Pre-industrial scholars would spend many hours poring over manuscripts. But Ghosh has noted from depictions in paintings that they tended to read and write on lecterns or desks angled at around 45 degrees. These conditions placed less strain on the neck.”Slanted desks were common for centuries, as that was more optimal for quills that were dipped in ink,” says Ghosh. He explains that when the paper was flat, it would block the ink and blotch a bit more.Flat desks have only become more pragmatic in the last 100 years with typewriters and then computers. And with them, we have new neck pains.
