One of the M.E. Charities recently requested tips for folk using computers and other similar technology, such as smartphones and tablets. I waded in with my suggestions.
My twelve tips for computer-usage by people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (pwME) or other chronic illnesses: medical conditions appear in parenthesis after the suggestion.
1. turn the brightness to the lowest level at which one can still read comfortably (photophobia);
2. some will find dark-mode is easier to read (white text on black background) (photophobia);
3. turn on night-mode whenever needed (this filters out blue-spectrum light) or use an app that does the same thing, e.g. f.lux (photophobia);
4. avoid watching programme-streaming, videos and gifs (equilibrioception, dizziness, nausea);
5. turn off or turn down sound to lowest needed level (hyperacuity);
6. use services such as Feedly, which gather news and just list headlines (concentration, memory);
7. use calendar/diary, e-post-it/stickies, spreadsheets/word-processing to create lists of to-do activities (memory);
8. order shopping on-line, where possible, as it saves spoons (fatigue, etc.);
9. use on-line/mobile banking to avoid telephoning or visiting banks, etc. (fatigue, etc.);
10. use email wherever possible, as there is a written record (unlike face-to-face visits or telephone-calls) in case one forgets (memory);
11. use speech-recognition software if physically using a keyboard is an issue (fatigue, pain);
12. various types of stands, including some that are similar to a cushion, can be purchased/made (if one is crafty or has a good friend who is) to hold or lean one’s technology against, so negating the need to hold/grip (fatigue, pain).
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If the reader has any other good tips, please be at liberty to add them in the comments below.
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