From The Metro 04/10/10:
An unusual skin condition which once afflicted bakers and glass-blowers has made a comeback. Except this time it’s affecting laptop users.
'Toasted skin syndrome’ which is caused by long-term heat exposure, is affecting people who use a laptop on their knees.
It is generally harmless but can cause permanent skin darkening, and in rare cases is can lead to cancer, Swiss researchers warned.
In one case, a 12-year-old boy developed a sponge-patterned skin discolouration on his thigh after playing computer games for a few hours every day for several months.
In another case a US law student developed the condition after spending about six hours a day working with her computer propped on her lap.
The temperature underneath the machine registered 52C (125F)
This story has been widely reported over the past week and I first encountered it in the trusty Metro. It’s good to see the law student putting in the hours but there are a couple of things which I still don’t quite ‘get’.
Firstly, why was she spending 6 hours a day with her laptop on her lap? What’s wrong with a desk? Kitchen table? The law library? I know we all have different ways of working, but being perched on a sofa with a laptop balanced on your lap surrounded by books, papers and other studenty stuff doesn’t strike me as a very efficient way of working. It can’t be doing her posture any good either.
Secondly, if she’s absolutely got to use it on her lap, how about getting a laptop tray. Although I switch between my desktop PC and laptop frequently, I’ve always felt it necessary to keep the fan intakes clear at the bottom – particularly when using a laptop in bed. I used to use the lid of a large plastic storage container until I discovered the Belkin range of Cush-Desks. I’ve been using one for several months now and rate them very highly.
No matter what, it’s tough to have much sympathy here.
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