Over the last few decades information technology has revolutionized the workplace with computers now the most commonly used tool in the workplace. As many tasks have now shifted into the electronic realm (such as email, personal organizers and online documentation) there is less and less physical variety left in our work. Many long-term computer users complain of eyestrain, headaches, discomfort and pain in various parts of their upper bodies. Lack of physical activity in our work day can also decrease our ability to focus on the task at hand and reduce our effectiveness and productivity.

This now well recognized problem has led to the development over the last decade of the field of 'office ergonomics'. Many devices and tools – including copy holders, ergonomic mice, ergonomic keyboards, forearm rests, and foot rests have been developed to try and make using a computer more comfortable, and less likely to cause problems. However, there is an increasingly common misconception that office ergonomics is now just about designing comfortable workstations and equipment. In reality, ergonomics is the science of 'fitting the task to the worker', and this involves more than just the physical environment. Although less tangible, other factors including workload, work flow, task variety and psychological demands are just as important. Good ergonomic equipment makes it easier for our bodies to cope with these factors, but it is not enough - there is an increasing need to 'reintroduce' this lost physical variety, in order maintain maximum well-being and productivity. WorkPace is a software tool designed to help you achieve this, in a manner which fits in with your work as smoothly as possible.

WorkPace reintroduces physical variety into your work day by prompting you to take micropauses to relax your muscles, reminding you to take regular breaks away from the computer, and guiding you through exercises and stretches to reinvigorate your body and mind. Introducing regular breaks and variety into your work day has now been proven to both increase productivity and reduce discomfort and complaints among computer users. Using WorkPace enables you keep working safe in the knowledge that the risks of computer use are being minimized.