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If you’ve spent some time working on the Microsoft Surface Pro, you’d know how much of a game-changer it can be in your workflow. The Surface Pro boasts a removable keyboard that Microsoft calls the “type” cover – aptly named for its dual purpose of a keyboard and the device’s cover when not in use. Flip the type cover and the Surface Pro’s kickstand, set it on a table, and you have a functional laptop. Remove the keyboard and you have a tablet. However, for all the pros of the Surface Pro (pun intended), there is one major and unfortunate con of the device: it’s an ergonomic nightmare! Believe it or not, enhancing comfort and productivity on the Surface Pro is possible. With this article, you’ll discover how to make that happen. Health costs  The Microsoft Surface Pro laptop/tablet hybrid is well-known for its flexibility, versatility, top-tier performance, and portability – a plus for on-the-go professionals who prioritise productivity. It’s an almost perfect mobile workstation if there ever was one! But the Surface Pro’s ‘flexibility’ and ‘versatility’ come with a cost: if you have spent long work hours using the device, you’ll have undoubtedly experienced your fair share of discomfort and neck and back pains while using it. Different Device, Same Problems  When using the Surface Pro in laptop mode, it carries over the same problems that laptops have – using it forces you to hunch over. There have been hundreds of case studies and medical reports stating that forced poor posture from laptop use causes pains in the neck and back. And these pains can lead to Musculoskeletal Disorders when not immediately addressed. Laptop users have addressed this ergonomic concern by utilising laptop stands. Using a stand raises the laptop and its screen to a comfortable and ideal height, greatly reducing the strain on the neck. Laptop stands also have the extra benefit of boosting productivity when used. When you’re working with proper posture, you get to focus on work and your daily tasks more because you’re a lot more comfortable. Surface Pro Drawbacks There are two major disadvantages of the Surface Pro: it’s limited viewing angle that causes neck and back pains, and its signature keyboard which relies on the device as its power source. This makes the keyboard virtually unusable when detached from the device itself, making flexibility very limited. With laptops, users raise the device on a stand for optimal and ergonomic use. Users also use the laptop and stand setup with an external keyboard, which is an acceptable trade-off for them. With the Microsoft Surface Pro, while you can raise the device on a stand, you cannot use its keyboard! You can remove the type cover keyboard and use an external keyboard instead, but that compromises its much-touted ultra-portability. After all, carrying the Surface Pro with its keyboard and a stand and a standalone keyboard in a laptop bag should not be seen as an acceptable trade-off! The heavy weight of the setup in a bag would undoubtedly worsen neck, back, and shoulder pain. Ergonomics for Surface Pro is possible!  Because of the limitations, there is a need for bespoke solutions for the Surface Pro’s ergonomic problems that will enhance both portability and versatility without compromising comfort. With the Surface Pro’s ergonomic issues in mind, Standivarius specifically designed and crafted the KickStand and Freedom Keyboard. The Standivarius KickStand raises the Surface Pro to a comfortable viewing level, ensuring a healthier way to work with the device. Aside from its ultralight build that weighs next to nothing, the KickStand also features height-adjustability, giving you a variety of levels that suits your ergonomic needs. Better Together  Improving comfort for Surface Pro users doesn’t stop there! The Standivarius Freedom Keyboard solves the ergonomic concerns that the Surface Pro’s type cover keyboard presents. And this concern is remedied by a simple fix: a built-in rechargeable battery. As mentioned previously, the type cover keyboard cannot be used when detached from the Surface Pro as it relies on the device for power. Freedom Keyboard can still be used even if it’s not attached thanks to its built-in rechargeable battery, living up to its name! Connecting the Freedom Keyboard to the Surface Pro is straightforward thanks to the stable Bluetooth connection. With its user-centric design, the Standivarius Freedom Keyboard’s form and functionality won’t feel unfamiliar. It has the same magnet style attachment, the same layout, the same responsiveness, and the same reliability guaranteeing a seamless transition when (eventually!) upgrading to it. To further improve health and comfort, the Freedom Keyboard features low-profile keys just like the Surface Pro’s signature keyboard. There’s less force required in typing on low profile key, reducing the strain on fingers and wrists that causes repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. With integrating the Standivarius’ KickStand and Freedom Keyboard with your Microsoft Surface Pro, you’ll have a complete mobile and ergonomic workstation! Improving an (almost) perfect device  The Microsoft Surface Pro is, without question, a work tool that can aid in accomplishing your daily tasks in a breeze. But given all its disadvantages, ergonomic accessories such as the Standivarius KickStand and Freedom Keyboard may be the only way to minimise the health risks involved. Not only that, these accessories aid in maximising productivity and optimising efficiency. Improving comfort for Surface Pro users is why ergonomic accessories are made and adding them to your mobile workstation is definitely worth considering!

An Uncomfortable Truth The importance of ergonomic design in schools and virtual learning situations is a subject that’s not given enough attention. But you’d be surprised to know that in a study conducted in 2014, 72% of primary school pupils examined reported back and/or neck pain the past year. The study also noted that percentage of paediatric referrals to physiotherapy for back and neck pain rehabilitation more than doubled in a year. We can only imagine what those numbers are now almost a decade later where most of children’s schoolwork are done with a laptop or a tablet! Ergonomic interventions have to be done for our children as soon as possible, as their pains will worsen over time and end up as more serious Musculoskeletal Disorders that will last until adulthood. “Prevention is better than cure,” as the old adage goes, and luckily there are ergonomic solutions that can help with our children’s posture improvement; and one of them are kid-friendly laptop stands. Their Classroom Is Their Workplace Laptop stands have been around for decades and are known for promoting correct posture in people who frequently use laptops for work. These stands are staples in the workplace, whether in offices or in remote setting, and have been known to aid in minimising pain and discomfort that often accompanies long hours of laptop use. Children typically spend 5-6 hours in a classroom, which can be considered as their workplace. Why Kid-Friendly Laptop Stands? With children spending that amount of time mostly in a classroom that has a standardised (i.e. non-ergonomic) chair and desk, kid-friendly laptop stands are one of the few equipment for creating comfortable study environments. These specific stands are beneficial to your child in a number of ways: • Promotes healthy posture – using stands that are specifically designed for kids teaches children proper posture. • Reduced strain – the neck and the back are the two most affected by bad posture in laptop use. Over time, the effects on them become more and more painful. Utilising a laptop stand greatly minimises strain on the neck and back. • Enhanced comfort – doing assignments or studying on a screen for long periods of time can be very uncomfortable and can make a child grumpy. By training our kids to use a stand with their laptop, they would feel much better and more comfortable! • Better Focus – pain is a frustrating distraction that pulls children’s attention away from what they need to accomplish. With the laptop stand effectively lessening pain, your child can study a lot more comfortably, keeping your child’s focus on schoolwork. Features to Consider The features, or lack thereof, of a laptop stand can make or break the purchase. The stand that you’ll be investing on for your kids must have the following design elements to optimise virtual learning and classroom ergonomics for your child: • Designed specifically for children – a typical stand is primarily made for adults, which reflects their standard larger size. A stand that’s made for children has to be smaller to accommodate their shorter bodies. • Adjustable height – these stands must feature height adjustability to cater to children’s varying heights, as well as to adapt to your child’s growth. • Durable – let’s admit it, children are more prone to breaking things! It stands to reason that the stands they’ll be using almost every day should be durable enough. • Easy to Use – most kids aren’t fond of complicated toys and gadgets, what more with laptop stands! If the stand is easy to set-up and pack away, the more likely they’ll use it. • Ultralight – with children carrying the stands on their backpacks, its weight has to be a major consideration. The lighter the stand is, the better it is for your child’s back. • Multi-use – aside from laptops, tablets have also become one of the digital learning essentials that we’ve invested in for our kids. Our kid-friendly Oryx JR hybrid laptop / tablet stand can easily hold both devices. Invest in Their Future Teaching our children proper posture and ergonomics early on in their learning experiences will be a concept that they’ll bring with them even when they are already working. A laptop stand that is designed for kids is an inexpensive investment for your child’s future – one that they’ll thank you for when they’re older!