With what seems like a million new accessories on the market to improve the ergonomics of your computer desk, or to help keep your computer workstation more organized, or to simply make your computer mobile and more versatile, how do you know which ones are junk and which ones are worth buying? Well… that depends completely on you.
Lame answer? Were you expecting a personalized list of important accessories that will be worth their expense? Sorry. That’s not possible. Like the upgrades available on vehicles, some are valuable and used every day, making the driving experience more enjoyable, and some are added only to realize you could have lived without them just as easy. Some people rely daily on their GPS systems, some find them to be a colossal waste of money. Some folks pay extra to have splash guards, others would prefer to spend that money on car washes. Like a car, adding the right accessories to a computer desk depends largely on who will be sitting at the desk.
Let’s start with a basic accessory: the keyboard tray or arm. Do you need it? Yes. Why? Because ergonomics are important. The most likely way to injure yourself while sitting at a computer table (yes, injuries are possible) is by using a keyboard tray in a way that’s not ergonomic or comfortable to your body. Overuse injuries in the wrists and hands can lead to the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, a painful condition in the wrist and arms that limits mobility, reduces the amount of weight a person can lift, and can evolve into permanent disability. A keyboard tray slides in and out, allowing you to hide it under the desktop while a keyboard arm adjusts for height and tilt, so that the user can position it correctly (the correct position is a slight tilt, with the entire keyboard slightly below the bend of the elbow). Arms are better than trays. This is the accessory you need, even if you only sit at your computer desk a short time each day.
Next, LCD monitor arms. These are accessories that allow you to mount the flat panel monitors to the wall, to the back of the desk, to the shelf above the desk