MINEOLA, N.Y., Nov. 23, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Torbay Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:TRBY): In a press release (link below) dated 11/12/04 and entitled "Commission asks workers and employers what action should be taken to combat musculoskeletal disorders" the European Union (EU) is seeking input as to dealing with injuries and state; "The European Commission is seeking the views of workers' and employers' representatives on how best to tackle the growing problem of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). These ailments, which include back pain and repetitive strain injury, are the biggest health and safety problem facing European workers today. Studies show that they affect over 40 million workers in all sectors across the EU and account for 40 to 50 per cent of all work-related ill-health. They are costing employers across the EU billions of euros. The problem is eroding Europe's competitiveness and leading to losses of 0.5 to 2 per cent of GNP each year."
TRBY believes the EU's release to be of significance because it provides "EU authority" to the extent of injuries in Europe and is an "acknowledgement" that current theory and practice are not working. This awareness some years ago, in relation to computer input technology, initiated the development of this company's products and so it is perceived as an opportunity that may benefit this company's European business at some point in the future. The announcement indicates that despite the billions of dollars (euros) spent on ergonomic products and programs the injury problem is still growing. The release goes on to state: "The highest increases are being seen amongst professionals (up from 18 per cent to 24 per cent) and technicians (up from 23 per cent to 31 per cent)," which we interpret as correlating with office computer type of work and in light of references to workstation design.
TRBY has and continues to look at and correlate interdisciplinary medical research that it believes is relevant to the complex issues of computer use and resulting injury. By doing so TRBY believes it provides for a better explanation as to why injury can occur and how to design better products and management tools.
Recently scientists in Japan believe that they have correlated extensive computer use with Glaucoma, a disease that causes peripheral vision problems and is associated with pressure on the optic nerve (BBC News Link below). It is already well known that "static focusing," eyes (muscles) fixed on one point for extended periods, causes difficulty in focusing at other distance after working on a computer. TRBY compares this to the issue of constant grip, the static muscular posture required to hold computer mice. Because gripping and clicking computer mice is perceived as a small muscular effort the consequences, in TRBY's opinion, have been overlooked. However researchers in the U.S. have modeled repetitive strain injuries in rats. It suggests a cause and observes the consequences by providing pathology that is too invasive to be obtained from human subjects suffering with injury. Albeit in non human subjects, the conclusion is that constant "negligible force work" puts tension on muscle and tendons creating micro-fractures at their attachment point with bone and that daily reoccurrence of that effort provides little opportunity for such damage to heal.
Workers compensation investigators found in one small study that damage due to wrist injury from ordinary mice created a progression of injury up the arm and into the neck. The posture issue created was corrected by the use of TRBY's mouse product, improving the outlook in their opinion not only for wrist problems but neck and shoulder problems too. Other research unconnected with computer injury demonstrates something called "cognitive distraction." This is a response by the brain that can suppress the intensity of pain sensations when it is preoccupied with "thinking work." In TRBY's view this correlates with observations that people do not notice their aches until after they stop performing work on their computer.
The EU has indicated the scale and the impact of musculoskeletal disorders, TRBY's own studies into mouse related injuries provides an insight as to why. In the debate of "how can you stop muscles most at risk from becoming injured," in regards to computer mouse input, TRBY's answer is "minimize or avoid their use." This is what TRBY's products provide. By doing so the risk of injury is reduced as well as enabling those who have damage to, or little control over, those same muscles to be able to "mouse" in the same way as everyone else. It is called Universal Design.
It is TRBY's intent to contribute its findings to the EU consultation initiative, as it is believed they bring together many more of the pieces of the computer injury jigsaw and some of the principles have impact beyond computer work.
Cognitive distraction indicates that we cannot rely upon our own perception to notify us of risk so tools that remind us as we work must be employed. Demonstrating TRBY's new development in computer work management, at the National Ergonomics Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas next week a new "break timer" will be launched. This will remind and encourage users to take a break, relax or get up and stretch and also to look at more distant objects. A free download; as a marketing tool it is hoped it might increase the company's presence upon more and more computers in a visible and practical way. More information will be made available upon release of this product the name of which will be "The AirObic Clock."
References to forward looking statements are made in good faith though cannot be relied upon as occurring or contributing towards the business of Torbay Holdings Inc.
EU Press Release.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/04/1358&f
BBC News Article on Glaucoma.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4008185.stm
EuerkAlert Article Negligible Force Injury:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-11/tu-rwt110703.php
Cognitive Distraction: Brain, Vol. 125, No. 2, 310-319, February 1, 2002