by Christine Lovatt, 28-8-2008

Spending many hours hunched over a computer is an occupational hazard that I’m sure many a YouPlayer puzzler shares - problems such as round shoulders, headaches and RSI, to say nothing of dodgy eyesight.

We’re lucky enough to have a personal trainer here in our office, who comes in once a week to nag us about our posture, as well as putting us through agonising tortures during the Stretch Class. But then she redeems herself by giving soothing massages, so we let her come again next week.

That’s the downside of the computer world, but let’s not completely blame technology – I remember those faroff days BC (Before Computers) when I was hunched over my desk making crosswords. I still suffered from an aching back, headaches and probably ruined my eyesight, so it’s not much different.

What is different is the use we make of words. In those days, a virus was an illness like the ‘flu’, memory was in your head (or not, in many cases), a keyboard was a piano and a web was where a spider lived. A cursor was someone who swore, and a hard drive was a long, boring trip in the car.

If you can think of any more examples, let me know – young people may never have heard the original meaning!

Happy puzzling!