Why we rejected inclined (drafting style) table for studying?

[user079622]

Wouldn't it be better for people how study, read/write 8hours every day, to have inclined table?
Today table is not good for your neck.
Monitors stay vertical and will never stay horizontal...


Why we rejected inclined table in school system?

 

[Frabjous]

I always thought it was to minimize visual distortion.

 

[user079622]

I always thought it was to minimize visual distortion.

Imagine how much pain will people have if monitors stay horizontal in office!

 

[berkeman]

Why we rejected inclined table in school system?

Because the books keep falling off...

 

[Frabjous]

Imagine how much pain will people have if monitors stay horizontal in office!

Let me expand. Incline is to minimize visual distortion when drawing.

 

[user079622]

Because the books keep falling off...

No they dont

 

[user079622]

Let me expand. Incline is to minimize visual distortion when drawing.

I think in middle age they didnt know that, but it was more about comfortable posture.

 

[Borek]

My coffee cup (as well as the pile of everything else) says "NO WAY".

 

[Frabjous]

I think in middle age they didnt know that, but it was more about comfortable posture.

They spent a lot of time copying things. I believe they were very aware of distortion.

 

[berkeman]

No they dont

I used a drafting table for my home work surface for many years. There was a raised stop at the lower edge like you show, but that was about waist-height for me in my normal drafting chair. Not a comfortable height for reading a book.

Work sheets were hand-held or taped in the middle of my drafting table, and I did not use it for reading books. A better solution to your original question would be to just use an adjustable "standing desk" arrangement. Those are pretty common now, where you can use them as a regular sitting desk and then push a button to have them raise up to standing work height.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134859017172

 

[user079622]

Those are pretty common now, where you can use them as a regular sitting desk and then push a button to have them raise up to standing work height.

View attachment 340820
https://www.ebay.com/itm/134859017172

But if you just rise table up, and book/notebook stay horizontal, what you get?
Must be adjustable so you can change angle.

 

[berkeman]

But if you just rise table up, and book/notebook stay horizontal, what you get?
Must be adjustable so you can change angle.

Use a Book Stand on your Adjustable Desk. Problem solved.

https://www.temu.com/ul/kuiper/un9....419KXR-YtKJDgWQfwfp8uUj6CiCZazKwaAsejEALw_wcB

 

[Frabjous]

This page has several reasons. They add writing motion and quill mechanics.
https://crafts.stackexchange.com/qu...he-advantage-of-having-an-angled-drawing-desk

 

[256bits]

Why we rejected inclined table in school system?

Cost versus ergonomics versus taxes versus workmanship has something to do with it.
With the advent of education for the masses cost ( and taxes ) won out with the cheaper is better mentality that hit manufacturing and business.
Some early desk designs ( 60s or so ) even had arm rests for the writing hand.
Most early designs did have a slight incline for the writing surface.
Better than the plank that they replaced.

 

[BillTre]

A large document of a tilted surface will also allow easier access (reach) for drawing (or whatever) on the farthest parts of the document.

 

[user079622]

Cost versus ergonomics versus taxes versus workmanship has something to do with it.
With the advent of education for the masses cost ( and taxes ) won out with the cheaper is better mentality that hit manufacturing and business.
Some early desk designs ( 60s or so ) even had arm rests for the writing hand.
Most early designs did have a slight incline for the writing surface.
Better than the plank that they replaced.

What is the best angle for writing?
Does writing and drafting demand same angle?

 

[Rive]

Why we rejected inclined table in school system?

I believe it was about efficiency. A school table has multiple functions: reading, storage and writing: for multiple types of lectures: for various ages/sizes of pupils: had to be able to provide oversight.
And, when school system become mandatory/mainstream, they had to be cheap => simple, flat tables.

By the way, for more specialized, higher level education inclined tables never went away.

At university/college level lecture theatres with a bit classical vibe still happen to have inclined tables.

 

[Lnewqban]

What is the best angle for writing?
Does writing and drafting demand same angle?

I don't know that answer, but I know that the height is as important as the angle for standing-only working tables.

Rustic tables are normally built in construction sites to open and study drawings and to have group discussions about the specified in them.
The slanted area is generous in size in order to accommodate thick folds of opened plans.

Contractors do not do drawing work, but markups and notes are common occurrences, as well as measurements with scale rules (of triangular cross-section).
That is where the shapes of hexagonal and carpenter pencils become relevant.
I have not seen one of those tables with a horizontal surface.

The builder's and inspector's alternatives are kneeling on the floor or leaning over the tailgate of a pickup truck to review construction drawings.

 

[Vanadium 50]

When I was a wee lad, I had a desk at home that was school surplus from a long time ago - perhaps the 1920's. It had an angle about the same as the picture of the one with the guy with a hard hat. It also had places for bottles of ink.

In high school, the desks looked flat, but were slightly tilted. A round pencil would roll towards the student. Fortunately, I used Eberhard Faber Mongol 462 #2's which were hexagonal.