If you’re reading this on the iPad or browsing through our iPad magazine, you’re going to want to read this. A new study from Belkin, Harvard School of Public Health, and Microsoft has found that tablet users may be at high risk to develop neck discomfort based on behaviors driven by the limitations of tablet designs.

The report suggests that head and neck posture can be improved by establishing optimal viewing angles. This data was factored into the development of Belkin’s new tablet stands so that student discomfort is minimized while device view-ability and usability are optimized.

Ergonomic Stands

This report was released, coincidentally enough, alongside news that Belkin had developed a pair of new tablet stands for classrooms. They’re called the Belkin Tablet Stand and the Belkin Tablet Stand with Storage. The names are pretty self-explanatory but worth considering if you’re using tablets in the classroom, at home, or really anywhere.

What About You?

Whether you’re a fan of tablet stands or not, there are bigger concerns about the effects of tablets on the necks of users. My neck hurts just thinking about this. How ergonomic are tablets? What’s the optimal way to use one? Some school administrators were asked, as part of the study, for their opinion on these difficult questions:

“As technology is increasingly adopted in the classroom, unique challenges can arise along with the benefits,” said Matthew Peskay, director of technology, KIPP LA Schools. “It’s absolutely critical that students engage themselves in the learning experience. But when something like a tablet case limits view-ability because it can only be held a certain way, or a display screen gets cracked because the tablet can’t be stored efficiently, both student and teacher suffer the consequences.”

Do you get neck cramps or suffer even a little bit after using a tablet? Do you get ‘iPad Neck?’ That’s a term I just made up but feel free to steal it.

If you get iPad Neck or just have a twinge of pain after using a tablet for a prolonged period, let us know! Share your trauma or lack thereof in the comments or on the Edudemic Facebook page.