University of Windsor Search
Support UWindsor CLOSE
Roadmap for Fall
UWinsite Student
UWinsite Finance
Alumni + Donors
Industry + Community Partners
About UWindsor
Academics Programs
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
COVID-19 Research and Innovation Guidance
Vice-President, Research & Innovation
Research & Innovation Services
Research Finance
Leddy Library
UWill Discover!
EPICentre
About Student Life
UWindsor Events
SoCA Concerts & Events
Lancers Varsity Sports
University Players
Athletics + Recreation Services
FUTURE STUDENTS ask.UWindsor MENU
ask.UWindsor FUTURE STUDENTS
Search DailyNews by date
Search DailyNews by topic
Sign up to subscribe
Contact DailyNews
Dave Andrews works on a laptop in his office in the Human Kinetics building. The kinesiology professor is looking for participants for a study to help identify ergonomic risk factors associated with mobile device use.
Mobile device users needed for ergonomics research
Cell phones, tablets and laptops have dramatically changed the way people do work. Now a University of Windsor ergonomics researcher wants to know if that work might be hurting them.
"There are some specific risk factors associated with mobile devices that aren't accounted for with our current method of assessment," said Dave Andrews, a human kinetics professor recruiting people to participate in a new study.
Andrews was part of a team that developed an ergonomic checklist of risk factors to determine whether how people are positioned at their office computer work stations contributes to problems like pain or discomfort in the back, upper extremities and neck. Graduate students conducting the research on that project visited people in their offices, assessed factors like the placement of monitors, phones, and the adjustability of chairs, and then made recommendations to avoid health complications associated with improper positioning.
That method, however, was developed before the rapid growth in the availability of mobile technology.
"It just doesn't account for specific risk factors associated with using mobile devices while working," said Dr. Andrews, who is hoping for about 75 participants to enroll in the study.
Andrews said research assistants working on the new study will visit participants in their offices, observe them at work, ask them to demonstrate how they interact with their mobile devices, and ask them if they experience any discomfort. The visit should take any about 30 minutes, he said.
To be eligible to participate you need to be a current staff or faculty member and use at least one mobile device to do your job, either at home or on campus. People are not eligible if they had an ergonomics assessment of their computer workstation done by someone in kinesiology within the last year, or if pain or discomfort will keep them from doing their normal job on the day of the assessment.
Participants will receive a complimentary computer workstation evaluation, and tips on how to adjust their existing computer workstation in order to remain healthy, comfortable and productive in the workplace.
If you are interested in participating, contact Cory Thuy at thuyc@uwindsor.ca to schedule your assessment. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the study, contact Andrews at dandrews@uwindsor.ca.
For more information, visit the study website.
Dave Andrews
Strategic Priority:
Pursue strengths in research and graduate education
Academic Area:
Service Disruption
Some services unavailable after firewall upgrade
University's firewall hardware upgrade on Sat., Jan. 21, 7-10:30 a.m.
Cancelled - University's firewall hardware will be upgraded on Tues., Jan. 3, 2023
IP Address Managment System update Dec 12, 6am-8am
External Job Postings
Aug 24, 2022 - Assistant Women's Basketball Coach—Apprentice in the Department of Athletics & Recreational Services (Temporary vacancy)
Internal Job Postings
Jan 24, 2023 - Cashier Clerk '8' in Budgets & Financial Services
Jan 23, 2023 - Undergraduate Secretary '5' in the Department of Kinesiology
Internal/External Job Postings
Jan 25, 2023 - Administrative Assistant '7' in the Department of Continuing Education (Temporary vacancy)
Jan 25, 2023 - Environmental Technologist Classification "VII" in the Faculty of Engineering
Jan 25, 2023 - Distribution Clerk '6' in the Department of Facility Services
Jan 20, 2023 - Undergraduate / Graduate Secretary '6' in the School of Creative Arts
Jan 19, 2023 - Network & Security Administrator Classification "VIII" in the Department of Information Technology Services (3 vacancies)
Jan 19, 2023 - Cabinet, Tables, Shredder & Other Items for Sale by Bid
Project Notifications
Building Update: Essex Hall - Various Building Entrances (North, South, West, etc.), rooms B-18, B-19, B-24, B-03/B-05, M-07, M-13, Friday, January 27 at 8:00 a.m. to Friday, February 3, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.
Essex Hall / Leddy Library Main Exterior Door Upgrades - Various Building Entrances (North, South, West, etc.), rooms B-18, B-19, B-24, B-03/B-05, M-07, M-13, Friday, January 27 at 8:00 a.m. to Friday, February 3, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.
Centre for Engineering Innovation - Charge Lab Renovations/Hot Water Heating Loop Shutdown/Entire Building Perimeter Heating Radiators, Thursday, January 19, 2023, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Memorial Hall - 2022 Lighting Upgrades/Lighting in Each Room for 1/2 to 1 hour, Friday, January 20, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Human Kinetics - HK Penthouse Siding Repairs/West Driveway Access Blocked/Loading Material on the Roof, Monday, January 16, 2023, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
News Services for Media
UWindsor mobile apps
Manage UWin Account