Anthropometry

Anthropometry

It is a branch of anthropology that is concerned with the physical dimensions and other data related to the human body, such as the height, reach, and weight

Stature

Standing height, vertical distance between the floor and highest part of head with subject standing erect, feet together, and heels, buttocks, and back of head against a vertical distance

Eye height

Vertical distance between floor and inner eye corner, with subject standing as in the stature

Shoulder height

Vertical distance between floor and outer upper point of the shoulder blade, with subject standing as in stature

Elbow height

Vertical distance between floor and lowest bony point of elbow, with upper arm hanging freely and elbow flexed at 90 degrees, with subject standing as in stature

Sitting height

Sitting erect, vertical distance between horizontal sitting surface and highest part of head, with subject sitting against a vertical surface, thighs fully supported and lower legs hanging freely

Sitting eye height

Vertical distance between horizontal sitting surface and inner eye corner, with subject sitting as in sitting height

Sitting shoulder height

Vertical distance between horizontal sitting surface and outer upper point of the shoulder blade, with subject sitting as in sitting height

Shoulder breadth

Horizontal distance between right and left outer upper points of the shoulder blades

Knee height

Vertical distance between floor and upper surface of thigh, with kneed bent 90 degrees

Hand length

Distance between tip of middle finger and most distal point of styloid process of radius with hand overstretched

Foot length

Maximum distance between back of heel and tip of longest toe

Head length

Distance along a straight line between glabella (smooth prominence on the forehead between the eyebrows) and rearmost point of the skull

Head breadth

Maximum breadth of head above ears

Head circumference

Maximum circumference around head glabella and rearmost point of the skull

Head breadth

Maximum breadth of head above ears

Head circumference

Maximum circumference around head glabella and rearmost point of the skull

Forward reach

Maximum distance between vertical wall against which subject presses shoulder blades and grip axis of hand

Waist circumference

Trunk circumference in region of travel

Body weight

Subject standing still on weighing scale

Design for Extreme Individuals

This principle makes use of the statistical data by attempting to develop a design that can accommodate nearly all users.

Designing for the maximum

Designing to accommodate the upper extreme individuals (95th percentile)

Designing for the minimum

Designing to accommodate the lower extreme individuals (5th percentile)

Design for Adjustability

This principle designs products so that certain features can be adjusted in order to accommodate a wide range of users’ anthropometric dimensions

Design for the Average

This principle is the cheapest but least preferred approach