Info-Mac 3/Info_Mac_1994-01.iso/Periodical/General/RSI Network Newsletters/RSInetwork.12.etx

Text File | 1993-06-28 | 33KB | 812 lines

RSI Network Newsletter #12/June 93
==================================


  The RSI Network Electronic Newsletter
  For People Concerned About Tendinitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
  and Other Repetitive Strain Injuries


Produced by:
Caroline Rose, 970 Paradise Way, Palo Alto CA 94306
  <[e-mail]>
Copyright 1993 Caroline Rose. All rights reserved.
Apple Computer is in no way affiliated with this newsletter.

Setext formatting and electronic version editing by:
  Craig O'Donnell, Assistant Sysop, MacWEEK Forum on ZiffNet
  <[e-mail]> or <72511,240> on CIS. Journalists
  can contact Craig at 617-776-2809 if they need info about
  RSI Network Newsletter contents and availability.

About this document:
This document is in setext (structure-enhanced text) format.
Mac users: to index, browse, and copy from collected setext
documents, use Easy View, written by M. Akif Eyler, Bilkent
University, 06533 Ankara, Turkey <[e-mail]>.

  "RSINET.SEA" and RSInn.SIT files are available on ZiffNet/Mac
  in the "Reference" file library at location ZMC:DOWNTECH.
  Easy View is in the "Applications" library under filename
  EASYVW.SEA.

To subscribe, see "Electronic Subscriptions", below. To get back
issues or an archive of all issues, see "Online Distribution".


Printed (Snail Mail) Newsletter Subscribers: Take Note
------------------------------------------------------
Caroline says:
  The help I need to maintain mailing this newsletter in print for
  over100 people has not (yet) come, so I must ask all of you who
  receive it by mail to consider otherwise (as I'll soon explain);
  if you can get it through some other means, you'll free up a
  "slot" so that someone who has no other means of getting it can
  subscribe.

  So please, call me at [phone] and let me know if any of the
  following apply to you so I can shorten the mailing list for the
  printed Newsletter:

  (1) you can receive it electronically (it's up on many networks;
  see the end of this newsletter for more information)

  (2) you can get a copy of it through the RSI support group you
  attend, or through your health practitioner, or someone at work.

  (3) for some reason, you no longer need or want to receive it
  from me.


  If this doesn't trim down my subscriber list, and I still don't
  get the help I need, I'll next ask those of you who haven't
  contributed any money in over a year or so to make another
  donation as a sign of your continued interest in the newsletter.
  Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.


Hardware Notes
--------------
Ergonomic Pointing Devices
  Logitech makes trackballs and ergonomic mice that may help ease
  wrist and tendon pain. The Mouseman has a rounded top that slants
  sideways and down (to the right for righties and to the left for
  lefties) - it sort of resembles a bar of Irish Spring soap. It has
  three buttons and very smooth movement due to its teflon-coated
  slides.

  There are Mousemen for both the PC (righty and lefty) and the
  Macintosh (righty only at this time), and prices are in the $100-
  plus vicinity; for more information, call Logitech at 1-800-231-
  7717.

Stingray and MacTrac
  From Kathy Hertzler <[e-mail]>:
  I tried the CoStar Stingray trackball and sent it back because it
  gave me no place to rest my hand and the buttons were too
  sensitive to rest my thumb and little finger on. Now I have
  MicroSpeed's MacTrac. It has a hand rest which I find a big plus.
  You can rest your fingers on the buttons without doing things you
  didn't intend. The buttons are likewise more difficult to press
  and the ball is big and somewhat awkward, but it's better than
  what I had before.


Macintosh Disability Resources Stack: New Contact
-------------------------------------------------
  The new contact for obtaining this (free) HyperCard stack of
  Macintosh-related disability resources is AppleLink APPLEDSG (for
  Apple Disability Solutions Group), or [e-mail]
  on the Internet, or the (California) phone number [phone].

  It is also available on the BMUG Boston and Planet BMUG bulletin
  boards. BMUG Boston is 617-721-5840. Planet BMUG is: 510-849-2684.


Products For Everyone
---------------------
Ergonomic Goodies From MOMA
This comes to us from "roving reporter" Craig O'Donnell:

  As mentioned in RSI Network issue 9, The Museum of Modern Art (NY)
  mail order catalog includes interesting products in the "Designs
  for Independent Living" (DIL) collection, intended for people with
  arthritis and similar hand problems. Kitchen items and gardening
  tools form the bulk of the offerings. Prices seem high, and
  there's a minimum $5 shipping fee. MOMA members get 10% off all
  items.

  The catalog (which costs $3) and any products can be ordered by
  phone: [phone]-MOMA, 24 hours. I've summarized some products
  from the DIL collection below. Some of the products are not
  available elsewhere an some are. Items that appear to be best-buys
  from the description and photograph are flagged with a double
  asterisk.

  In among the $3,000 leather recliners, $2,000 coffee tables, and
  "Genuine Architectural Cookie-Cutters" (doubtless used to build
  Levittown and Daly City), we find these:

  *  Easy-Grip Pen ($13): a fat-barreled ballpoint [certainly
     available elsewhere for less]
  *  OLO Rolling Cutter ($16): mentioned in issue #10 at $10.25
  *  Automatic Letter Opener ($30) and Electronic (sic) Stapler
     ($60): require batteries
 **  Round MOMA Alarm Clock ($28): 4-inch round black analog clock,
     twist outer rim to set time.
  *  Auto Open-Close Umbrella ($30): push a button to activate

  *  Softouch Scissors ($18): oversized padded handgrips, spring-
     loaded
  *  Pruner ($30): ergonomically contoured handles, non-stick blade
  *  Moda I Calculator ($38): large unit with big buttons and
     display
  *  Zelco Pill Dispenser ($25): electronic timer
 **  Handform Gardening Tools ($22): Set of two, plastic, neat

 **  Hoe, Trowel, Rake ($25-$27 each?): long lightweight handles
     with grips
  *  Tub Rail ($78): portable, slips onto the tub side
 **  Bottle-Jar Opener ($10): a large rubber "sucker" that fits
     over lids
  *  Reacher ($45): pincers operated with a squeeze-grip. Looks
     painful.
  *  Gafetto Serving Tool (2/$45): stainless "picker" is fork,
     chopsticks and tongs

 **  UNA Flatware (5 pc/$65): large rounded handles, all stainless
  *  Buttoner ($20): bulb-shaped handle and thin hook
 **  Folding Trolley ($100): self-locking handles for almost
     automatic opening and closing; wheeled
  *  FIX Prep Board ($110): very fancy locking cutting board for
     one-handed slicing, chopping, etc.
  *  Cheese Slicer ($22): large 90-degree handle [who needs sliced
     Cheddar this badly?]

  *  Cutting Board ($32): for loaves of bread, resembles a
     carpenter's miter box
 **  Kitchen Knives ($22 ea): smooth or serrated knife, "joystick"
     style vertical handle
  *  Goblets ($16 each): clear, thick stems and fat bowls [artsy
     indeed]
  *  Lidded Beaker ($26): glass beaker slips into plastic muglike
     holder. Has "sippy-straw lid".
 **  Thick-Handled Cutlery (3/$48): knife, fork, spoon; plastic
     handles

 **  Combifork, Combispoon ($21 ea): utensils have fat plastic
     handles and cutting edges on one side. Fork comes in lefty or
     righty.
 **  Raised-Edge Plate ($18; 2 or more $16 ea.): nonslip bottom, for
     one-handed eating
 **  Folding Angled Knife ($24): right-angled handle, spring loaded


  The catalog itself is an education in the "Design" mentality,
  since numerous products - for example, the designer cutlery - look
  as if they would be painful if not impossible to use for anyone
  with limited hand motion. A minuscule "DIL" icon is scattered
  throughout the catalog next to the names of items from the DIL
  collection. Body type is very small and hard to read!


Arthritis Self-Help Products
----------------------------
  This 24-page catalog is decidedly less classy looking than MOMA's
  but probably offers a lot of the same products. It's yours for the
  asking at [phone] (New Jersey). It's from a group called
  Aids for Arthritis, Inc., now in their 14th year. The catalog
  looks very complete; it includes items I haven't seen elsewhere,
  such as a hands-free hair dryer and Velcro-backed buttons.


"Good Grips": Tip From A Reader
-------------------------------
>From Erica Ginsburg:
  I've bought a number of Good Grips cooking utensils and most have
  performed well. The exception is the paring knife; the cutting
  edge rusts and gets pitted. I brought it back to the store and
  exchanged it for a new one. The new knife does the same thing. I
  like the knife's fat wrist-friendly handle, but the blade doesn't
  hold up.


Sports Touch Herbal Healing Balm
--------------------------------
  A reader once suggested that I mention arnica oil as a possible
  natural remedy to pain caused by RSIs. Recently I learned of an
  herbal healing balm that contains arnica oil along with 10 herbs
  and 7 other ingredients that may aid in healing injured tissue.
  For more information, contact Sports Touch in San Diego CA at
  [phone].


Reading and Resources
---------------------

  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Prevention and Treatment
  by Kate Montgomery.

To receive this book, make out a check or money order to Sports
Touch for $14.95 (+ $1.15 tax CA only) +$3.00 S/H, and mail it to:

  Sports Touch, P.O. Box 229002-155
  San Diego, CA 92122.

Or call [phone] for more information.

  Kate is a certified sports massage therapist, health educator, and
  wellness consultant in San Diego. She says: "My book is not a cure
  but a preventive and self-treatment program that anyone can
  incorporate into their daily lifestyle and schedule. My techniques
  bring the body's structure and muscles back into balance. The body
  is not and cannot function as a robot. It moves out of balance
  daily due to the mental and physical stress of normal activities.
  The inception and growth of the computer age has brought
  Repetitive Strain Injuries to the forefront. It's my intention to
  provide helpful information and insight about this disease of the
  nineties."

  Write or call Sports Touch if you want to enlist Kate as a speaker
  or request information on her seminars.


June SIGCHI Meeting in Boston
-----------------------------
>From Craig:
  I managed to get myself to a June 22nd meeting presented by GB/SIGCHI on
  RSI prevention. Martha Loss, an ergonomics trainer, and Dr. Robert Cross
  spoke on The causes  of specific practical solutions for preventing RSI.
  Presentations centered on ergonomically sound workstations, adjustments,
  and prevention through knowledge and a reasonable work pace.

  Dr. Cross brought loads of slides showing people in all-to-familiar
  situations almost guaranteed to cause pain and injury, and it was an
  eye-opener.

  In a nutshell, the messages are:

    * Take frequent breaks, and pause at least once every 20 minutes.
    * Poor posture is the most common cause of RSIs
    * Poorly designed workspaces and furniture are the most common
      causes of poor posture.
    * Poorly designed chairs are the major culprit, with proper
      height, depth, and orientation of the worksurface a close
      second.

  It was also interesting to hear that office furniture is designed
  to a mythical "average" represented by the bell curve that encompasses
  95% of all body types. Anyone in the 2.5% at either end of the
  curve (very short or very tall) is in big trouble with standard
  office chairs and worksurfaces.

  I've become convinced after hearing to talk that we all should,
  somehow, get out and try a dozen or so chairs until we find one that
  fits us like a glove. And yes, the chair will cost somewhere from
  $600 to $1500, but that's cheap compared to lost work, medical
  bills, workers' comp claims, possible lawsuits, and increased
  insurance premiums to employers.

  Both presenters were convinced that the Americans With Disabilities
  Act is a potent tool to force a recalcitrant employer to provide
  you with the proper chair (you will of course need medical proof
  of your RSI problem).

Chairs On Parade
  Sales reps from two Boston-area furniture companies came too and they
  brought ergonomic chairs and tables for people to examine and try
  out.I was particularly impressed by a Swedish design from a company
  called "HAG".

  RaNita Parrish from Office Pavilion in Boston brought
  the HAG chair:
    Office Pavilion
    425 Summer Street
    Boston MA 02210
    617-330-1799
    fax [phone]

  Gary Warren of Girsberger (a Swiss firm) brought samples
  from that line:
    22 Juniper Road
    Franklin MA 02038
    508-528-9830

  Girsberger's US office is:
    Box 1476
    Smithfield NC 27577
    919-934-0545
    fax [phone]

  One interesting thing about the Girsberger line is that the chairs
  come in different configurations, with multiple sizes of each
  configuration for small, average and large people.

About the Presenters
  People in the Boston area might want to contact Ms. Loss or Dr.
  Cross for more information. I hope to have more from both of them
  in Newsletter #13. Here is a writeup from the meeting handout:


    Martha Loss founded Oakfield Associates, a management and ergonomic
    consulting firm, in 1983.  She focuses on organizational
    development, and worker health, safety, and productivity in the
    computerized work environment.  Widely respected as a dynamic and
    entertaining speaker, Martha and her team design seminars to the
    specific needs of clients.  She holds a Masters Degree in Human
    Resource Education from Boston University and was a manager at MIT
    before becoming an ergonomics educator and consultant.
      Oakfield Associates
      Newton, MA
      (617)-965-1127

    Dr. Robert Cross specializes in office and industrial ergonomics for
    business and industry as the Medical Director of Cross Associates.  He
    uses both still and video photography in conjunction with specialized
    software to analyze workplace ergonomic fa ctors and recommend solutions
    and prevention measures.  For the past decade, he has been the Medical
    Director of  the Occupational Health Service at Franklin Medical Center.
    Dr. Cross holds a B.A. from Harvard College, a B.M.S. from Dartmouth
    Medical School, and an M.D. from the University of California Medical
    School.
      [ I managed to misplace Dr. Cross' card but I'll make up
      for it in Newsletter #13  …COD ]


  The organizers did a great job with this excellent meeting and the 35-odd
  attendees learned a great deal. For more information about upcoming SIGCHI
  meetings, please contact:

    Ron Perkins
    [phone]
    <[e-mail]>

  SIGCHI is also active in the Bay Area, and I hope to have a contact
  person's phone and email address for Newsletter #13.



Magazines and Journal Articles
------------------------------
  PC World, May 1993, "Danger at Your Fingertips" by Roberta Furger
  (p. 119), and "An Open Letter to Hillary Rodham Clinton" (p. 29)
  regarding health care reform and commitment to those with RSIs.

  MacWEEK, April 5 1993, Vol. 7, No. 14, has a page-long article on
  RSIs and stress in the context of Workers' Comp claims. Well
  written with common-sense advice for department managers about
  ergonomics, and a few quotes from Dr. David Rempel, Director of
  the Ergonomics Lab of the UC Medical Center.

  The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 31, 1993, "Colleges Urged
  to Step Up Their Efforts to Prevent Computed Related Injuries" by
  David Wilson.

  Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), February 12,
  1992, Vol. 267, No. 6, pp. 838-843, "Work-Related Cumulative
  Trauma Disorders of the Upper Extremity," Rempel, Harrison, and
  Barnhart.

  American Family Physician, February 1992, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp.
  585-592, "Occupational Repetitive Strain Injury," Guidotti.

  MacWorld, June 1992, "Input Alternatives" by Franklin Tessler. A
  review of mice and trackballs.


Newsletter News
---------------
Craig says:
  The RSI Network  Newsletter is now being distributed on the
  Nautilus CD-ROM monthly "magazine". The Newsletter folder contains
  EasyView for browsing and collecting sections from the setexts, and
  an index file. Nautilus subscriptions cost $130 per year for 12
  issues.

We're in Print!
  If everything goes as planned, a summary of products and resources
  from Issues 1-11 will appear in the BMUG Newsletter, Fall 1993
  issue. The Spring 1994 BMUG Newsletter will, I hope, contain more
  stuff from Issues 12, 13 and 14 and some material from the first
  11 issues that didn’t fit.


Letters From Members
--------------------
  Please send in your letters or questions; other readers can reply
  to you via this newsletter or directly to you (don't forget to
  indicate which you prefer). Your name will be used unless you
  indicate otherwise. And please take the time to reply to someone's
  question if you can help out.

Easy-Steering Cars
>In answer to a question in a previous issue, Donna Foley says:
  I used to have an Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (1984); it was very
  easy to steer. Maybe other GM cars are similar. Just before my
  RSI/CTS symptoms got bad, I got a 1992 Mazda Protege with power-
  assisted steering. All I can say is American-made cars have the
  best power steering; I wish I still had the steering of the
  Cutlass on my Protege.

Carrot Juice
>From Rhonda Mattern:
  I know a cello player who says he cured a six-year bout of
  tendinitis completely by drinking lots of carrot juice and
  strengthening his upper body with exercise. I've started this
  regime and it helps a lot. The carrot juice has really been
  helpful. I suspect it's the vitamin A, but I'm not sure. Any other
  experiences along these lines out there?

Practitioners In Pennsylvania
>From Eva Ching, in answer to Robert Carey's question in Issue 11:
  The Philadelphia Hand Center is world-renowned. They give a
  conference every year to "train the trainers"; the results of
  their research and conferences became "the book" for hand
  therapists and physicians, Rehabilitation of the Hand.

>From Bruce Horn <[e-mail]>:
  I had great luck (fast relief) from a manipulation performed on me
  by a chiropractor in Pittsburgh, Alan Berman, [phone]. I
  would be happy to give details to anyone who contacts me.

Gloves
>From Kathy Hertzler, <[e-mail]>:
  The fingerless "Alpha Glove" is available from Samson Marketing
  Group in Providence, RI. (1-800-727-1712, $19.95+3.00 shipping).
  I'm wondering if anyone has heard of these and if they work.


Lauretta's Story
----------------
  This story comes to us from Lauretta Jones. You can reach Lauretta
  at <[e-mail]>. Please send in your own story or
  helpful tips for other RSI sufferers.


  I'm a graphic designer, now specializing in interface design. I've
  worked with computers for 11 years, formerly with a graphics
  tablet, now with keyboard and mouse. I don't think I type as much
  as the 'average' computer user. But this doesn't seemed to have
  mattered.

  I joined IBM Research three years ago, and plunged immediately
  into an exciting yet exhausting project for the world's fair in
  Spain. It entailed long hours and much travel. Last July, while in
  Spain, my wrists and forearms got intermittently numb. There was
  so much going on at the time, that this barely made it into
  consciousness. But a few weeks later, on the next trip to Spain,
  both my arms became lightly numb from the wrists to the elbows and
  stayed that way. (Besides normal typing, I had spent periods of
  time testing our application on a vertical touchscreen.)

  Upon returning to the States, I visited my GP who, after taking a
  history and administering the normal tests (but not a nerve
  conduction test), said I had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. She sent me
  away with braces and a prescription for an anti-inflammatory. If
  these didn't work, the next stop would be a hand surgeon who would
  likely do the nerve test.

  Determined to avert surgery and at a friend's urging, the next day
  I went to a chiropractor. He poked a bit at the tendons in my
  forearm and then 'snapped' each wrist. Before the next five
  minutes passed, the sensation in both arms returned to normal.
  Coincidence? Possibly. (My doctor smirked but was silent when I
  told her what I had done.)

  I still wore the braces at night and took the drugs until October.
  I found the braces also helpful during the day if my wrists felt a
  little weak or 'burny', or if I was doing something I thought
  might aggravate them. I bought the fattest pens I could find,
  didn't reach for the SHIFT key on my keyboard to make capital
  letters, and wrote more in longhand (remember writer's cramp?) I
  then had an extended period of time off (deferred vacation, etc.
  from the Spain project), and did basically nothing. This seemed to
  be the best medicine.

  The IBM doctor visited my office, and made a series of
  recommendations for improvements. This has also helped reduce the
  problems with my neck/back/shoulders/headaches that I had come to
  accept as 'normal'. I've tried a number of different items and
  found the following helped, though symptoms start creeping back if
  I type for more than 2-3 hours at a time. If anyone has any
  exercises they've had good results from, please let me know.

  *  Logitech Mouseman, available both for PC and Macintosh and in
  right- and left-handed versions. The rounded bottom fits gently
  into my palm, and it's sloped toward the outside of the hand.

    [Actually the lefty is not out yet for Mac users;
    I called Logitech about this   ...COD]

  *  CarpalRest from Fox Bay Industries at 1-800-874-8527. Softly
  padded wrist rest for keyboard with a ledge that keyboard sits on
  top of, so the rest doesn't slide around. I had tried a Wristsaver
  (and mouse pad) from L.B.Innovators, but they were too hard and
  had a poor angle for me, and the mouse pad was too small.
  [phone].

  *  I have a footrest (no name). It's carpeted and adjustable, but
  I always smash my chair legs into it.

  *  Chair: Still looking. Tried many. Finally brought the old one
  in from my home studio. Realize there are as many chairs as
  bodies, and like shoes, you can't really get a good fit with a
  5-minute tryout.

  *  Speakerphone: Not very pleasant for the person calling,
  perhaps, but a great saver on neck, shoulders, arms, and wrists.
  (If they know why you've put them on the speaker, they won't feel
  so alienated.) At home, I got a Radio Shack headset. Great for
  no-hands talking.

  *  I'm learning how to do nearly everything possible without
  bending or twisting (especially) my wrists. Making a fist is very
  useful, for example, in opening a push-type door.


New Support Groups: South San Francisco & Boston
------------------------------------------------
  Boston: Call Rik Ahlberg at (617)4577-2080 to discuss
  forming this group.

  South San Francisco: Call Lynda or Sherry, [phone].
  Meets  second Wednesday of every month, 7 PM. Caremark
  Peninsula Athlete's Center, 216 Mosswood Way, S. San Francisco.

  NEW! Forming in Marin CA
  Liza, San Anselmo, [phone] after 11 AM to discuss
  forming this group.


Texas Group Wanted
------------------
  Lynne Johnson in Austin is interested in finding an RSI support
  group in Austin, Dallas, or Houston. She can be reached at home
  at [phone].


RSI Support Groups (California, New York)
-----------------------------------------
  San Francisco:
  Judy Doane, [phone], or Yari Leski, [phone].
  Alternate Mondays, 7:30 PM, at the California Pacific Medical
  Center (3773 Sacramento St., at Maple, SF), rooms G and H.
  6/14: Tai Chi and body therapy;
  7/5: Dragon Dictate;
  6/28 and 7/19: Support meetings.

  East Bay:
  Joan Lichterman, [phone].
  Meets monthly, 7 to 9 PM, usually on the second Wednesday, at
  CalARM 400 29th Street, #105 (at summit), Oakland.
  6/9: Speaker on whether/when to get a lawyer.

  North Bay:
  Stephanie Barnes, [phone].
  Tuesday evenings, 6:30 to 9 PM, at Santa Rosa Plaza, in the
  Community Room.

  South Bay:
  Pat Roggy, [phone], or Petzoldt Hand Center,
  [phone].

  Los Angeles:
  Samantha Greenberg, [phone].
  A "computer injury network".

  New York NY:
  Susan Nobel, [phone]. Meets monthly.
  She is a social worker at Mount Sinai Hospital who
  offers free counseling to RSI sufferers.


Submissions
-----------
  Caroline says:
  This newsletter relies on contributions from its readers: please
  contribute your questions, stories, and any information that may
  be of interest to people with RSI.

  Contributions to the newsletter's content are essential to keeping
  this effort going, so please send me anything that may benefit
  others. Where possible please submit contributions on diskette or
  via Email. Xeroxes of interesting articles from anywhere are
  always welcome. Mail disks or xeroxes to:
  Caroline Rose, 970 Paradise Way, Palo Alto CA 94306

  To submit material to Caroline Rose via Internet, send mail to:
  <[e-mail]>

  Caroline will not be able to Email personal responses for the
  indefinite future. Please do not let that inhibit any of you from
  sending her your material for the Newsletter  --COD.


No More Print Copies Available For Now!
---------------------------------------
  You can receive the newsletter electronically, and it's available
  on many public electronic sites; contact our "Electronic Editor"
  Craig O'Donnell at <[e-mail]> on the Internet or
  72511,240 on CompuServe.

  Donations to help cover expenses are always welcome; please send a
  check made out to Caroline Rose (not "RSI Network"!) and mail it
  to the address above.

  I can't provide printed back issues until further notice. Sorry.
  Please get the newsletter electronically and print it yourself.


Electronic Subscriptions
------------------------
The following is current as of 7/93. Craig says:

  Anyone who would like to subscribe to Issues 12 and later via
  Internet, please send Email to: <[e-mail]>.

  Put "RSI Subscription" (without quotes) in the SUBJECT: line and
  my mailer adds you to the distribution list. [I can not answer
  personally --- COD.]

Sysops Information
  Anyone who wants to redistribute the RSI Newsletter on a BBS,
  online service, or corporate network, please let Craig know by
  specifying in the message you'd like to be on the Sysops' Mailing
  List. Sysops receive the latest issue plus Macintosh archive
  files.

  He has adopted naming conventions. For Macintoshes:
  "RSInetwork.SEA" or "RSINET.SEA" for the full all-issues archive
  file; "RSI10.SIT" for individual issues, "RSI10.ETX" for issues in
  uncompressed setext formatted ASCII.

  For all platforms:
  "RSI10.ETX" for individual issues in setext format (uncompressed
  ASCII text). If you compress a file - use RSINET.ZIP for a
  collection and for individual issues, RSI11.ZIP, etc.

  Craig asks BBS sysops to please use the same scheme, where
  possible, for searching consistency throughout the "universe",
  and please always include "RSI" as a keyword.


Online Distribution
-------------------
  Our goal is to have the RSI Network Newsletter available on as many
  sites as possible, both free sites and commercial services, on user
  group BBSes and on private BBSes. Again, feel free to download and
  print out the Newsletter to give to others.

Newsletter on ZiffNet
  The newsletter is available first through ZiffNet. It is postedfor
  Mac, DOS and Windows users in different ZiffNet libraries.

  ZiffNet for Mac users:
  Back issues are gathered in one archive, RSINET.SEA, in the
  "Reference" library (GO ZMC:DOWNTECH). The latest Newsletter is in
  the same library (for example, Issue 10 is "RSI10.SIT"). Use the
  keyword "RSI" to locate archives and single issues.

  To index, browse, and copy from collected setext documents, use
  Easy View, in the "Applications" library (GO ZMC:DOWNTECH) under
  filename EASYVW.SEA.

  ZiffNet for DOS and Windows users:
  Issues 1-10 have been gathered in one summary, RSI.ZIP, (GO
  PBSARCADE, Library 7). Later Newsletters as text are in the same
  library (for example, Issue 11 is "RSI11.TXT"). Use the keyword
  "RSI" to locate archives and single issues.

Planet BMUG BBS & BMUG Boston BBS
  These Mac-oriented bulletin boards run on the Macintosh First
  Class graphic host, but you can log in with any simple terminal
  program.

BMUG Boston is 617-721-5840.
  RSINetwork.SEA is in the Public Files folder. BMUG Boston has a
  conference area, AccessABLE, devoted to disabled users of all
  types.

Planet BMUG is 510-849-2684. Both boards have 16 high-speed lines
  (2400 to 14,400).

America On Line (Macintosh)
  Use Keyword BMUG and look in the file library for the up-to-date
  archive of all issues. Thanks to David Schwartz!

GEnie
  Newsletter #10 and later are available as a plain text file in
  GEnie's disABILITIES roundtable thanks to Richard Brosnahan.
  To get there:
    Log in, type "ABLE" at any "<H>elp ?" prompt.
    Once in the roundtable, type 3 for the libraries.
    Type 8 to set the software library, 7 for Newsletters and
    Articles.
    The RSI Network Newsletter #10 is file number 649, titled
    "RSINETWORK.TXT". Later issues are in the same location.

AppleLink
  More thanks to Richard Brosnahan.  Path:
  Community Connection:Disability Solutions:Empower BB:The Reference Desk


FTP & Internet Archive Sites
----------------------------
Info-Mac Archive
  A full back issues archive is on the Info-Mac internet site. To
  get the file, gopher or ftp <sumex-aim.stanford.edu> and look in
  the directory <info-mac/digest>. Filename: < rsi-network-news.hqx >

ftp for Macintosh
  All subscribers will receive a short news mailing when the ftp
  arrangements are settled. Filenames will be:

  < rsinetwork.sea.hqx > (all issues to date, archived).
  < rsinetwork.11.sit.hqx > (out 4/93)
  < rsinetwork.12.sit.hqx > (out now)
  < (etc). No caps due to UNIX conventions.

ftp for Others
  ASCII, setext formatted archive files will appear on several ftp
  sites for those using computers other than the Macintosh. Of
  course, anyone can simply subscribe to the Internet mailing list
  to receive future Newsletter issues by Internet mail.

For now, ftp to Dan Wallach's archive: <soda.berkeley.edu>
  The directory is:
  <pub/typing-injury/rsi-network> and individual issues have file
  names "issue1", "issue2", ..., etc. These copies are plain ASCII
  text.


Prior Contents
--------------
The RSI Network Newsletter has covered:

  Issue 1, 6/91:
    Hardware and software of interest; books of interest
  Issue 2, 8/91:
    The TONY! keyboard; Stanford Pain Clinic's psychologist;
    long-term disability

  Issue 3, 10/91:
    SF Bay Area doctors; Special Technology Center; ergonomic/
    employment resources
  Issue 4, 12/91:
    Software; ergonomic resources; publications; more on long-
    term disability

  Issue 5, 4/92:
    Voice-activated text input; practitioners; forearm supports;
    hints and tips
  Issue 6, 6/92:
    Statistics; voice recognition and word prediction;
    legislation; publications; organizations

  Issue 7, 8/92:
    CTS survey; iontophoresis; SF Bay Area ergonomics showroom;
    pain relief; reading hands-free; mouse relief; publications;
    legislation
  Issue 8, 10/92:
    TONY! keyboard update; other alternative input devices;
    ACTSA and other associations; CTDNEWS newsletter; advice
    for swimmers

  Issue 9, 12/92:
    Video of RSI TV special; input devices (esp. DataHand);
    software; practitioners; job accommodation
  Issue 10, 2/93:
    Rolling scissors; Apple adjustable keyboard; keystroke-saving
    software; reading

  Issue 11: Comfort keyboard; Kurzweil voice input software;
    misc. products; tips for knitters; Voc Rehab
  Issue 12: current


..

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 The RSI Network, contact <[e-mail]>.