14 DAY TRIAL // An increasing amount of jobs involve working with a computer, and a lot of others get done exclusively from behind a computer screen. The amount of time spend in front of a computer has grown dramatically over the past ten years, and so has the number of computer related ailments. Whether caused by improper use of the computer or simply prolonged exposure, problems can arise, and their effects are often felt only later. Unfortunately, proper and healthy computing habits are very rare, and little effort is taken to educate the population.
Whether you are already having problems or you wish to prevent them, there are fortunately ways that the computer itself can help you through programs such as MacBreakZ.
What it does MacBreakZ is a program that is designed to help you structure your computer working habits in order to incorporate adequate break times as well as suggest exercises proper for avoiding computer related problems. Beside a strict schedule based on your settings, the program also has a proactive approach, monitoring your activity in order to suggest that you take breaks after periods of intense activity to help lessen the strain.
Working with it When you first start the program, it will guide you through a few easy steps to set an appropriate schedule based on your needs. This is very straightforward and is simply a detailed simplification of the preferences. At any time you can go into the preferences themselves and fine-tune any aspect of the program, both in looks and in functionality.
Once you specify how often you want to take a break, and how long it should last, you are pretty much set and can go about working as you normally do. The program keeps track of your activity and displays this information in the Menubar as well as in a floating window. As you work, the time until the next break that is displayed in the Menubar between brackets counts down. Similarly, the time since the last break counts up. Your activity level can be displayed either as the color of the timer text, or as small dot next to it, also this information can be seen in a transparent floating window should you wish it as well as the dock icon.
When it is time for a break, a big transparent floating window will appear, presenting stretching exercises, tips on how to better use you computer in order to avoid strain, and last but not least, an away time, in which you are asked to be elsewhere than at the computer.
Dynamic workflow Knowing that you should take a break ever hour is nice, however, in all likelihood, your computer use is quite flexible, and you can have periods of intense activity and periods of very little activity.
Fortunately, MacBreakZ takes this into account and can adapt to your needs, through Microbreaks. Whenever you have been very active for a prolonged amount of time, the program will present you with a window that suggest a few simple steps, to help you relax. Unlike regular breaks, Microbreaks are intended to be short, under a minute. After such a break, the activity level is reset and you can continue working.
The other thing the program does is take into account informal breaks. These are periods of computer inactivity that are not necessarily caused by actually taking a break. They ca result from either being on the phone, reading a document, sending a fax or simply standing in from of the screen, contemplating the information on it. Whenever you have such a period of inactivity, the timers will start running in reverse. Thus, the timer that indicates how long you have been working goes down, while the timer until you next scheduled break start counting up.
This approach is great because it actually delivers the breaks when you needs them, and takes into account periods of intermittent activity. However, the program can only do so much, and it only looks at your computing usage, it may very well be that while you are not very active computer wise, you are having a very hectic day, and thus need the break before the program thinks so.
Not a doctor The exercises presented by MacBreakZ are very nicely illustrated and aim at relaxing muscles that either see too much use or too little. While there are a lot of exercises, that cover all parts of the body and a wide range of movements, it should be remembered that this program is in no way a substitute for medical care. The exercises can be included or excluded from those presented during breaks, so with the aid of a doctor, you can easily identify those that would be best for preventing or improving any problems you might have.
The Good
Easy to use and perfect as a support for developing healthy computer habits. Does a very good job at telling you that you need a break when you actually need it.
The Bad
For such a simple program, it has a very steep price that many will steer clear of. For the price the developer asks you can grab several other shareware programs.
The Truth
Proper, health computing habits are very rare, which is unfortunate considering how much time many of us actually spend at the computer. This program is very nice, and is recommended for everyone that can see past the cost.
Here are some screenshots, click to enlarge:
