Blog

10 Apr, 14

Ergonomically designed, or marketed?

We’ve all seen items marketed as “ergonomically designed”, which typically means that a coat of rubber has been slapped around the handle, or the item is bent or angled in some way that makes it more comfortable to use. (Consider pens, shovels, keyboards, etc.) We recently came across an ad in the Toronto Star that […]
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24 Feb, 14

The screen vs. paper stand-off

Does your brain prefer paper? In our office, we’ve discovered a “gender gap”. Karen and Carrie prefer to print documents and edit with pen on paper. We find this practice more comfortable, and faster. However, the younger generation prefers to read documents on the screen, and track changes electronically.  I have an e-reader, which I […]
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27 Jan, 14

Innovate!

Last year, we attended a panel discussion at a local innovation conference, on the topic of “Transformation and Innovation”. Here are some key points: Promoting an innovative culture is a way to grow economically. Innovation creates new products. In an innovative culture, problems are seen as opportunities. (Can’t see your phone screen?….let’s make it bigger!) […]
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08 Jan, 14

Oh Canada, our home and chilly land….

Do you have employees working outdoors? Have you considered the effects of cold stress on these workers? Canadian and American initiatives have resulted in guidelines that can help employers protect workers from cold stress. The “Wind Chill”. The “dry bulb” temperature (what we typically read on the thermometer outside in the shade) and wind speed […]
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30 Dec, 13

Sleep tight

Sleep has a major influence over how people, both children and adults, function, think, and perform during the day. When we are really busy, such as during the holidays, we often short-change ourselves on sleep. We can easily recognise when our kids haven’t had enough sleep, through their behaviour. We don’t always recognise the cause […]
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08 Nov, 13

The Human Exo-skeleton…coming soon?

While cruising Netflix for something decent to watch with my teens, I came across a “TED Talk” on the topic of exoskeletons. (See http://www.ted.com/talks/eythor_bender_demos_human_exoskeletons.html). Researcher Eythor Bender of Berkeley Bionics presented the technology behind a robotic suit, that has been developed for military and adaptive purposes. A soldier appeared on stage to demonstrate how he […]
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