

in Figure 4. The exercise processor 86 is activated by a message from the activity monitor 82 that exercises are to be commenced. On activation, an exercise retrieval unit 92 requests selection of exercises by the exercise selector 88. When a selection of exercises has been received from the exercise selector, the exercise retrieval unit 92 refers to the exercise files 70 to retrieve the selected exercises. The exercises are passed in turn to an exercise output generator 94. The exercise output generator outputs a graphical representation and/or sounds to the display and loudspeaker, in accordance with the contents of the selected exercise files. At the same time, information is passed to a log unit 96 which records, in the usage log files 72, which exercises have been completed at-a particular time.

Each exercise is a set of instructions to the user, which can be displayed in the form of text on screen, in the form of spoken word, or as a computer graphics. Each exercise is designed to relax, stretch and/or condition muscles overused during typing, which can be located in the neck, the back, arms and eyes of the user. Computer graphics, in the form of colour therapy, can be used, particularly for eye exercises.

Further, on initialisation of the exercise processor 86, a user override monitor 98 is initialised. The user override monitor is operable to receive a user message that exercises are not to be completed. This user message may be generated by a mouse click over a displayed button, or by a particular keystroke (such as a strike of the "Escape" key on a standard keyboard), interpreted by the operating system and passed as a message to the exercise processor 86. If the user override monitor 98 receives a user override message, it passes a suspension message to the exercise output generator 94 to suspend output of the exercises.

Meanwhile, the log unit 96 records the fact that exercises have been suspended by the user. This fact-is important because it indicates that the user is avoiding exercises and so could place himself at risk of injury. This information would be taken into account in a risk assessment. At the same time, the user override monitor 98 passes a message to an icon display unit 100 which displays a warning message as an icon on the desktop display on the computer. This icon is capable of being selected by the user to recommence the exercises.

The administrator options interface 78 is initiated by an

administrator by selection of an icon displayed in a windowing operating system. The selection of the icon causes presentation of a dialog window inviting an administrator to enter an authorisation password, following which the dialog window illustrated in Figure 5 is presented. The dialog 200 contains a settings section 202 and an import/export section 204. The settings section includes a threshold subsection 206 in which the keystroke threshold (in this example set at 10000 keystrokes), the time threshold (in this example set at fifty minutes) and the exercise time (in this example set at ten minutes) can be altered.

A file locations subsection 208 allows the administrator to enter file locations for the log files 72, 76, the questionnaire file 74 and the exercise files 70. An options subsection 210 allows the administrator to specify which of various options are to be implemented. These options include an option as to when the questionnaire is to be activated, i.e. on start up of the computer or on cancellation of a screen saver. Also, an option is provided which allows an administrator to select whether the system is to allow the user to proceed after wrong answers have been provided in the questionnaire, or if the user is only allowed to proceed

after a certain number of attempts at the questionnaire. Another option is provided which allows the user override facility to be inhibited and another option to specify whether audio output of exercise files is to take place. This last option is useful in the case that the system is used in an open plan office environment where audio output may be disrupted.

An override subsection 212 allows an administrator to override the usage manager 62 for a particular user. The identity of the user is entered and a "go" button is then selectable to cause override of the usage manager 62. This is useful in the case that an urgent piece of work needs to be completed, where the ten minutes of exercises would prove inconvenient. The use of the override function is stored as an event in the usage log files 72. This is useful because a distinction can be drawn between a user override and an administrator override, so that the user is not penalised for overriding the exercises. The import/export section 204 has two buttons, namely an import new exercise button 214 which presents a new dialog (not shown) to the administrator to allow the administrator to introduce further exercises into the system. The other button is an export log files button

216, which causes the log files located in the locations specified in the locations subsection 208 to be compressed and sent to another location, such as to a CD-ROM.

The operation of the user activity manager 60 will now be described with reference to the flow diagram shown in Figure 6. On start up of the computer, the user activity manager 60 monitors the operating system for receipt of an initialising message, in step S1-2. An initialising message is determined as either that the computer has been switched on, or that the user has logged on to the system, or that the user has returned to his desk and cancelled any screen saver running on the computer.

on receipt of an appropriate initialising message, in step S1-4 the user activity manager 60 retrieves the questionnaire questions from the questionnaire file and, in step S1-6, displays the questionnaire to the user. Then, in step S1-8, the user activity manager waits for receipt of the user responses. On receipt of the user responses a check is made in step Sl-10 as to whether the responses are correct. If the responses are incorrect, these are logged in step Sl-12 and in step Sl-14 a

message is displayed to the user to correct the deficiencies in the responses and/or in the users situation relative to the computer apparatus. The user activity manager 60 then outputs a message instructing the user to make an input indicating that the user activity manager 60 is to proceed. If a proceed message is received from the user in step S1-16, then the user activity manager 60 initialises the usage manager 62 in step S1-18.

Alternatively, if the responses are correct in the first place in step Sl-10 then steps Sl-12 to Sl-16 are omitted and the usage manager 62 is initialised.

More detailed description of the operation of the usage manager from initialisation is illustrated in Figure 7. In step S2-2, the keystroke and time counters 80, 84 are initialised. Then, in S2-4, the keystrokes and usage time are monitored by these keystroke and time counters. In step S2-6, an enquiry is made as to whether the keystroke limit has been exceeded. If not, then in step S2-8 a check is made as to whether the usage time limit has been exceeded. Again if not, the process returns to the counting step in step S2-4. If, on the other hand, either of the enquiries of steps S2-6 and S2-8 is

confirmed, the process proceeds to step S2-10 where the exercises to be presented to the user are selected. once the exercises have been selected, the usage manager 62 sequentially presents the selected exercises in step S2- 12.

When the sequential presentation of the selected exercises has been commenced, the process proceeds with an enquiry in step S2-14 as to whether the exercises have been completed. If not, then in step S2-16, a check is made as to whether a user override message has been received. If not, then the process returns to the check in step S2-14.

If the check made in step S2-14 finds that the exercises have been completed, then the pr ocess returns to the start and the keystroke and time counters are reinitialised in step S2-2. If a user override message is received, in step S2-16, then an override function is initialised in step S2-18. On completion of the override function, the process recommences in step S2-20 by recalling the position in the exercises saved during the override function, before returning to step S2-14.

This process continues until the computer is switched

off. The process continues to run in the background at all times when the computer is in use.

Further detail of the exercise selection function called in step S2-10 will now be described with reference to Figure 8. Firstly, in step S3-2, a random number is generated by the random number generator 90. Then, a category of exercises, from the list of categories identified above, is selected on the basis of the random number.

In step S3-6, another random number is generated. An exercise is selected from the selected category on the basis of that random number in step S3-8. The selected exercise is then placed in an exercise list in step S3-10. Thereafter, a check is made in step S3-12 as to whether the performance time of the exercises in the exercise list is at a time limit. This time limit is preferably set at ten minutes. In that way, if a user types contributory at an average speed so that exercises are performed after fifty minutes actual usage time, exercises will be performed approximately every hour. of course, it will be appreciated that if the user does not type continuously, then exercises will be performed less frequently. If the exercise time is at the limit, then

the procedure ends. If not, then the procedure returns to step S3-2 to select a further exercise.

The override function initialised in step S2-18 will now be described in further detail with reference to Figure 9. Firstly, in step S4-2, the current position in the exercise in progress at the time of override is stored. Then, an icon and warning message are displayed on screen, to ensure that the user realises that he is performing an action which is not recommended. The icon remains on screen until those exercises, which should have been completed, are completed. Thereaf ter, the function starts to monitor for a resumption message from the user. This resumption message can be created by the user selecting the icon displayed on screen, for instance by a "double click" action with a mouse pointer.

If the resumption message is received in step S4-6, the function ends and the procedure returns to the procedure illustrated in Figure 7, at step S2-12. If not, then a further check is made in step S4-8 as to whether the user has cancelled the warning message displayed in step S4-4. This warning message can be removed, but the icon cannot. If the warning message has not been cancelled, it is possible that the user has been called away from his or

her desk precipitately, and has not been able to continue exercises. It would not be reasonable to penalise a user in this case.

If the warning message has been cancelled by the user, the user has clearly made an attempt to bypass completion of exercises which must be logged in step S4-10. This is also information which could be taken account of in a risk assessment. Then, the warning message is removed in step S4-12 and in step S4-14 a timer is initialised. When the timer reaches a time limit (such as five minutes) in step S4-16, the warning message is redisplayed in step S4-18. Then, the procedure returns to step S4-6 to wait for the user to resume the exercises.

Figure 11 illustrates a typical display screen during execution of the process illustrated in Figure 9. The display screen 110 is of a desktop based type, with windows and icons representing applications in use and for use. These other icons and windows are omitted from this representation for reasons of clarity. When the displaying step of S4-4 is performed, an icon 112 and a warning message 114 are displayed. The warning message consists of a window with two buttons, namely a continue

button 116 and a cancel button 118, user selection of the continue button 116 will result in a resumption message being sent to the process illustrated in Figure 9, and a return to the exercises. Cancellation of the message by a selection of the cancel button 118 will result in removal of the warning message window 114 in step S4-12. Additionally, a stop icon 112 exists as a continuous reminder to the user that he or she has suspended the exercises and has cancelled the warning message. At any time, the user can select the icon 112 (for instance by double clicking action with a mouse pointer), to cause a resumption message to be received in step S4-6.

In order to obtain the timing of usage of a keyboard-by the time counter 84, the time counter must take account of any pauses in the operation of the keyboard. In the present embodiment, the time counter 84 operates in accordance with the flow diagram illustrated in Figure 10. The time counter 84 is operative in response to the signal received from the keyboard buffer monitor 66. In response to such a signal, the routine commences with step S5-2 where an enquiry is made as to whether a usage timer in the time counter 84 has been halted. Halting of the usage time counter can occur through the operation of

the time counter 84 as will be described in due course. If the usage timer has been halted, then in step S5-4, the usage timer is docketed. Then, in step S5-6, a non use timer in the time counter 84 is reset to zero. The non use timer is used to time periods of non use between one keystroke and the next. In step S5-8, an enquiry is made as to whether the non use timer has reached a counter time of fifteen seconds. If not, then the routine cycles around step S5-8 until the non use timer reaches fifteen seconds. since the routine is commenced when a keystroke is received, the cycle can be broken either by the non use timer reaching fifteen seconds or by a new keystroke being detected by the keyboard buffer monitor 66 and consequently sending a signal to the time counter 84.

If the non use timer reaches fifteen seconds, then the routine continues with step S5-10 where the usage timer is stopped. After fifteen seconds, the routine has established that use of the keyboard has at least temporarily ceased and so the usage timer is stopped. Then, in step S5-12, the time counter 84 subtracts fifteen seconds from the usage timer, to take account of the fact that fifteen seconds have passed since the last

keystroke was received by the time counter 84. Then, the routine returns.

In that way, the time counter 84 takes account only of periods of time in which usage of the keyboard takes place. It does not take account of periods of non use, which would lead to the exercises being activated too regularly. If the exercises were activated every hour, this would lead to substantial disruption in an office, and would be considered inconvenient and undesirable by both employer and employee.

Whereas the invention has been described in relation to counting keystrokes at the keyboard, it will be appreciated that similar monitoring can be made of mouse activity, such as actuations of mouse buttons and movement of the mouse over predetermined distances. For instance, cumulative movement of the mouse can be counted over a period of time and the exercises described above can be initiated when cumulative movement reaches a certain level.

The embodiments described above have been described with reference to a predetermined typing usage limit of 10000 keystrokes, and/or fifty minutes continued usage.

However, it will be appreciated that these figures are by way of example only, and other figures could be used in the event of a revision of opinions as to the susceptibility of typists to RSI. Also, different regulatory regimes might specify different time and typing limits.

Further, the questionnaire file may also contain data defining a displayed question asking the user whether he or she is having difficulty, either with the performance of the exercises, or with RSI type syndromes. The exercise files may also comprise a home use exercise, consisting of a document which can be printed out on receipt of an affirmative answer to this question, resulting in a printed document which the user can take home and study. The printed document may include further exercises and advice on further courses of action such as seeking medical attention.

To aid an audio typist, it may be appropriate to provide the exercises and/or the questions of the questionnaire in audio format so that the user does not have the study text or diagrams on screen for a great length of time. It may be that providing a great deal of textual information describing an exercise on screen could be

counterproductive. It will be understood that the configurations of the user activity manager 60, such as the threshold usage time of fifty minutes, are provided by way of example only; it may be found that other configurations are more appropriate to of f ice conditions, such as providing more frequent but shorter breaks from working (e.g. five minutes of exercises every thirty minutes). Also, the time counter 84 could be configured to count actual time regardless of usage, if this should be found more convenient or useful.

Whereas the embodiment described above shows the user activity manager 60 in terms of a single comput-er apparatus, it will be appreciated that the . computer program embodying the manager 60 can be implemented over a network between several distinct computer apparata. Figure 12 illustrates such an implementation. In that embodimentf the computer program is in component form, and is implemented in a network 300 connecting a server 300, an administrator unit 302, and a plurality of user units 304. Various components of that computer program are shared between machines with other components being stored on individual machines. The shared components are

stored on the server in a file storage unit 310. The file storage unit 310 stores the usage log files 72, the answer log 76, the exercise files 70 and the questionnaire file 74 previously described with reference to Figure 2. The administrator unit 304 has a memory 312 in which is stored the administrator options 78 previously described. This administrator options interface 78 thus runs on the administrator unit 304. Each of the user units 306 has a memory 314 upon which is stored the usage manager 62, the questionnaire manager 64, the keyboard buffer monitor 66 and the user initialisation monitor 68 previously described with reference to Figure 2.

In use, the administrator options interface 78 is capable of sending configuration messages to the usage manager 62 and the questionnaire manager 64 of each of the user units 306f in response to input actions made at the administrator option interface 78 by an administrator. Further, the usage manager 62 and the questionnaire manager 64 on each of the user units 306 are capable of retrieving information from the exercise files 70 and the questionnaire file 74 stored on the server 302, and to write information to the usage log files 72 and the

answer log 76 stored thereon also. In that way, the functionality of the system described in Figure 12 is substantially the same as that of the single computer implementation illustrated in the previous embodiments. In the event that a user answers a question in the questionnaire contrary to the expected answer even on the second occasion the questionnaire is presented to the user i.e. after the user has had an opportunity to correct his working situation, it is possible that there is a long term problem with the working conditions of the user. This might necessitate adjustments to the furniture being used by the user. Accordingly, when a user answers a question twice in the unexpected manner, the computer usage manager 60 may be provided with- a facility to generate a message and to send that message, such as by e-mail, to the network administrator, so that the administrator can be made aware of the problem. In that way, any problems with, for example, a chair can be rectified efficiently.

The described embodiment can be used to encourage a user to operate computer apparatus in a responsible manner, so as to reduce the risk of RSI. Also, it can be used to record any irresponsible behaviour by the user, or by his

employer, which can be used as evidence in the case of a dispute between a user and his or her employer if a case of RSI arises.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1 . A computer apparatus comprising means for monitoring usage of said apparatus with respect to a predetermined threshold, and means, operable on detection of a usage reaching said threshold, for generating an output indicating reaching said threshold.
2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for receiving a signal from a user input device corresponding to a user input action, wherein said measuring means comprises counting means for counting signals received by said receiving means, said monitoring means being operable to compare the number of received signals with a predetermined threshold.
3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said predetermined threshold number of signals received in said apparatus is 10000.
4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 or claim 3 in combination with a keyboard for receiving a user input action and for generating a signal corresponding to said user input action.

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5. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim wherein said measuring means comprises means for timing usage by said user of said apparatus from a predetermined event.
6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said predetermined event is an instance of receipt of a signal corresponding to a user input action by said apparatus after a period of non receipt of signals for a predetermined period of non use time.
7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said predetermined threshold period of usage is fifty minutes.
8. Apparatus in accordance with any of claims 5 to 7 wherein said timing means is operable to time usage of said apparatus taking account of any intervening periods of non use thereof.
9. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim wherein said output generating means is operable to generate an output for a predetermined period of time instructing said user in at least one technique of remedying long period of use of said apparatus for

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reduction of risk of a repetitive strain syndrome.
10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 further comprises means for storing items of information for presentation to said user, each item comprising instructions in remedying an aspect of long period of use of said apparatus, for reduction of risk of a repetitive strain syndrome.
11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said storage means stores items of information in a plurality of categories of items of information.
12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 or claim 11 further comprising means for selecting items of information from said storage means, for presentation to said user in said output generated by said output generating means in use.
13. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim comprising means for logging information identifying use of said output generating means in generating output to said user.
14. Apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim and

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further comprising means for presenting a series of enquiries to a user relating to said user's position relative said apparatus, and means for storing answers received from said user for future risk assessment.
15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said presenting means is operable to present said enquiries on commencement of use of said apparatus by said user.
16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 or claim 15 wherein said presenting means is operable to record user responses to said enquiries in said logging means.
17. A method of controlling usage of a computer apparatus, said method comprising the steps of measuring usage of said apparatus, monitoring said measured usage with respect to a predetermined threshold, and, on detection of usage reaching said threshold, generating an output indicating reaching said threshold and containing instructions for aiding said user in recovery from said usage.
18. Method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said step of measuring said usage comprises counting signals received corresponding to user input actions, said

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monitoring step comprising comparing the number of received signals with a predetermined threshold.
19. Method in accordance with claim 18 wherein said apparatus comprises a keyboard and said method further comprises receiving a user input action and generating a signal corresponding to said user input action, said predetermined threshold number of signals comprising 10000.
20. Method in accordance with any of claims 17 to 19 wherein said measuring step comprises timing usage by said user of said apparatus from a predetermined event.
21. Method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said predetermined event is an instance of receipt of a signal corresponding to a user input action by said apparatus after a period of non receipt of signals for a predetermined period of non use time.
22. Method in accordance with claim 20 or claim 21 wherein said predetermined threshold period of usage is fifty minutes.
23. Method in accordance with any of claims 17 to 22

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wherein said output generating step comprises generating an output for a predetermined period of time instructing said user in at least one technique of remedying long period of use of said apparatus, for reduction of risk of a repetitive strain syndrome.
24. Method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising storing items of information for presentation to said user, each item comprising instructions in remedying an aspect of long period of use of said apparatus, for reduction of risk of a repetitive strain syndrome.
25. A method in accordance with claim 24 wherein said storing step comprises storing items of information in a plurality of categories of items of information.
26. A method in accordance with claim 24 or claim 25 further comprising selecting items of information from stored in said storing step, for presentation to said user in said output generating step.
27. A method in accordance with any of claims 17 to 26 comprising storing information identifying performance of said output generating step in generating an output to

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said user.
28. A method in accordance with any of claims 17 to 27 and further comprising presenting a series of enquiries to a user relating to said user's position relative to said apparatus, and storing answers received from said user for future risk assessment.
29. A method in accordance with claim 28 wherein said presenting step comprises presenting said enquiries on commencement of use of said apparatus by said user.
30. A computer program comprising computer executable instructions for configuring computer apparatus to perform a method of any of claims 17 to 29.
3 1. A storage medium storing a computer program in accordance with claim 30.
32. A signal carrying a computer program in accordance with claim 30.