Design Y12 - ERGONOMICS

Ergonomics

The relationship and interaction between people (aspects of the human body) and the products, systems, and environments they use 

Simple terms: the study of comfort

4 main objectives

1) Efficiency - minimize effort required to complete tasks (increase productivity, decrease fatigue)

2) Usability - easily understood and operated by the intended user (intuitive + logical)

3) Safety - reduce risk of hazards (factors like posture, strain, etc)

4) Functionality - fulfills the intended purpose (comfort, stability, durability)

Emphasis on?

Putting people at the center of the design process, truly meet user needs by understanding human capabilities, limitations, and preferences.

Anthropometrics

The measurement of human physical dimensions expressed in the percentile range. Focuses on determining and presenting the range of individual’s physical characteristics.

Static measurements

Measurements of length between points on a body

Dynamic measurements 

Measurements of reach, movement, or strength (how a person moves in a space or how much force is required to complete an action) 

Age related factors

• Infants: rapid growth and development (body proportion changes)

• Adolescence: puberty brigns hormonal changes (height, weight, body composition)

• Adulthood: gradual physical changes (muscle mass loss, bone density decrease)

• Elderly: aging, reduced height, increased body fat, joint structure changes

Ethnicity related factors

• Genetic variation: different groups have unique genetic makeup

• Environmental: diet, lifestyle, cultural practices

Gender related factors

• males: generally taller, heavier, and have broader shoulders 

• females: have wider hips and a higher body fat percentage

Disability related factors

• physical impairments: amputations, paralysis, musculoskeletal disorders 

• visual + hearing impairments: may influence posture, balance, spatial awareness

• cognitive impairments: motor skills, coordination 

Adjustability

The ability of a product to be changed in size, commonly used to increase the range of percentiles for which a product is appropriate.

Clearance

The physical space between two objects

Percentile range (upper and lower limits)

That proportion of a population with a dimension at or less than a given value. For a given demographic (gender, race, age), the 50th percentile is the median.

Psychology factors

Human factor data related to psychological interpretations caused by light, smell, sound, taste, temperature and texture.

Physiology factors

Human factor data related to physical characteristics used to optimize the user’s safety, health, comfort and performance.

Percentile

A term that describes how a data point compares to all data in that set, divided into 100 equal parts.

Range of sizes

A selection of sizes a product is made in that caters for the majority of a market

Reach

The range that a person can stretch to touch or grasp an object from a specified position.

Biomechanics

Research and analysis of the mechanics (operation of our muscles, joints, tendons, etc.) of the human body.

Workspace envelope

A 3D space that is typically physical and/or virtual that needs to have defined permissible boundaries of orientation and movement.

5th percentile

• Smallest 5% of the population

• used when designing for minimal requirements/small users

  • minimum seat heat 

  • reach distances for controls on shelves 

  • grip size for hand tools 

50th percentile

• median value / middle point

• represents the average user, used for general purpose 

  • height of kitchen countertops

  • dimensions of office desks

  • seat depth for public tranport

95th percentile

• largest 5% of the population

• designing for maximum requirements