Comparison of usability and ergonomic risks of using a laptop and tablet computers for online learning: A field experimental study.

This article investigates and compares the usability, cognitive workload, and ergonomic postural risks of using laptops and tablets for online learning among university students. The study involved 30 Public Health students who were randomly assigned to use either laptops or tablets while completing online "Basic Microsoft Excel" lessons. Results showed that tablets had significantly higher system usability scores (measured by the System Usability Scale, SUS) but also posed greater ergonomic postural risks (assessed by the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, RULA) compared to laptops. No significant difference was found in perceived mental workload (measured by the NASA Task Load Index, NASA-TLX) between the two devices. The findings suggest that while tablets may offer better usability, laptops are preferable for reducing postural risks during online learning, with implications for device selection in educational and workplace settings.