An ergonomic study on multi screen type VDT work

Shin Saito

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of multi screen type visual display terminals (VDT) work by the analyses of work performance and subjective assessment. The comparative study, multi screen and single screen type VDT workstation, was carried out to get some ergonomic data which would be applicable to the guidelines and recommendation for VDT operations using multi screens. Seventy healthy persons, 32 males and 38 females, whose ages ranged from 18 to 47 years (average age: 23.4) were selected as subjects. They performed data search and entry task for 5 minutes using both word processing and spread sheet software in each workstation.
 The work efficiency and the subjective assessment of multi screens were significantly superior in comparison with a single screen. The reason why a multi screen type workstation was evaluated highly is that visibility and operability are better than with a single screen. The characteristic of multi screen type VDT work is operation method and increased efficiency by dividing software into two screens. It is necessary to examine workload, sense of incongruity and skill of operation, and other possible problems before spreading widely to many work places.