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

Ergonomics is a design factor...

It uses Anthropometric data to improve...

Function

Safety

Comfort

Ergonomics affects...
Texture Shape Layout of controls Width of handles How colour is used Materials chosen Form Forces required

Size of buttons The height objects are placed

any interface between people and products

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

Anthropometry
A. Where people can reach it! But how could you be sure?

Anthropometry
Take a look at this man

Anthropometry
He is average Average age Average weight Average height Average size How do we know he is average?

We know he is average because we know the sizes of the smallest to largest people and how many there are of each size
1.75m

Anthropometric Data is the measurements of people Lots and lots of people and every possible measurement

Look at the range of height sizes

Average shortest tallest

ow look at how many people there are of each size

Most fit into the middle range

This can represented by a graph called a distribution curve...

Number of people

Height

The graph represents 100% of the population

Number of people

Height

The graph is divided into These are called Percentiles

Number of people

ths 100

This is the 50th Percentile

Height

Average man belongs in the 50th Percentile

Number of people

Height

the 50th Percentile is the largest group of people

Anthropometry 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

These people are in the range between the 5th and 95th percentiles
Number of people

5th to 95th percentile is 90% of people

Height 95th Percentile

5th Percentile

Anthropometry 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 to 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...

Ergonomic Design
Good Ergonomic design is based on Anthropometric Data

Q. How has this designer considered the user?

The seat is padded for comfort

The seat is shaped so the weight is supported evenly

The seat rotates to to reduce twisting of the body

The handle is easily accessible

The seat has 5 castors so that it wont tip over

The height adjusts to suit different desk heights

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

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 811 was the tallest person the tallest living person is 89

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

People below the 95th Percentile

Height 95th Percentile

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

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

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

People above the 5th Percentile

Height

5th Percentile

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

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

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

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

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

50th Percentile

Popliteal Height

Physiological Factors
Ergonomic considerations for Men and Women are different

Height Women 5%le 1514mm

Height Men 5%le 1641mm

95%le 1726mm 50%le 1620mm

95%le 1869mm 50%le 1755mm

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

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

What are your thoughts on this Sofa?

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

Anthropometrics
Information about size and 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

Example
Consider the design of these products

Example
Consider the design of this product

Example
Consider the design of this product

Example
Consider the design of this product

Credits and websites

Adultdata handbook of Adult Antropometric and Strength Measurements - DTI SCE Standard Grade Craft and Design Revision Notes - Simon Rhodes www.Openerg.com Open Ergonomics Loughborough Technology Centre www.dyson.com www.humanscale.com/index.cfm www.ergonomics.co.uk www.ikea.co.uk www.freefoto.com Produced by Jon Stembridge Lasswade High School Centre Midlothian Council Education 2003