Logitech’s latest ergonomic device may help manage or prevent injuries that affect one in 50 employees.
By Jonny Evans, Computerworld| Appleholic, (noun), æp·əl-hɑl·ɪk: An imaginative person who thinks about what Apple is doing, why and where it is going. Delivering popular Apple-related news, advice and entertainment since 1999. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) claims Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) strikes hundreds of thousands of workers each year— one in every 50 workers have developed a long-term condition and I’ve grappled with it for years. That’s why, when I learned of Logitech’s new vertical LIFT mouse, I had to try it out\. I’ve used it for two weeks and, anecdotally at least, am glad to say it has helped reduce discomfort. The Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse (that’s its full name) is a wireless mouse designed for all-day use. It is the latest addition to the company’s Ergo Series of mice and keyboards, which have been ergonomically designed to improve posture and help relieve discomfort. Logitech’s Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse The wireless mouse is available in both left- and right-handed configurations, but is designed for smaller hands than the company’s existing MX Vertical or MX Ergo mice. The Lift is about 20% smaller than those. It is 2.8-in. high,2.7-in. wide and 4.2-in. long and weighs 4.4 ounces. You’ll find a rubberized grip equipped with thumb rest, a silent scroll wheel, four configurable buttons (including the scroll wheel, which acts as a button when pressed), and two mouse buttons. The whole thing is pleasingly comfortable to use. The mouse isn’t rechargeable, which seems like a missed opportunity — though perhaps not a major flaw given it will work for up to two years using a single AA battery, and you can use rechargeable batteries if you like. Two years is what I call great battery life in a mouse. The company has also built its own Universal Control software, which it calls Logitech Flow. This lets you use the mouse across up to three devices from different operating systems, sliding between the devices by pushing to the edge of the screen. It also lets you move files between your devices. This is not an either/or situation — Mac and iPad users will be pleased to learn that the mouse also works with Apple’s Universal Control, which means you can control three Apple devices from one mouse. It continues to interest me that Logitech works to keep in step with Apple when it comes to peripherals, though both companies are among the oldest names in tech. Some may still recall that Apple’s round “puck” mouse was perhaps the worst ergonomic mouse ever made; fortunately there has always been a rich industry in alternative mice.
