Checklist for choosing RSI break reminder software
This checklist is designed to help you choose the appropriate
software for reminding you to take regular breaks to avoid
or recover from RSI problems.
| Item |
Albion
StopNow! |
Other
Product |
Is it appropriate for my working environment?
While a product which plays music, shows soothing images, or takes you
through a five minute work-out program may be appealing for home use,
such products may draw unwelcome attention at work.
|
Discreet
Reminder
|
|
| Does it affect my mouse movement or typing?
Some products impose such a high overhead on every mouse movement or keystroke
that mouse movement and typing are slowed down on a heavily used machine.
|
No |
|
Does it adapt to my work pattern?
Products which do not do this require you to stop work
at regular intervals even if
you have not been using the computer!
|
Yes
|
|
Does it encourage me to stop, or does it prevent me completely from working during a rest period
While being totally prevented from working may sound like a good feature, in practice it generally isn't.
If the telephone rings and you need some information, or you
are right in the middle of some critical task, chances are you will
end up turning off the product so that you can continue working. And chances
are, you will forget to turn it back on.
|
Encourages,
Never Prevents
|
|
Does it use Pop-up dialogs?
When a pop-up appears, it typically interrupts what you are doing.
If you are a touch-typist this can be particularly annoying, as
you may have typed a line or two of text before you realize that
everything you are typing is being lost. Similar problems
may affect heavy mouse users: a sudden change of context when
manipulating a drawing can be disastrous.
|
No Popups!
|
|
Is licensed to the individual or to the individual's computer?
Some products require a separate license for every machine on which you use them,
meaning that you need one license for home and another for work.
|
Licensed to
user, not PC
|
|
Are site licenses available?
A cheap product may actually cost more for your company
if no site licenses are available.
|
Yes
|
|
Can I try it before I buy it?
|
Yes
|
|
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|
Products