Vikas using the new aero-arm rest for computer users. He has been nominated for the top innovator of the world award (under 35 years category) for the invention.

An engineering student from Visakhapatnam has designed an innovative product — the aero-arm- rest — which reduces arm strain and backache in people working on computers for long hours.

The product is now pending patent with the National Research Development Corporation.

The inventor, 21-year-old Vikas Kumar Singh, has been nominated for the Top Innovator for World (under 35 years category) Award by the technical review panel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Mr Singh has based the design of his aero-armrest on cognitive ergonomics, which improve both the health and efficiency of an individual.

“The idea came from personal experience. While working on the computer, I noticed strain on the hand and on the spinal cord. Discussions were held with senior IT professionals. They told me they facedback and arm pain. This, they said, affected their productivity,” said Mr Singh who is doing final year B.Tech at Visakhapatnam’s Gitam University,

Mr Singh was one of the Indian students who participated in Nasa’s moon robot design competition held in the US last year.

“Although the market is flooded with chairs that provide rest to the back and help relax during the no-work hours, there is no attempt to develop a product that helps one work perfectly in the relaxed posture. The aero-armrest solves this problem,” Mr Singh said.

He gives credit to his teachers, Prof P. Madar Vali, Dr B. Surendra Babu and Prof P.S. Rao, for inspiring him. The aero-armrest is fitted with a height adjuster, which adjusts the height of the mouse pad.

The degree of freedom given to the arm holder is 360. The armrest can be clamped on any surface and then tightened.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> SCI-TECH> Others / by Syed Akbar / DC / Hyderabad, January 22nd, 2012