Many individuals and companies have found WorkPace very effective:
"I thank you for (indirectly) saving my career ..." (
details)
Joseph Daniels, Systems Analyst, Universiy of Colorado, USA
"By forcing me to pace myself, the program has simultaneously boosted my productivity and reduced my pain - overall it's a lifesaver!"
Steve Rodrigues, Software Engineer - Silicon Valley, California, USA
"After evaluating a number of products WorkPace was adopted as a key element of our Occupational Overuse Syndrome (RSI) prevention strategy and the software has now been installed nationwide for all our 6000 staff"
Jo Abercrombie, Corporate Human Resources Manager, Ministry of Social Development, New Zealand
"I'm happy to say that my problems seem to finally be subsiding over the past few weeks, and I think that WorkPace has helped me curb my bad habits" (
details)
Frank Palazzolo, Software Developer, Michigan, USA
"This year I have had minimal pain, no days off work and the job has been completed ahead of time..." (
details)
Helen Pidwerbesky, Secretary - University of Canterbury, New Zealand
"Statoil, a Norwegian oil company with close to 20,000 employees, depends on extensive use of computers ... evaluation of different programs revealed WorkPace to be most suitable. Experience so far is that those who suffer from OOS/RSI benefit greatly from using WorkPace, and the computer program is considered to be a cost-effective investment for the company." (details)
Jonny Hesthammer, Manager, Department of Economy & Strategy, Statoil, Norway.
"Your product is EXCELLENT! ... I used WorkPace in conjunction with some other devices ... the only thing that really helped the pain was the exercises displayed by WorkPace." (
details)
Ada Brunstein, BBN Technologies-GTE, Massachusetts, USA
"WorkPace was judged to be the most suitable product available for our purposes. Following our WorkPace trials all users found the software beneficial and wished to continue using it. As a result we have purchased WorkPace as a computer-related discomfort rehabilitation/prevention tool for our staff."
Human Resources Division, New Zealand Government Organisation
"I 'love' WorkPace. I find that not only helping me avoid RSI symptoms, it's really helpful to help keep stress from building up. When the little messages come up, I breathe a few times, and life is better! So, now it's expired! How do I order a copy?"
Chris Burbrige, Computer User, Autodesk, USA
"Without WorkPace, I get too absorbed in the task at hand to monitor the breaks needed as frequently as they are needed, in order to manage my OOS condition so that it has a minimum impact on my productivity" (
details)
Elspeth Preddy, Equal Educational Opportunity Advisor, Ministry of Education, New Zealand
"...[when] I started to use WorkPace. I quickly realised that, by using WorkPace, I avoided the discomforts by allowing for necessary breaks. ... I stopped using WorkPace, but immediately experienced discomforts again. Today, WorkPace is, for me, a necessary tool to avoid recurring problems related to OOS/RSI. ..." (details)
Jonny Hesthammer, Statoil, Norway
"WorkPace is the most practical and workable of all computer programs I have seen and tried ..." (
details)
Marie Campbell, Chairperson - RSI (OOS) Support Group (Christchurch, New Zealand) Inc.
"Within 1 week I started feeling the difference. Although my RSI is not gone, I don't take it inhome with me anymore ...(
details)
Joost Stenfert Kroese, CAD Technician - School of Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Detailed Quotes
"Just a quick note to thank you for your wonderful product...before I got WorkPace I had such bad trouble typing that I was seriously concerned about my ability to even get a job. (I am a computer programmer) I didn't know if I was going to have to leave my field of work, which would have been devastating financially and emotionally... I frantically searched for another way to input data, but it was a difficult thing to find.
Then I was searching around on the Web, and I found you on Yahoo, and now I can type again! Things have gotten back to where they were years ago as far as my RSI goes, and I am quite comfortable with that... I thank you for (indirectly) saving my career, and my ability to continue using computers, which are a passion of mine."
Joseph Daniels, Systems Analyst, Universiy of Colorado, USA
"Statoil, a Norwegian oil company with close to 20,000 employees, depends on extensive use of computers (especially mouse-related) by the many scientists working in the company. As a result, there has lately been a rapid increase in discomforts related to RSI/OOS, especially neck and shoulder problems. This has led to sick leave and reduced job effectiveness. Realising these problems, a project group investigated possible solutions for preventing discomforts related to computer work. The group found that one of the simplest, yet most effective solutions was to "enforce" the use of micro-pauses and breaks while working on the computers. Evaluation of different programs revealed WorkPace to be most suitable. Experiences so far is that those who suffer from OOS/RSI benefit greatly from using WorkPace, and the computer program is considered to be a cost-effective investment for the company."
Jonny Hesthammer, Manager, Department of Economy & Strategy, Exploration and Reservoir Development Technology Division, Statoil, Norway.
"Your product is EXCELLENT! I used it for the 30 day trial period and I loved it. The basic idea works well enough on its own but the exercises I think make the huge difference between preventing wrist pain from getting worse and ongoing pain relief. I used WorkPace in conjunction with some other devices (a touchpad instead of a mouse, foot pedals instead of a mouse, voice recognition system instead of keyboard) and while to some degree those things all help prevent the situation from getting worse, the only thing that really helped the pain was the exercises displayed by WorkPace."
Ada Brunstein, BBN Technologies-GTE, Massachusetts, USA
"WorkPace is the most practical and workable of all computer programs I have seen and tried. The fact that it can be tailored to meet each user's individual needs, monitoring both typing speed and time, encouraging micropauses and breaks, makes this product unique in its own right. I believe this product will not only be beneficial as a modem for prevention of Occupational Overuse Syndrome but also as an essential aid in rehabilitation and I would like to see WorkPace sold as a mandatory accessory with every computer unit produced. As a chronic sufferer of OOS I certainly wish this product had been around fifteen years ago - maybe I would not now be suffering from OOS and would be enjoying the benefits of full time employment."
Marie Campbell, Chairperson - RSI (OOS) Support Group (Christchurch, New Zealand) Inc.
"As a geologist in Norway's largest oil company, I have used computers extensively for many years. Much of the work depends on the use of a digital mouse. The many long working days in front of a computer (while combining a PhD and a normal job), eventually led to serious computer-related discomforts. I had to reduce the amount of time in front of a computer to a fraction of what I was used to. In 1997, I started to use WorkPace. I quickly realised that, by using WorkPace, I avoided the discomforts by allowing for necessary breaks. When my problems "disappeared" (diminished is probably a better word), I stopped using WorkPace, but immediately experienced discomforts again. Today, WorkPace is, for me, a necessary tool to avoid recurring problems related to OOS/RSI. The program is an integrated part of my work routine, and I'm hardly aware of its presence while working."
Jonny Hesthammer, Statoil, Norway
"I have found WorkPace to be most beneficial for my OOS. Since I have been using WorkPace on my computer I have had very little pain or disruption to my daily routine, which prior to having WorkPace installed on my computer was a significant problem. At first I found WorkPace to be a little annoying, but it made me look at my job and by planning ahead I was able to put aside "non-computer" tasks i.e. photocopying, phone calls, proof reading, filing etc and perform these tasks during "breaks". I soon slipped into a new routine. Each year I perform a particular task that is highly confidential, takes approximately two months to complete, and is performed under pressure, with strict deadlines and no room for error. Each year at this time my OOS has flared up and I was often in excruciating pain and quite miserable, even having to take the occasional day off work to recuperate. This year I have had minimal pain, no days off work and the job has been completed ahead of time with very little stress all round. I put this down to having WorkPace installed on my computer, in advance of my two month task so that I was comfortable with it when the pressure of work started. By taking ALL the micropauses and ALL the breaks and refusing to allow myself to get stressed I believe that WorkPace is the reason I coped so well and had no problems with pain and discomfort this year. I highly recommend WorkPace to anyone who has even the slightest OOS problem. I personally would not now work on any computer that did not have WorkPace installed."
Helen Pidwerbesky, Secretary - University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Consumer Report on WorkPace Computer Program
Background
- WorkPace is a software package developed to assist the management of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).
- I have had two trial copies of WorkPace installed in March and April respectively on account of an RSI condition which became disabling in December 1996 to the point I was able to use my computer or a pen for only a few minutes before experiencing considerable pain. During January I attended the office mornings only. In February I used the computer in the mornings only.
- My OOS claim for compensation for physiotherapy on neck and back over February to May is currently with ACC.
- Carpel Tunnel Syndrome has been identified in both hands, particularly the right hand.
- Part of the extensive strategy I have developed to maintain full-time attendance at the Ministry [of Education] since February, using the computer throughout the day as required, has been to make full use of WorkPace.
- The example which proved to me its worth was a deadline which meant working under pressure beyond 5 pm one evening. Under similar pressure, prior to having WorkPace installed, have worked to complete a task ASAP and have had several days and nights of considerable pain following; on this occasion I kept pausing whenever "instructed" and there was no pain the following night or day.
- Employers are anxious to know if there is a downside in loss of productivity because of frequent micro-pauses. For my part, the pauses are just long enough to practice one or other of the OOS prevention exercises and the breaks are an opportunity to attend to the intray, telephone messages, etc, etc.
- Without WorkPace, I get too absorbed in the task at hand to monitor the breaks needed as frequently as they are needed, in order to manage my OOS condition so that it has a minimum impact on my productivity.
Elspeth Preddy, Equal Educational Opportunity Advisor, Ministry of Education, New Zealand
"I am a network/PC support specialist and work with computers all day. Over several weeks my arms got more and more painful, and I was diagnosed with RSI. ... Once I'm busy, I get glued to the screen, and find it hard to take regular breaks. I started using WorkPace, a windows based package, to remind me to take micro-pauses and breaks. Within 1 week I started feeling the difference. Although my RSI is not gone, I don't take it home with me anymore.... The micro pauses and breaks, don't cost much time and enable me to enjoy my work."
Joost Stenfert Kroese, CAD Technician - School of Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
I do software development for a living, and for fun too. I've been suffering from neck pain, lightheadedness and headaches since last February. All the medical tests I had were negative, so I finally was left with the idea that I had some kind of RSI brought on by too much uninterrupted computer time, bad posture, etc. ...
I'm happy to say that my problems seem to finally be subsiding over the past few weeks, and I think that WorkPace has helped me curb my bad habits. I'm now recommending it to my co-workers as well.
Frank Palazzolo, Software Developer, Michigan, USA
