Smartdesk’s iFlip
Computer Suspension System
By Mitchell Levine
Over the last couple of years, thousands of students and teachers
have received portable computers as part of an initiative carried
through by the Department of Education and the Laptop Foundation
of America. Unfortunately, one built-in problem persists: The
districts in the public education system that most critically
need access to the technology also have the least space to
utilize them in. A serious issue that needs to be resolved
as well is the question of how the systems can be safely deployed
for use by growing and physiologically vulnerable students.
The iFlip manufactured by SmartDesk,
inc. can provide a dependable, practical solution to all
of the above concerns. Designed for ergonomic stability,
the stand enables a cantilevered position, so you can place
your keyboard to extend out over the front edge of your desk.
According to the company’s site, OSHA
maintains that reclining in your chair creates a more neutral
ergonomic posture conducive to the recommended frequent shifts
of position.
For those school districts that
distribute laptops for students to use at their desks or
in computer labs with reclining chairs, the iFlip will represent
a considerably improvement in the ease with which their hardware
can be reliably mounted and easily removed when needed. A
set of wheels in the back of the unit provide ease of lateral
movement, while a surface contact area under the lip provides
enough resistance to keep the stand from moving while you
type. Although getting accustomed to a steeper angle of inclination
while working at a laptop does take some time, I was more
comfortable using my Toshiba at a table during my trial of
the product than any other method of laptop suspension I’ve
used so far.
On another front, heat rises, so, when a laptop sits flat
on a surface, the heat produced by the CPU is trapped. The
added air space, when the laptop rests on the rear levelers,
also promotes airflow. More airflow equals less heat buildup,
a key factor in the lifespan of any laptop.
For
anyone who would like to be able to comfortably use their laptop
at a desk or table while promoting safe posture, protect their
investment by preventing overheating, and eliminate hazardous
drag when clearing their workspace, Education Update recommends
the iFlip. For more information, call 1-888-660-5057, or log
on the companies’ site
at www.smartdesk.com#
