A few years ago a software company hired me to write a user manual for their software program. I had to spend a few weeks at their development center to work on that project. I met there the lady with the mouse.
On the third day of my work, a dozen workers were preparing to leave their workstations and go out at 9 in the morning. When I asked one of them what the matter was, he told me that they were going to attend a training session on computer ergonomics. He invited me to join them as I was also an active computer user.
Ergonomics contribute to the design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products, environments and systems in order to make them compatible with the needs, abilities and limitations of people. If you are planning to work for long hours from home in front of your computer, you must know the principles of computer ergonomics. Otherwise you will soon be suffering from burning eyes and painful wrists.
Anne, the trainer, was not an occupational therapist or a professionally qualified trainer. Yet, her presentation was great and she produced interesting facts, figures and suggestions that she had collected from authoritative health sources. After the presentation was over, she interviewed each participant personally, took measurements of their fingers and wrists, and promised to send personalized advice on physical exercise and personalized input devices such as mouse and keyboard. I was lucky because an ergonomic 3M mouse - it looked like a joystick - that suited my measurements was readily available. I tried it and within minutes I realized that my wrist pain would soon be history.
I asked her, "How did you get into this business?" She replied, "My husband was a computer graphics designer. He had some problem with his wrists even from his childhood days. So, his job was a source of constant physical pain to him. I started my research on this topic to find out a solution for him. After a few months of hard work, I developed a few workouts that would eliminate work-related stress. I came across many small scale input device manufacturers that produced specialized keyboards and mice. One of them made a mouse as per my suggestions. The mouse looked horrible but it increased the productivity of my husband and eliminated wrist pain."
I said, "I can guess the rest of your story. Your husband's colleagues were impressed by the results of your effort and they too sought your help. And, you became a self-employed business woman."
"You bet," said Anne with a smile, "After a few months of personalized services, I was able to earn a few thousands dollars a month. Then I decided to standardize the input devices, manufacture in thousands and earn a lot. But, I forgot that my strength was in personalized value added service that solved a unique problem. Only after I lost $50,000 in the manufacture of standard mice and when nobody bought my products, I realized my folly. Again I went back to my old business and it proved to be a cash cow."
"It was a wise decision," I said and continued, "Hundreds of such simple devices can be designed and sold both online and offline. Any resourceful person like you can do it. A few years ago I met an Indian housewife in New Delhi. She had not completed even her school finals. She knew only tailoring. She designed a long hand gloves in cotton to protect her teenage daughter's hands from dust and the Sun. When her daughter's friends too wanted similar gloves, she started to make hundreds of them every month and sold them through the shop keepers in Palika Bazaar. She earned in a year what her husband had earned in 25 years!"
"Every day you can hear hundreds of such self-employment success stories in the United States," said Anne. I replied, "That's why the United States of America is so prosperous. If the people in the developing countries understand the power and the potential of self-employment and seek it, their countries will also become as prosperous as the United States." Anne nodded her head in total agreement.
I said to Anne, "Florence Nightingale brought peace, comfort and health to thousands of injured soldiers and they affectionately called her the lady with the lamp. You bring health, comfort, and peace to dozens of software professionals by teaching them about the computer ergonomics and providing them with new types of keyboard and mouse. So, hereafter, can we call you the lady with the mouse?"
The participants cheered happily and their healthy hands produced claps of thunders. Anne was all smiles.