Put Your Dual PC Monitors to Work for You
Posted June 14, 2017
Using dual monitors may greatly increase your productivity while working on your computer. While this can make computer-related tasks easier to manage, is important that the benefit is not at the expense of injuring your body. Make sure you adjust your workspace to accommodate for the additional screen.
Just like when using a single PC monitor, your workstation requires a custom setup, based on your unique needs. To avoid eye, back and neck strain, make sure you take the time to adjust your workspace to fit your need as noted in the following tips.
General Considerations
- Move your eyes when viewing the screen as opposed to moving your head. If you need to move your head to see both screens, consider positioning the monitors farther away from your seat, allowing for a wider view.
- Position your monitors at, or slightly below, eye level. As an exception, bi-focal users should lower their monitors more to avoid tilting their head back while working.
- Both monitors should be kept at the same height. If monitors are different sizes, try to keep their focal points aligned.
- When possible, use flat panel monitors with small frames to keep screens closer together and minimize neck movement.
- Make sure both monitors are adjusted to the same resolution, brightness and contrast to avoid eyestrain.
When Using One Monitor More
- Position the primary monitor and keyboard directly in front of you. The secondary monitor should be positioned at roughly a 30-degree angle from the primary monitor, with its center no more than 12 inches away from the center of the keyboard.
- If you are primarily using the workstation to input data from a physical document, position the document in between the keyboard and primary monitor.
Using Both Monitors Equally
- Position your monitors next to one another, with the keyboard directly in front of you
- If you are primarily using the workstation to input data from a physical document, position the document in between the keyboard and the centerline of the two monitors.