MacBreakZ - Ergonomic assistant with improved tablet support

By Ricky Buchanan • October 13, 2008

MacBreakZ is an ergonomic assistant which prompts the computer user to take breaks at regular times, depending on how heavily you use the computer. During the breaks, it offers ergonomic tips and also shows appropriate stretching and relaxation exercises.

MacBreakZ comes with a great setup assistant which helps you customise the program for your style of computer use and your particular worries - fatigue, wrist strain, and so on. The latest version offers extra customisation for those using a tablet and stylus type of input device such as the Wacom Bamboo tablet discussed previously:

Tablet input devices behave very differently from mouse or trackball devices, because they produce a constant stream of micro-cursor movements when the stylus is brought close to tablet. A mouse-based algorithm will interpret this as constant movement and thus over-estimate the amount of user activity. The new version contains specific tablet-related questions in the setup assistant that help produce an optimized setup.

I have previously emailed with the author of MacBreakZ about some disability specific concerns and I found he was very approachable and interested in my feedback. I recommend that users with any concerns about the program contact him!

Website: MacBreakZ

- Ricky Buchanan, ATMac

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Categories: New Software, Overuse Injuries, Users
Tags: apple, carpal tunnel syndrome, commercial, eyestrain, free trial, headache, mac, os x, overuse, overuse injury, repeditive strain injury, rsi, strain, tendonitis, tension

About the Author

Ricky Buchanan

Ricky Buchanan is 33 years old and the founder and main writer for ATMac. She's bedridden with severe CFS/ME or perhaps a primary mitochondrial disorder - the doctors are not sure. When she's not working on ATMac or her other websitse she composes music, listens to audio books, does other disability advocacy, watches TV with her flatmate, and enjoys her cat.

One Response to “ MacBreakZ - Ergonomic assistant with improved tablet support ”

The official publicspace.net blog » Blog Archive » MacBreakZ 4 mini-review on ATMac.org Oct 15th, 2008 at 6:21 pm

[...] Read the full review here. [...]

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