Ergonomics

What is ergonomics? Ergonomics is the study of how humans interact with their environment and the products in them. It seeks to achieve the most advantageous matches between products, environments and systems and the capacities, needs and inclinations of the people who use them.

Ergonomics has three areas for consideration. 1) Anthropometrics 2) Physiology 3) Psychology

Anthropometrics The 5th- 95th Percentile. The graph shows the normal distribution curve for a given number of people against height. Some people are tall, others are short but the majority of us fall within the 5% to the 95th region shown on the graph. The graph can be repeated for every body part.

Anthropometrics

Anthropometrics

Anthropometrics There are three things to consider when thinking about anthropometrics. Reach Clearance Posture Turn to page 116 in your Product design text book

Physiology An understanding of the human body’s capabilities is essential when designing products in order to avoid stress, strain, fatigue and the possibility of injury. Careful considferation must be given to factors as diverse as strength, muscle control, posture, flexibilty joint movement and reaction times. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRn4mILLYhI Turn to page 115 in your textbook.

Psychology Mental and emotional triggers can stimulate human behaviour. It is important to have an understanding of how people receive, perceive and process information in order to design products which are appealing and easy to use. The products we choose say something about us but the reason we chose them in the first place is because they have appealed to our senses and triggered a favourable response which we often summarise by simply saying “I like that”. Turn to page 115.

Psychology