Abstract
Laptop computer usage is a significant portion of business computer use. Many mobile computer users face problems with laptop and peripheral equipment transportation. This study gathered and analyzed data concerning three methods of laptop transportation: a briefcase, a shoulder bag, and a rolling cart. Methods were compared on the bases of heart rate, energy expenditure, biomechanical analysis, and subjective responses. With the cart, a significantly lower average heart rate (119 beats per minute) was measured, which, in turn, resulted in a lower percentage of maximum oxygen consumption (48% for females and 46% for males), and, therefore, also resulted in lower energy expenditure. Biomechanical analysis showed that the total compressive force on L5/S1 was less for the cart than for the briefcase or the shoulder bag-, this transportation method created less stress on the L5/S1 vertebral joint. When participants used the cart to transport a laptop and peripherals, they reported less pain, especially in the shoulder, upper arm, elbow, lower back, lower arm, wrist, and hand than when they used a shoulder bag or a briefcase. Also, slightly more then fifty percent of the participants would consider using a rolling cart on a daily basis, especially if it were designed for office use and not just for traveling. It was determined that the most effective laptop transportation method of those studied under laboratory controlled conditions was the rolling cart. Using the rolling cart produced less pain, required less energy, produced the least stress on the L5/S1 vertebral joint than did the briefcase or the shoulder bag, and was reported to be the preferred method of transportation.
Parker, Martha Katherine (1997). An investigation of transportation methods of laptop computers and peripheral equipment. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1997 -THESIS -P37.