Category Archives: computer accessories

Fellowes Rising: Brings Unparalleled Sophistication to Monitor Arms

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Fellowes launched Rising™ in late February, ushering in a new era for the monitor arm market, where superior product functionality and design are possible simultaneously. Rising places a higher emphasis on design and aesthetics, redefining the monitor arm as a piece of functional beauty that enhances any workspace.

Rising arrives at a pivotal time for workspace design, as companies reimagine the workspace of the future and their employees seek a superior experience that supports their maximum productivity.

We will look at three workspace trends that connect to Rising and everything it can offer to forward-thinking employers and their employees. 

Trend #1: Employers Want Products Built for the Future of Workspaces

The rapid change in workplace trends over the last three years puts a premium on any workspace product that is designed to meet present and potential future needs.

The team at Fellowes is seeing these trends, which directly impact the important and central role of monitor arms for employee workstations:

  • Multi-monitor or large screen monitors are becoming the standard for employee workstations, especially with the growth in specialized applications and video conferencing that make multi-screen or large split screen usage a must for more types of employees who seek greater productivity.
  • Hoteling programs result in multiple employees using the same workstation in a given week, increasing the need for adaptable products that users can reconfigure with ease.
  • Design trend changes for desks and offices make monitor arms more visible, creating an opportunity to blend form and function.

Rising is the perfect response to these trends, as it provides ease and a wide range of configurability and add-ons, providing even more function and flexibility to any workspace for in the moment adaptations.

With 16 total configurations to choose from, Rising facilitates maximum adjustability with one, two or three computer monitors, along with various ranges of height and length to fit each organization’s unique needs.

Rising also offers fixed and motion configurations that allow for larger, heavier monitors.

And while Rising certainly responds well to current trends, it boasts several features that never go out of style. Rising is:

  • Built to last with cast aluminum parts and designed to be reconfigurable and adaptable for future office design changes.
  • Level 2 Certified and meets a furniture sustainability standard, which demonstrates that the product, the manufacturing facility, and the company have met the multi-attribute criteria requirements for certification.
  • BIFMA-compliant to ensure that the product is durable, safe and meets established industry standards, making it a product that’s built to last and ready for the future.
  • Comes with an industry-leading Fellowes Lifetime Warranty, along with service programs for additional peace of mind.

Trend #2: Ease of Installation and Daily Usage are Top User Needs

Employers want products that are easy to install, integrate well into workstations and put the power in the hands of each employee to use the product to produce their best work. IT professionals and facility managers are busy and need hassle-free products they can set up quickly and without complicated directions or tools.

Rising responds to this trend with SnapKinect™.  Traditional monitor arms require specialized tools and lengthy instructions for proper installation. The SnapKinect connection system allows

the arm to be assembled and installed in 3 easy steps – so teams can get to work faster than ever.

Flexibility is critical for each employee who often needs to move the position of monitors to collaborate, prioritize tasks or focus.

Rising is thoughtfully engineered with RotationStop™ — a revolutionary new feature that enables you to adjust your monitor swing between 14 distinct stop points. Designed to protect people and equipment, RotationStop can help employees keep their monitor swing under control and within a predetermined swing range.

Rising’s intuitive finger-touch adjustability allows users to easily reorient their monitors, based on preferences and to support work that happens standing up, sitting comfortably or sharing work with a colleague.

Employers want design that’s ready for whatever the future may hold.

When monitor arms can be built or transformed with a push of a button, the user has ultimate flexibility, essentially making the workspace “future proof” and saving time to be used to focus on what’s important — doing great work.

Trend #3: Rising™ Proves Monitor Arms Can Be Central to Workspace Design

While many disregard monitor arms as purely functional necessities, Fellowes recognized that the monitor arm is one of the most viewed objects of the entire office, due to its prominent placement towards the middle of the desk.

With Rising, Fellowes has transformed the monitor arm from just a utilitarian piece of office equipment into an integral part of a workspace aesthetic.

Fellowes created Rising to bring a monitor arm to the market that is not only functional, but could actually enhance the environment where it’s used.

Reimagined and designed with unparalleled sophistication from the inside out, Rising redefines the monitor arm as a piece of functional beauty.

With nine finish options, ranging from standard to in-trend and premium, there’s an option that can elevate any workspace design aesthetic and budget.

These finish options coordinate well with workspace walls, flooring and furniture, making monitor arms an integral part of the office design process.

Learn More About Rising

Adaptable Monitor Arms: Placing the Power of Customization in Each Employee’s Hands

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The centerpiece of any office workstation are their monitors, where employees focus their attention the majority of the day. According to a study in 2018 by contact lens maker Acuvue, American office workers spend more than 1,700 hours per year in front of a computer screen.

And that has likely only increased, with the shift from phone-based conference calls to video conferencing during the last three years.

That’s why it’s critical for all office employees to feel empowered to set up their monitors to help them maximize their comfort and productivity.

The Trend: More Employees Are Back in Offices

More employees are back in offices than at any other time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Kastle Systems, a leading office keycard provider, offices in 10 top American cities surpassed 50% occupancy during the last full week of January 2023 — a first for any week since the shift to remote work in March 2020. Hybrid work is likely here to stay, but for the first time, the balance of that model, on a national level, tips in favor of on-site office work.

Employers can make on-site office work more appealing to hybrid workers by investing in intentional workspace design choices that help employees feel productive and efficient.

The best way to achieve this goal? Invest in adaptable monitor arms.

At-home office setups may lack monitor arms or multiple screens, with employees instead using their company-issued laptops without a docking station. As a result, employees may be compromising their health, with potential neck and shoulder pain, due to an improperly positioned screen that causes them to bend their neck downward for an extended period of time.

Employers who seek to make office workstations superior to at home options should offer a multi-monitor setup that puts control in the hands of employees to do their best work, especially for tasks that require comparisons of data or information and those that would normally require switching between applications and/or tabs on a single monitor.

Case Study of the Trend: Baxter Credit Union

One employer that recognized the importance of adaptable monitor arms is Baxter Credit Union (BCU). With more than 300,000 members, BCU is one of the country’s fastest growing credit unions, and it needed its corporate headquarters to keep up with its recent growth.

In 2020, BCU expanded its main offices in Vernon Hills, Illinois, into the adjacent building to create a full corporate campus. For the next two years amid the global pandemic and construction and supply delays, BCU worked to build out the new three-floor office space to house more than 260 employees.

In the new space, BCU sought to create more comfortable workstations with greater employee autonomy over the space in which they work. The credit union chose to move away from the typical 8×8 workstations with high-panel walls to a more open floor plan that prioritized comfortable, height-adjustable workstations.

To meet the needs of employees at these various workspaces, BCU decided to invest in Fellowes’ Edge2-MS monitor arms that balanced sufficient adjustability for employee preferences with simple, seamless installation. BCU’s monitor arm investment allowed employees to easily transition their workstations from sit to stand, and users of hoteling stations can easily adjust their monitors based on their individual preferences.

In the post-pandemic work environment where workers demand a more customized and adaptable workspace to differentiate in-office work from remote work, this kind of in-the-moment adjustability is key to keeping them productive, efficient and “in the zone.”

What to Look for in Adaptable Monitor Arms

The vast number of monitor arm options can feel overwhelming for the purchaser, for such a seemingly straightforward workspace accessory. To help, we’ve created this list of the top five features to look for in monitor arms when working with a dealer.

  1. Seek out options that offer fast, intuitive installation with no special tools or disassembly required. These options should also offer maximum adjustability to change the angle, height and orientation of monitors to meet the preferences of any employee.

  2. The most adaptable products offer a range of motion and slider capabilities to avoid overlap or gaps between monitors and ensure that screens are the proper distance away from the user.

  3. Monitor arms should match the style and aesthetics of the workspace, without compromising functionality. Look for elevated design and finish options, including standard, in-trend and premium finishes.
  1. Any product that is BIFMA compliant will ensure it is durable, safe and meets established industry standards.

  2. Get peace of mind when you buy from a dependable company with a strong warranty and service programs.

The Benefits of Micro Breaks

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micro breaks with standing desks

What are micro breaks? Rather than take a long lunch or 15 minutes during the day, imagine a short five-minute rest from work that could involve a variety of activities. It’s like the joke: “I told my doctor it hurts when I do this. My doctor said, then don’t do that.” It’s actually that simple. Stopping what ails you helps your body bounce back. You can also apply micro breaks to specific deskwork related issues.

A Break from Wrist Pain Relief

Typing and data entry tasks 8 hours a day can inflict long-term pain on wrists, including the lasting effects of carpal tunnel. Take 5-second micro breaks every 30 minutes. If you use extra padded wrist supports for your keyboard and mouse, you may extend your typing periods to 45 minutes before taking a micro break.

Simply Stand Up

Sitting glued to your computer terminal eventually leads to back pain and leg pain. Standing up for 5 to 10 seconds every 30 minutes keeps your muscles from becoming frozen in their sitting positions. If you feel that 5-10 seconds is an absolute loss of productivity, incorporate a standing desk into your routine. Recent Smooth Lift standing desk technology makes it easy to rise and sit easily throughout your day, making micro breaks effortless.

Take a Break and Stare

Long periods staring at your computer monitor means your eyes are probably adjusting too much to the screen’s illumination and possible glare. Most likely you will feel eye strain and headaches later and not relate it to your long day engaged with your flat screen.  Take micro breaks to literally stare off into space for 5-10 seconds every 30 minutes to help your eyes adjust to something more than digital two-dimensional space. Do you notice dry eye? Working at a computer actually reduces how much we blink, which can lead to eye dryness.  Your eye refresh micro break will do wonders.

Need More Micro Break Ideas?

Three Ways to Reduce Back Pain at Work

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Reduce Back Pain with Standing Desks

Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work.  In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.

Excluding more obvious causes of pain, such as traumatic injury and heavy lifting, most long-term back pain is attributed to our office workstations. Poor posture, poorly positioned equipment, such as the placement of our keyboard and mouse, and the excessive periods which we sit during the work day all contribute to chronic back pain. Here are simple solutions to help reduce back pain at the office.

Moving Throughout the Day

Maintaining flexibility versus continuous sitting is a remedy for most office-related backaches. Long periods of sitting exert pressure on the back muscles and spinal discs, which you may not feel until you get up. Then the sharp pain sets in. Take periodic breaks throughout the day. Walk around the office and stretch. Sit-Stand Workstations also encourage regular movement, maintain blood flow, and offer all the benefits of low-impact flexible movement without exertion.  Learn more about how sit-stands help back pain and provide other health benefits. 

Proper Workstation Arrangement

The impact of poorly arranged computer equipment is subtle and seems completely unrelated to back pain. However, you will begin to feel the difference by using these ergonomic tips:

Monitor placement-Position your monitor so the top of the screen is at eye level. Use a monitor stand if necessary. Place the monitor about arm’s length away.

Keyboard placement-Keep your keyboard directly in front of you when typing.  Keep your arms bent in an L-shape and elbows at your sides. Use a keyboard tray to position your keyboard correctly if needed.

Keep your mouse close to you- When you place your mouse on a desk, the tendency is to reach for it, causing pains in our arm, which can lead to pain in your back as your body tries to compensate for the difficult position in which you are working. The shorter the reach the better when mousing.

Improving Your Posture

Sitting correctly is one of the most important actions you can take against office-related back pain. Make sure your office chair is at the correct height. Ideally, your forearms should be straight and level with the floor as you type at your keyboard. Here are other tips for posture:

  • Don’t cross your legs
  • Don’t slouch
  • Either keep feet flat on the floor or use a footrest
  • If you find yourself frequently changing your position in the chair, use a backrest to keep a consistently secure and comfortable sitting posture

 

Should Kids Be Using Standing Desks?

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Standing desks in classrooms

As standing desks become a part of offices and home offices for promoting wellness, their application for classrooms to benefit the health of students has also become a growing trend.  Combined with a push to offer healthier school lunches and increase the opportunity for fitness at school, sit-stand desks have been viewed as an additional benefit for classrooms. Here are just a few of the advantages.

Boosting Focus

Standing increases blood flow to the brain without the intense rigor of physical exercise, which means enhanced focus in the classroom. By simply standing while learning, this moderate fitness for a one week period is equal to a child walking five miles. The use of stand up desks was also associated with significant improvements (7-14%) in executive function and working memory capabilities.

Improving Classroom Behavior

In a recent study by Texas A&N University, standing while learning increased classroom attention and engagement by 12%. That translates into seven more minutes per hour of engaged learning, which is otherwise lost in disruptive behavior by students and teachers managing that behavior.

Improving Overall Health and Fitness

The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s. Today, about one in five school-aged children (ages 6–19) has obesity.*  Research shows that standing helps burn 17-35% more calories than sitting. Standing also helps prevent Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and improve BMI—all critical factors in combating an epidemic of childhood obesity.

Advocating for Standing Desks at Your School

Speak to your child’s teacher about supporting a sit-stand initiative. Approach parent/teacher organizations and any administrators or committees involved in supporting health at school.

Do Your Homework

Be prepared to present all the health benefits of standing desks in the classroom. Learn more here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4929187/

Get Students Involved

Engaging student councils at school gets kids actively involved in the health of their fellow students and helps support your arguments for standing desks in school.

Launch a Fund-Raising Initiative

Schools will always be supportive when it comes to improving student health, but budgets will inevitably be a roadblock. If your plan is approved by administrative committees, creative fund-raising efforts can help generate the money necessary to bring sit-stands into the classroom without impacting school budget constraints.

Learn more about flexible and easy to use standing desk technology: Standing Desks Options

 

 

* https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm

 

Programmers and Sit-Stand Workstations

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programmers and sit-stand desks

As a programmer, you can spend 7-10 hours a day focused on coding, which also means all that time seated at a traditional computer workstation. The unhealthy impact of chronic sitting can contribute to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Standing is an ideal solution for healthier work at a computer. However, if you decide to stand at work, what equipment should you consider that specifically fits your profession?

Sit-Stand Workstations That Adjust Easily

A static sit-stand desk forces you to either stand entirely while working or take a break, while some adjustable sit-stands may require interrupting your task to make the manual changes to height. When as a programmer you are engaged with a piece of intense code, that may not be an option. Select a sit-stand workstation that easily adjusts from sitting to standing positions, so no focus on a task is lost. Smooth Lift Technology sit-stands feature that intuitive adjustability, so you need only rise while grasping the lift adjustment lever, then grasping the adjustment lever once again to lower the desk back to a seated position. Make sure your sit-stand also has a good spectrum of height adjustment options, which is especially important for tall programmers.

The Flexibility of Multiple Monitors

As a coder you definitely need more than one monitor, so converting to a sit-stand desk shouldn’t mean a compromise.  Make sure your standing desk offers the option for multiple-monitor arms.

Storage Space

Changing over to a standing desk also shouldn’t mean giving up on other advantages of a standard computer workstation, like storage space. Storage space and work surfaces are still essential, so having a standing desk designed with added work and storage spaces allows you to incorporate a hot cup of coffee, notepads, pens and your smartphone into your standing workspace.

standing desk with workspace

Cord Management

One of the big advantages of a static workstation is that all the wires running to your electronics stay still. With a standing desk, continual movement up and down can lead to stress on power cables, tangled cords, and sometimes accidental unplugged peripherals as you change position. Check your sit-stand for cord management design features so that wires move seamlessly with your changing position.

How Long Should You Stand at a Standing Desk?

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standing desk usage

You’re already aware of the benefits that a standing desk can offer. Your question now is, how should you use it?

How long you should stand is open for debate. However, some ergonomic and health experts generally agree on 20-minute intervals. Briefly standing for 5-20 minutes every hour causes muscle contractions in your back and legs. These contractions stimulate enzyme production that breaks down the fat in your bloodstream.  Starting out you may find that standing that period of time may be tiring. Listen to your body and sit down as needed.

Using Your Standing Desk For Fitness

Developing a routine around standing and sitting is one way to help improve your standing stamina. Start out standing for five-minute intervals, if that is all you can take. Then gradually increase the length of time standing. Having the right equipment helps transitioning from sitting to standing and back again much easier. Your standing desk should effortlessly rise and fall to accommodate changing positions without you having to strain.  Setting an egg timer to help you regulate your sitting and standing sessions is also helpful for developing a disciplined regimen.

standing desk fitness

Get a Sit-Stand Desk with Smooth Lift Technology for effortless transitioning.

Learning How to Sit

Learning how to sit properly, once you sit, is also an important part of a sit-stand regimen. Slumping forward, also know as “vulture neck” can put a strain on neck and back muscles and cause pain. Poorly positioning your legs and feet under your desk can also lead to painful cramping.

When sitting, be sure to sit up straight (your mother was right after all). Keep your shoulders back and balance your body weight so it is evenly distributed on both your hips. In other words, be aware if you are unconsciously leaning to one side in your office chair and make the correction. For additional support, you can add an ergonomic backrest to your chair. Lumbar backrests maintain the normal curves in your back while sitting and help train your body on proper posture.  For your legs, be sure to bend your knees at a right angle, with feet flat on the floor. You can also invest in a footrest to offer additional support.

Why MSD’s are Costing Companies Billions in Worker’s Comp

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Neck pain

While safety and health managers do their best to eliminate accident risks in the workplace, from minimizing the potential for falls and other mishaps, the less conspicuous costs incurred from MDS’s, or muscular-skeletal disorders, are causing a significant impact—and employees may not even realize it. Many workers may assume that pains in their shoulder, wrists, neck, back and elbows may be “part of the job” until the increasing severity of these conditions leads to debilitating results. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA,  MDS’s account for more $15 billion a year in worker’s compensation costs.

Training Managers to Become Ergonomic Watchdogs

Identifying pending MSD situations, even when an employee isn’t complaining, can avoid costly consequences for the business and painful consequences for the employee.  Look out for these red flags:

  • Employees holding their backs or straining when they get up out of their office chairs
  • Employees stopping work to massage or shake their wrists
  •  Employees rubbing their neck or shoulders frequently
  • Look for vulture neck-the drooping of the head and neck forward due to improper monitor height

Recommended Solutions to MSD’s

Ergonomic office chair back rests are specifically designed for use with desk chairs and provide the added support to the lumbar, minimizing back strain.

Wrist supports position the hands properly and protect the wrists to prevent strain from repetitive motions like mousing.

Ergonomic keyboard trays position the arms and wrists at the proper angle and distance to prevent strain from the repetitious actions from daily typing.

Monitor risers elevate the computer screen to the proper height to prevent “vulture neck.”  Vulture neck may eventually lead to chronic neck and shoulder pain.

Get more information on implementing ergonomic practices that reduce MSD’s and keep employees happy and your office productive.  Workplace Well-Being Guidelines.

Adding a Sit-Stand Desk to Your Home Office

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home office sit stand desk

The daily office grind, doesn’t change if you are managing a small business out of your home or working full-time from a home office. Much like a desk job in a corporate setting, sitting down all day can compromise your health.  In fact, as Marc Hamilton a physiologist and professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La. indicates: “a man who sits 60 hours at a desk job but still works out for 45 minutes a day five times a week still has a sedentary lifestyle.”

Making the Change to a Sit Stand Workstation

Sit-stand desks are a healthy option to the traditional workstation in that regular standing and sitting throughout the day provides the flexibility and movement that can encourage calorie burn and minimize the weight gain that comes with a excessive sitting, and the great benefit of having one in your home office is that you don’t need to make a request to HR. Newer sit stand designs come fully assembled so they are easy to set up. Most importantly new Smooth Lift Technology makes it easier to transition from sitting and standing and back again throughout the day.

Customizing Your Home Office with Sit-Stand Workstations

Personalizing your home office to fit you is one of the great benefits of working from home.  Select a Sit-Stand that has full adjustability. The Lotus Sit-Stand features 22 different height settings and 17″ of vertical adjustment so that you can position your workstation for personal comfort.

So Many Computer Cords to Manage!

The high-tech nature of the modern home office may mean tangles of computer cables. Choose a sit-stand with cable management options so your home office looks uncluttered. The Lotus also features a device charging slot which allows your entire workspace to move freely with you-no cable strain or tangles.

Working with More Than One Monitor

If your home office profession requires multiple monitors, you will need to find a sit-stand workstation that accommodates that need. The Lotus offers the option of a dual monitor arm kit that transforms your sit-stand into a multi-screen workstation-perfect for programmers!

Learn more about Lotus Sit-Stand Desks.

 

The Best Lunchtime Workouts for the Business Professional

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tehrene-firman

Guest Post by Tehrene Firman. A health & fitness freelance writer, formerly of Dr. Oz

Making sit stand workstations part of your workout

Making time to work out sounds easy enough, but sometimes it can feel like another job — aka something no one wants on top of their typical 9 to 5 workday. You’ve tried morning workouts to no avail, and exercising after a long day makes you laugh just thinking about it. So what’s a business professional to do when they want to squeeze in some gym time?

 

It’s easy to forget about the actual “break” part of a lunch break, but it’s time to take advantage of that unused time. Instead of spending your golden hour chowing down some food while typing away at the computer, lace up your sneakers: Early afternoons are primetime for workouts. Your energy levels are at a high, and you’re probably getting a little antsy in your seat anyway. Wave goodbye to your desk and take up one of these lunchtime workouts that will have you feeling like a million bucks the rest of your day.

 

  1. Hop on a Treadmill or Elliptical

If you have a gym nearby, head over for a quick session on the treadmill or elliptical. As long as there’s no wait time for a machine, you can be in and out as fast as you need to be. Perfect for those days you only have 30 minutes, you’ll still feel the burn and reap the cardio benefits in a short amount of time.

 

  1. Sign Up for an Express Class

Many fitness studios have jumped on the lunchtime workout bandwagon, putting classes on the schedule that are 45 minutes or less. Depending on your area, it’s easy to find something worthy of your break — from a high-intensity boot camp class to some relaxing yoga on particularly stressful workdays.

 

  1. Hit Up a Rowing Machine

The treadmill and elliptical are great and all, but the rowing machine is often overlooked at the gym. Not only does rowing burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time, but it also gives you a 2-in-1 cardio and muscle-building workout. Plus, unlike running, it’s low-impact and won’t put any unnecessary pressure on your knees.

 

  1. Give the Stair Climber a Shot

Yeah, yeah, we know. But hear us out: Climbing a set of revolving stationary stairs isn’t as awful as it sounds. Anytime you step foot on a stair climber, you’ll get your bang for your buck: It’s almost impossible to be lazy on this machine, and you can burn hundreds of calories in just 30 minutes.

 

  1. Challenge Yourself to Some Real Stairs

If you don’t have a gym nearby, turn your office into your playground. Whether it’s stairs inside your building or outdoor stairs nearby, you’ll definitely work up a sweat in no time if you decide to lace up your sneakers and give this idea a shot. Want to really take things up a notch? Do some jumping jacks every time you get to the top.

 

  1. Go for an Outdoor Run

If you love running, you’re in luck: Hitting the pavement is probably the easiest way to squeeze in a workout over your lunch break. It’s quick, you have total control over how long you go and the intensity level, and you get to breathe in some fresh air. Not a runner? Go for a walk instead.

 

  1. Sign Up for a Cycling Class

If you’re the type who wants to avoid getting sweaty during lunchtime workouts, you might as well skip ahead now. Cycling classes are a great way to get your heart rate up midday, but you’ll definitely need to take some time to shower afterward. Luckily, getting that natural high from spinning to some of the best pump-up jams makes it all worth it.

  1. Try a Standing Desk

On those days it’s nearly impossible to take a break, there’s a solution that will help you move around without all the fuss: a standing desk. (And no, not the kind you have to tear your entire office area apart for.) You can upgrade your set-up in seconds by topping your current desk with Fellowes’ new Lotus™ Sit-Stand Workstation, which easily rises and lowers depending on your needs. Alternating between sitting and standing positions throughout the day is the perfect way to stay active, and having a healthy workspace that moves with you is the best way to do it.