Comment prévenir le « Tech Neck » ? Notre dernière solution

If a visitor from a distant galaxy, having studied human history for years, were to walk through modern offices and homes, they might conclude that our evolution is still ongoing. They would often encounter a new species of human: homo computerus. Hunched over, with a spine shaped like a "C" and a head perpetually tilted downward, this species spends most of their time sedentary, their eyes fixed on a screen, neck contorted in unnatural ways. With these practices and lifestyle, Earthlings don’t seem to have a bright future ahead, the hypothetical alien might think. But what can be done to remedy this when, for many of us, working on a computer is an unavoidable part of daily life? Worry not for help is on the way, dear – we’ve already found an effective solution here at Oakywood.

How heavy can a head be?

The average adult head weighs around 4.5–5 kg (10–11 lbs). Pick up a 5 kg dumbbell and simply hold it in your hand with your arm down by your side - you likely won’t feel its weight too intensely. However, try holding the same dumbbell with your arm extended in front of you at a 90° angle to your torso and it will feel much heavier. You’ll struggle to maintain this position for long.

The same principle applies for unnaturally tilting your head forward as you look at your screen. This creates pressure that significantly increases the perceived weight of your head. Depending on the angle of inclination, the weight burden on your spine can increase several times over, reaching up to 60 kg (132 lbs)! Over time, this puts immense strain on your spine.

What is tech neck?

Frequent and prolonged tilting of the head while using a laptop or smartphone has led to a new condition emblematic of our digital era – the tech neck. The body gradually adapts to the "computer posture," forming a habit of assuming this stance automatically every time you sit at your desk. It mistakenly perceives this position as the most comfortable.

Over time, this postural error leads to chronic tension, pain, and stiffness in the neck and shoulders, sometimes extending to the hands. The long-term consequences can be even more serious—tech neck can progress into posture defects, permanent spinal degeneration, or disc disease. It also affects our body’s overall well-being, particularly lung capacity and heart function. Moreover, chronic headaches and back pain often contribute to insomnia and can even lead to depression.

Behind the scenes of the Desk Shelf Laptop Mount

Oakywood has long offered solutions that promote ergonomic computer use, which in turn helps prevent posture issues and various other ailments. Among them are the desk shelf and laptop stand. To take them a step further we decided to introduce an additional tool that allows you to create the most comfortable dual-screen setup (monitor and laptop). This led us to creating a laptop holder mounted to a desk shelf.

Excitingly, it was the first product developed in collaboration with our new designer, Mateusz Pawela.

The creative process began with ergonomic testing, determining the optimal height of the laptop’s lower and upper edges, as well as calculating the ideal screen angle for the user. Mateusz then conducted trials using human figures in sitting and standing positions, testing two screen angles (25° and 30°) and two extreme user sizes (5th percentile female and 95th percentile male).

The test results, combined with functional, material, and aesthetic considerations, led to the design of three different product variants. Each was thoroughly analyzed and tested during prototyping, ultimately resulting in the final concept.

The next level of ergonomics

The Desk Shelf Laptop Mount is a steel platform that clamps onto your desk shelf without the need for complicated installation or any power tools. We also integrated a natural felt and cork padding to protect both the shelf surface and the bottom of your laptop from scratches.

This mount allows you to position your device so that the screen is at eye level, eliminating the need to tilt your head downward while working. For added comfort, you can also adjust the laptop’s horizontal position, rotating the mount up to 30° towards you.

This solution not only helps maintain proper posture and prevents issues like tech neck but also enhances your desk’s organizational capabilities. However, we must warn you – having access to such a game-changing tool might lead to a significant boost in productivity!