Office workstations with multiple screens

The increasing digitalization and networking of office work and a shift to paperless offices are resulting in a growing proportion of work being conducted at VDU workstations. The required screen real estate is also growing, since work often requires several programs or screen forms to be used simultaneously. It has consequently been observed in recent years that multiple screens are increasingly being used at traditional office workstations where originally a single (19") screen was used. Some studies indicate that worker performance can be improved by the availability of greater screen real estate. Little is known at this stage however of how work at such multi-screen workstations may influence the physiological parameters of the worker.

Measurements performed at the IFA showed that the quality and quantity of worker performance varies according to the screen setup and type of task. Overall, the results of physiological studies and the test subjects' preferences favour a dual-monitor rather than single-monitor setup. Physiologically limiting factors observed in conjunction with work on dual monitors were minor and not generally significant. The studies yielded no indication that office work with dual-monitor setups presented a possible hazard to workers. From this perspective, the relevant recommendations for ergonomic working at VDU workstations in offices can generally also be applied to work performed on two screens.