Have a Painless Holiday
from Computer Currents' Fifth Annual Gift Guide
By Deborah Quilter
First published November 23, 1999

Give your friends, coworkers, and spouse the gift that keeps on giving – without hurting. A tie or scarf may miss the mark, but an ergonomic gift will be deeply appreciated. Herewith, a smattering of some gifts that can make a difference.

Roll and Read

In our age of incessant work, the concept of reading in bed has gone the way of Sunday brunch. (But I'd wager you probably work in bed fairly often – am I right?) Levenger Reader's Table Two offers a flat 16-by-10-inch surface for your muffin and café au lait, and a slantable book support so you can read hands-free and avoid neck strain. You're not limited to lightweight reading, either. The book table can support up to 25 pounds.

But set aside some time for assembling the table. The manual's diagrams aren't very clear, and while tech support was sympathetic, I pretty much had to figure it out myself. Assembly also requires brute strength. Screwing the bolts tight enough was beyond me, so be prepared to get help if you need it. Had I read the fine print in the catalog beforehand, I would have skipped the hassle – Levenger will assemble and ship the table to you for $75.

Once your reading table is ready to roll, you can put it in front of a chair, next to the desk, or wheel it over to the bed. The table adjusts from 28 to 38 inches high; the 19.5-inch-by-16.5-inch slanting surface can tilt 45 degrees for either righties or lefties. (Just turn the unit around.) Get the Fat Lip – a piece of wood that slips over the edge – and the table canhold a thin book or magazine. Available in natural or darkcherry, natural or medium oak, or teak. List price: $299;$34.95, Fat Lip Attachment. Levenger, 800/544-0880, www.levenger.com.

Sweet Dreams

If rigid cervical pillows don't do the trick for your giftee's neck, the Mediflow Waterbase water pillow may soothe him or her to sleep. Fill the inner pocket with water to the desired firmness, screw in the plug, and you're ready to snooze. No, the water doesn't slosh or make you seasick, and yes, the pillow readjusts to side and back sleeping positions without any fuss – the water politely shifts beneath you. One potential downside: Those with RSI might find this pillow heavy to lift. List price: $39.95. Alimed, 800/225-2610, www.alimed.com.

Cushy Elbows

Hard armrests can wreak havoc with nerves. The gel-filled Perflex Gel ChArms slip right over a chair's armrests (7 to 11 inches long) and are soft without being mushy. Remember: Comfy as they are, don't rest your elbows as you mouse or type, and don't make a habit of leaning on your elbows. Comes in black. List price: $44.95. Alimed.

Telephone Bunk Bed

Lack desk space? The ErgoFlex Phone stand offers a double-decker solution. You perch your phone on an elevated pedestal, which can telescope up and down and swivel out of the way. Installation is simply a matter of tucking the phone cord through a cutout and clamping the stand to the edge of your desk. The ErgoFlex accommodates phones up to 9 inches wide; the clamp fits desks up to 3 inches deep. List price: $44.95. Alimed.

Copy Stand

The clear plastic Vision Vu stand sits on an adjustable base, so you can lift reading matter to a comfortable angle instead of straining your neck. It has a line-guide tracer and folds flat for storage. List price: $34.95 (14-inch width), $44.95 (18-inch width). Alimed.

Stocking Stufflets

• Cutting Edges

  Cutting open boxes and other items can be a dicey proposition for fragile hands. Levenger's You-Too-Can Cutter is a small matte knife shaped like a bird's beak. The retractable blade is easy to operate and cuts through cardboard boxes and shrink-wrap like a champ. And it's small enough to attach to a keychain. List price: $12.95 for two (red and yellow). Levenger.

• Twist Assister

  Don't be put off by the homely, dog-eared design: Doorknob Twisters from Sammons Preston make opening doors easy for weak hands. This squishy thermoplastic grip slips over doorknobs, faucets, and jars, providing a nonslip surface and extra leverage. List price: $9.80 for two. Sammons Preston, 800/323-5547, www.sammonspreston.com.

• Erase With Ease

  They put erasers on pencils for good reason. Now Levenger has dreamt up an ergonomic version, the Ergoraser. It looks like a cross between an egg and a spoon, with a hollow for your thumb. One end is thick, the other thin, to accomodate the extent of the error. The Ergoraser won't leave much residue, either. You get three – blue, yellow, and green – in a silver tin. List price: $18.95. Levenger.

• Write Technology

  Pilot's G-2 Gel writes like a fine-point fountain pen, but retracts like a ballpoint. The water-based gel ink flows like a roller ball, and there's a rubberized finger rest. The clear body lets you check your ink supply. List price: $14.95 (blue, black, and red pens in a soft black pouch); $2.95, three refills. Levenger.

Return to Article Listing