Repetitive Strain Injury happens as a result of placing your hand/body in an uncomfortable position (such as typing on the keyboard or sitting in an improper way) that leads to tissue damage or muscle strain. To avoid or reduce the risk of RSI, it is advisable to take a frequent short break and perhaps, walk around or do some simple exercise to relax your muscle. However, being as busy as we are, there’s always a tendency to forget about taking a break when you are too tied up with your work. The only way out is to use a software to force/remind us to take a break when necessary.
Linux
In Ubuntu, there is an inbuilt Typing Break function that you can use to autolock the keyboard in regular interval and lock you out of your system. Go to “System -> Preferences -> Keyboard”. Click on the “Typing Break” tab. Check the box “Lock screen to enforce typing break” and set the time for the autolock to set in. For best result, it is best not to check the box “Allow postponing of breaks” When the time is reached, the keyboard will autolock and you will see the screen below.
Window
In Windows (and also Linux), Workrave is a great and fun software that you can use to prevent RSI. There are plenty of configuration options in the Preferences menu that you can easily customize it to your needs. You can define microbreak (for short rest) and restbreak (for longer rest) and set the number of times it will appear daily. There is also an animated character that shows you the instruction to exercise your body and relax your muscle.
Mac
Timeout
Timeout is a software that you can use in Mac. It comes with more configuration options than AntiRSI, and the interface is more appealing than AntiRSI. In the Preferences menu, you can define regular time break and micropause. There is also options for you to customize the interface, including the fade in/out time, color, effect and the sound to play at the start/end of the break. One interesting thing about Timeout is that you can set a custom script to run at the start/end of the break. I do not have any use of this function, but you could have something useful for this. What other software do you use to prevent repetitive strain injury in your computer?
