Recent patents on electrophoretic displays and materials.

Electrophoretic displays (EPDs) have made their way into consumer products. EPDs enable displays that offer the look and form of a printed page, often called "electronic paper". We will review recent apparatus and method patents for EPD devices and their fabrication. A brief introduction into the basic display operation and history of EPDs is given, while pointing out the technological challenges and difficulties for inventors. Recently, the majority of scientific publications and patenting activity has been directed to micro-segmented EPDs. These devices exhibit high optical reflectance and contrast, wide viewing angle, and high image resolution. Micro-segmented EPDs can also be integrated with flexible transistors technologies into flexible displays. Typical particles size ranges from 200 nm to 2 micrometer. Currently one very active area of patenting is the development of full-color EPDs. We summarize the recent patenting activity for EPDs and provide comments on perceiving factors driving intellectual property protection for EPD technologies.

[Ergonomy and videoterminals]. / Ergonomia e videoterminali.

After defining some concepts relative to ergonomy and videoterminals (VDT), the paper describes the main health risks for VDT workers (visual, muscle-skeletal and stress disorders). The ergonomic requirements established by the Italian legislation for VDT work are then examined, including illumination, the working environment, the working desk and seat, the video-screen, the keyboard, the upper body position, pauses and physical exercise, training and information. Recent regulations (in particular the law 422/2000) on the sanitary surveillance of VDT workers are finally reported.

[RSI-repetitive strain injury--a work-related disease?]. / RSI-repetitive Strain Injury--eine Berufskrankheit?

It is not scientifically proven that problems in the neck, shoulder, arm and hand which patients complain of after repetitive activities at work, are due to structural damage caused by physical stress at the workplace. As a consequence, from the orthopedic point of view, RSI cannot be accepted as a work-related disease.

[Specialist assessments and Law Decree 626/94 on operators employed at VDT/PCs]. / Accertamenti specialistici e D.Lvo 626/94 in operatori addetti a VDT/PC.

Within the context of the health protection of employees working with monitors and personal computers, we evaluated the capacity of certain ophthalmologic tests, which can be used by corporate medical doctors even if they have not received specific ophthalmologic training, to identify ophthalmologic-visual conditions which should be referred to a specialist. 278 employees working with computers underwent a complete ophthalmologic test including contrast sensitivity, the red-green test, the dynamic acuity and the mesopic test. Two groups (with and without ocular pathologies) whose characteristics indicated the need of a specialist examination were then chosen, and the correlation and predictive capacities of the single tests or their combination was then evaluated with regard to the two groups. The model developed through a discriminating analysis vaunts a predictive sensibility above 95%, thus allowing to identify almost all persons in the sample group who should be referred to a specialist when used to identify those afflicted solely by refraction alterations, while it drops to 66% with a specific figure of 89% when non-refractive ocular pathologies coexist. The figures indicate that certain evaluation tests can be used to efficiently screen visual functionality by the corporate medical doctor. The authors offer suggestions on the need for a correct and carefully considered strategy to adopt for the screening of visual function.

A survey of the adequacy of video display terminal/unit equipment in 7 local authorities in the Midlands.

In order to assess the adequacy of equipment in the run-up to the full implementation of the Display Screen Equipment Regulations, several local authorities agreed to take part in a pilot survey of their own video display terminals. The instrument was a self-reporting questionnaire based on the new regulations. A number of the questionnaires were also completed in parallel by EHOs in order to assess the objectivity with which questionnaires were completed. The surveys found many deficiencies but discovered that respondents with better levels of training were less critical of their work station. The reasons for this are discussed. The parallel inspection validated the instrument and suggests that self-inspection by users is a good indicator of some conditions at the work station but not of temperature, light, or relative humidity. Occupational stress was also measured. The levels were above UK average and levels of depression were found to be associated with respondents' aches and pains.

Ergonomics in the laboratory environment.

The focus of this report is how ergonomics--the art of making equipment fit the user--is applied to video display terminal (VDT) use in order to improve productivity. It is recommended that VDT operators be made more comfortable by using ergonomic chairs and tables. The placement of computer screens and keyboards at the workstations should be tailored to the body and its natural motion in order to decrease physical stress.

Determining the radiation exposure from visual display terminals used in dentistry.

Computers are rapidly becoming incorporated into all aspects of dentistry, including administrative, didactic and research functions. Of particular concern for dentists are women of childbearing age who are regularly employed as receptionists and secretaries in private dental practices and teaching institutions. Thermoluminescent dosimeter pellets of lithium fluoride were attached directly to the surface of 10 VDT's of varying age and from different manufacturers. The purpose was to compare the amounts of radiation emitted from personal computers that are commonly used in dental practices and teaching institutions. All of the machines tested met USNRC regulations for safety by emitting only negligible amounts of radiation.