What height should computer screens be at for a unusual control booth?

[John P]

Dear All

What height should computer screens be at for a unusual control booth?  the control booth at the back of the theatre. The screens are mounted a bit high so it hurts the SM neck, what the Angle for computer screen for most control booths??

[the kid]

What works.  something adjustable would be good but you have tall and short SM so there isn't exactly going to be "good".

[Robin D]

No easy answer to this. Workstation design is a field all by itself. However, there can't be many where you need to look down, and that throwsallthat I ever learnt out of the window. As a norm, the centre of teh screen should be at working eye height, so most desks are actually too low. Again ideally, teh screen should be upright and not tilted as the eyes have less work to do trying to focus differently at various parts of the screen. 

If you have a local university, you may find that they have an course part of which is ergonomics. If so, you may find that they will come in toa advise as part of their course work. 

[bruce]

You may find https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf and  https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.pdf useful.

In general, screens should be height adjustable, with swivel and tilt, and the top of the screen should be around, or slightly lower than, eye level.

However, at the back of an auditorium, where the normal mode is "looking downhill", a lower mount may be appropriate. 

Edit: or a higher chair....

 

[Dave m]

SM in the box?

[paulears]

They do this in America, Im told. In fairness, over the years, I can see some advantages, but only if that person can see backstage in monitors that work and have a comms back channel for people to talk back separately.

on the monitor front, remember people who have progressive glasses. Reading monitor screens that are not where your glasses want them to be means huge head movement and I hate that. I can cope with side by side screens, even with a big gap, but over and under screens are painful! 

[Andrew C]

I'd be a bit wary of using "standard" Display Screen Equipment ergonomics.  Surely, most of the time, you will need to be looking at the stage?  I very much doubt there is a right answer - it depends...

[sunray]

Head up display on control room glass?😁

[alistermorton]

Head-up ... that's an interesting possibility.

[Jivemaster]

Never assume that your production staff will all be the same height! Also consider what else they have to see and touch.

[sunray]

1 hour ago, Jivemaster said:

Never assume that your production staff will all be the same height!

Indeed, I've done an amount of work with junior children at summer school.

 

Or the performers, I focused lights for a show during 3 rehearsals, including dress rehearsal. Halfway through first half a prominant part came on to the stage head and shoulders taller than anyone else and wearing a very tall elaborate head gear. His entrance and much of his part was performed on a 3ft high raised section and I had absolutely nothing lighting up that height.

Sunray said something to the effect of 'Oh dear me I wonder who he is'😉 on the intercom but the others didn't realise I had not seen or focussed for him.

During the interval I was able to move a couple of lights, allowing anything above his chest his to be seen. He had not been available for rehearsals when I was and his part had been taken by a petite lady getting on for a foot and a half shorter and not wearing the head gear.

Edited November 14 by sunray

[Jivemaster]

One member here admits to being 6ft 3 tall, there will likely also be techs as short as 5ft, either as regulars or just touring through for 2 nights. Part of your system may need to be mobile or adjustable.

[sunray]

16 hours ago, Jivemaster said:

One member here admits to being 6ft 3 tall, there will likely also be techs as short as 5ft, either as regulars or just touring through for 2 nights. Part of your system may need to be mobile or adjustable.

I know the feeling

17 hours ago, sunray said:

Or the performers, I focused lights for a show during 3 rehearsals, including dress rehearsal. Halfway through first half a prominant part came on to the stage head and shoulders taller than anyone else and wearing a very tall elaborate head gear.

I believe mine here around 5'3" and 6'7" plus 18" of head dress so over 2½ft or ½ the height of the actress I was expecting to light.

 

Which brings me back to a panto we used to help run in a scout hall, there was a recess at the back of the hall which became our booth, we added a 2ft high 4x3ft deck which was as close as dammit to a perfect fit and created extensions on 2 legs for a 4ft Gopac table. The main tec's for several years were girls (scouts) around ~11-14 years old and skinny as a rake. It was fun when 6'1" 16stone Sunray covered any shows either couldn't attend. For a start 3ft depth for a chair left naff all room for my size 10 feet and my belly was erm well let's say in contact with the table.

Edited November 15 by sunray

[kerry davies]

Back to the OP. The QEH theatre on top of Park Street in Bristol used to be one of our favourite tour venues but the control booth had a fairly high bench on which sat the controllers and across the none too tall window ran a rather large electrical box trunking. If one stood on tiptoe anyone over 6' 1" could see the tops of actors heads on most of the set and if one crouched to look under the trunking one got a great and almost panoramic view of the grid. 

Your solution might well be to leave the screens where they are and elevate the users.

[Jivemaster]

Could people sit? On adjustable height seats? Readily available seats from footstool height to bar stool height are easily acquired from office or workshop suppliers.