Ergonomics of the Nova Retrofit Kit (or why it's good for you)

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Understanding the Natural Solution:

Our eyes look up to see things far away, straight ahead to view things at medium distances, and down to view close work, such as a book. Our eyes focus on close objects better when we gaze downward.  A 40° downward angle improves our ability to focus by an average of 25%. 

Try it yourself:   Pick up a sheet of paper and read it at 3 positions: 1.  looking down at about a 40 degree angle; 2. Looking straight ahead at eye level; 3.  Holding it 12" above your eyes.  The first one is definitely the most comfortable and that's why the Nova retrofit kit works!

The closeness of the computer monitor can create problems for our eyes.  When we look at far distances, our eyes diverge.   When we view close objects, our eye converge, moving inward toward the nose.   The closer the screen, the harder our eye muscles have to work to converge.   The farther the screen, the less work they have to do.

When our eyes move, it is called vergence.   The resting point of vergence is the viewing distance at which the muscles that control the movement of our eyes are most relaxed.  When we look downwards at a 30° angle, the resting point of vergence averages 35".

The closer we place our monitors to the resting point of vergence, the better it is for our eyes.  Farther is okay, but the closer from the resting point, the worse it is.  A monitor placed back and at an angle is best for our visual system.

Neck pain is the number two physical complaint among computer users.  We move our heads to accommodate what we need to see.  When we sit erect for long periods of time, our neck muscles get stiff and sore.  If we move our head down at an eye-level monitor, our neck is more comfortable, but it strains our eyes because we have to look out of the top of them.   Bending the head back hurts our neck.  A "forward head posture" (where the head juts forward) is even worse.  A low monitor position allows a wide range of head postures that are comfortable for both the neck and the eyes.

Nova offers further advantages not found with other computer furniture: