1. Design & Manufacture
ERGONOMICS

2. Using what we know about people to design better things
What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the application of scientific information concerning humans to the design of objects.
… in other words
Using what we know about people to design better things

3. Ergonomics is a DESIGN FACTOR...
It uses Anthropometric data to improve...
Function
Safety
Comfort

4. The height objects are placed
Ergonomics affects...
Texture
Form
How colour is used
Forces required
Materials chosen
Shape
Size of buttons
Layout of controls
The height objects are placed
Width of handles
…any interface between people and machines

5. Anthropometrics

6. Anthropometrics
Q. Imagine you are positioning an emergency "rip cord" on this train.
How high up should you put it?

7. Anthropometrics ANSWER: Where people can reach it!
But how could you be sure?

8. Anthropometrics
Take a look at this man.

9. Anthropometrics He is average! Average age Average weight
Average height
Average size
How do we know he is average?

10. 1.75m
We know he is average because we know the sizes of the smallest to largest people and how many there are of each size.
Anthropometric Data is the measurements of people.
Lots and lots of people and every possible measurement. .

11. Look at the range of height sizes
Tallest
Average
Shortest

12. Most fit into the middle range
Now look at how many people there are of each size.
Most fit into the middle range

13. This can represented by a graph called a distribution curve...
Number of people
Height

14. The graph represents 100% of the population
Number of people
Height

15. This is the 50th Percentile
The graph is divided into 100ths. These are called Percentiles.
This is the 50th Percentile
Number of people
Height

16. Average man belongs in the 50th Percentile
Number of people
Height
The 50th Percentile is the largest group of people.

17. Anthropometrics in Design

18. Anthropometrics in Design
It would not be possible to design a product that would suit everyone.
So Designers focus on people within the most common size range.
Designing for this range of sizes helps make sure products ‘fit’ as many people as possible.

19. 5th to 95th percentile is 90% of people
These people are in the range between the 5th and 95th percentiles
5th Percentile
95th Percentile
Number of people
5th to 95th percentile is 90% of people
Height

20. Anthropometrics in Design
When we are designing for people we need to take account of different types of Anthropometric data.
Q. What information would we need before we could design a laptop computer?
A. Size of hands and fingers, the height and angle of the head, the position of the wrists, the force fingers can exert, the weight we can carry, size of lettering we can see...

21. Ergonomic Design
Good Ergonomic design is based on Anthropometric Data.
Q. How has this designer considered the user?

22. The handle is easily accessible
The seat is shaped
so the weight is
supported evenly
The seat is padded
for comfort
The handle is easily accessible
The seat rotates to
to reduce twisting
of the body
The height adjusts
to suit different
desk heights
The seat has
5 castors so that
it won’t tip over

23. Ergonomic Design How does Anthropometrics affect Ergonomic design?
Q. When designing a door who should we consider?
A. The tallest people?

24. Ergonomic Design
But if all doors were designed to suit the tallest person they would need to be over 2.75 metres high!
That is a metre taller than the average man.
Robert Pershing Wadlow 8’11” was the tallest person the tallest living person is 8’9”

25. People below the 95th Percentile
So instead doors are made to suit people using the 95th Percentile for height.
We ignore those above that height.
1870mm
People below the 95th Percentile
Number of people
Height
95th Percentile

26. Ergonomic Design
Lets look at another example where Anthropometrics affects design.
Q. When designing a supermarket who should we consider?
A. The shortest people?

27. Ergonomic Design
The shelves in the supermarket need to be designed so that so that the shortest people can reach the items safely.
But the shortest person can only reach shelves 1.5 metres high.
This would mean that supermarkets would have to be almost twice as big to stock the same number of goods.

28. People above the 5th Percentile
So instead the shelves are designed using the 5th Percentile for height.
We ignore those below that height.
5th Percentile
1500mm
People above the 5th Percentile
Number of people
Height

29. Ergonomic Design Lets look at one more example.
Q. When designing a chair who should we consider?
A. The shortest and the Tallest people?

30. Ergonomic Design We will focus on one measurement.
The height of the seat.
This is called the Popliteal measurement.

31. Ergonomic Design
The Popliteal is the height from the back of the knee to the floor when sitting.
If we design for the 5th Percentile the chair seat would be 380mm high.

32. Ergonomic Design
If we design for the 95th Percentile the chair seat would be 470mm high.
To get the feel of this raise your feet of the ground…
It is uncomfortable!

33. In this instance the designer uses the 50th Percentile for Popliteal height.
So the chair is comfortable for most people.
50th Percentile
425mm
Number of people
Popliteal Height

34. Physiological Factors

35. Physiological Factors
Ergonomic considerations for Men and Women are different.
Height Women
5%le 1514mm
95%le 1726mm
50%le 1620mm
Height Men
5%le 1641mm
95%le 1869mm
50%le 1755mm

36. Physiological Factors
As well as gender, we may also need to consider factors such as Age, Strength, Dexterity, Fitness and Literacy of the user.
Think about how these factors might affect the design of this medicine bottle.

37. Psychological Factors

38. Psychological Factors
“What we think and feel.”
Our Reaction and Emotions
to a design will be affected by its
Shape, Colour, Texture…
Our Experiences of the design.

39. What are your thoughts on this Sofa and Chair?

40. In Summary:
Ergonomics is a Design factor which takes the user into consideration.
The designer must consider...

41. Anthropometrics… Information about size of the user e.g. height
Physiology… Information about the physical attributes of the user e.g. strength
Psychology… Information about the thoughts of the user e.g. feeling safe

42. Example
Consider the design of these products.

43. Example
Consider the design of this product.

44. Example
Consider the design of this product.

45. Example
Consider the design of this product.

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