MINGCHI INDTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ERGONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR HEALTH: A Case Study of Universal Design Rungtai Lin Department of Industrial Design Mingchi Institute of Technology

This paper presents a case study of "UNIVERSAL DESIGN" by combining "ERGONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS" with “MANUFACTURING PRINCIPLES” in designing school furniture. ABSTRACT

1. INTRODUCTION In today's classroom, children are repetitively exposed to the hazards of abnormal or awkward postures due to classroom furniture that is often either TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL.

新式胖與瘦 TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL?

Because children vary widely in their anthropometric measurements, the anthropometric considerations become very important for HEALTH to design school furniture. However, the most effective application of such data in product design is another important issue. 1. INTRODUCTION

* ERGONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS and MANUFACTURING PRINCIPLES can sometimes present conflicting recommendations for design. * The school furniture design must consider both of these objectives that integrate ERGONOMICS and ENGINEERING. 1. INTRODUCTION

Therefore, this paper presents a case study of "universal design" for developing design guidelines that integrate "ergonomic considerations" and "manufacturing principles" in designing school furniture. 1. INTRODUCTION

THE PROCEDURE: 1. A SURVEY 2. AN EVALUATION 3. AN ANALYSIS 4. REGULATIONS 5. RECOMMANDATIONS 2. METHOD

2.1 To identify the merits and demits 2.2 Questionnaire 2.3 Data Collection 2.4 MDS Analysis 2.5 Perception Mapping (2) AN EVALUATION OF SUBJECTIVE COMFORT 2. METHOD

2.1 ERGONOMIC CONSODERATIONS The most important ergonomic consideration of designing daily-life products is ”DESIGNING FOR HUMAN USE.“ However, cost conflicts between optimizing the design for ”ERGONOMICS" or ”MANUFACTURING” often appear, especially when the issue of applying “ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA" is addressed. 2. METHOD

In many anthropometric problem of ”FITTING" some design, it is necessary to consider a number of anthropometric variables at the same time. Therefore, it is important to consider the relationship between body dimensions in the design of products based on combinations of dimension. 2. METHOD 2.1 ERGONOMIC CONSODERATIONS

School furniture from manufacturers is typically NOT DESIGNED to accommodate different individual user dimensions. While a few desks offer an overall height adjustment and chairs of different sizes, individual adjustments for the seat, arm and back are not offered. 2. METHOD 2.2 UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Universal design, a ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL philosophy, has been adopted in the industry, because such furniture is less costly to manufacture and easier to sell at a lower price, and lessens the inventory problems for manufacturers and schools. 2. METHOD 2.2 UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Universal design can be defined as the design of products and environments to be usable to the greatest extent possible by people of all ages and abilities. Today, ergonomic considerations are a part of ”UNIVERSAL DESIGN" and taken into account by manufacturing engineers in product development. 2. METHOD 2.2 UNIVERSAL DESIGN

1. COMFORTABLE FACTOR - Anthropometric database 2. DESIGN FACTOR - Design approach 3. SPATIAL FACTOR - Design approach - Anthropometric database 2. METHOD 2.3 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

USERPRODUCTTASK MANIPULATIONINTERFACE ENGAGEMENTINTERFACE TASK ADAPTIVE FEEDBACK STATICDYNAMIC TOOL FEEDBACK 2. METHOD

Using anthropometric data for designing products, there are generally two aspects: 1) DETERMINE WHAT ANTHROPOMETRIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE SHOULD BE APPLIED. 2) HOW TO ACHIEVE THE ANTHROPOMETRIC CONSIDERATIONS IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MANNER. 3. RESULTS 3.1 ERGONOMIC DIMENSIONS

When applying anthropometric data, three anthropometric design principles must be considered: EXTREME INDIVIDUALS, AN ADJUSTABLE RANGE, AND THE AVERAGE. Based on these principles, the recommendations of ergonomic dimensions for the ideal school desk and chair are SHOWN IN TABLE RESULTS 3.1 ERGONOMIC DIMENSIONS

AVERAGE DESIGN - Seat surface depth EXTREMELY DESIGN - Seat surface width ADJUSTABLE DESIGN - Desk and chair’s surface height 3. RESULTS 3.1 ERGONOMIC DIMENSIONS

Generally, designing for an adjustable range is the preferred method of design, but it is NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE. In this study, the sitting height and desk height can be adjusted to the individuals who uses them. 3. RESULTS 3.2. ADJUSTABLE DEVICES

Two adjustable devices are designed using a spring and screw structure to provide for adjustments to cover a wide range from 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male is divided into three different parts. 3. RESULTS 3.2. ADJUSTABLE DEVICES For the manufacturing, the same screw structure is used in the adjustable devices for adjusting different ranges.

3. RESULTS

COMBINED-TYPE DESK AND CHAIR

SEPARATED-TYPE DESK AND CHAIR

Desk5%50%95% 5%50%95% a12 b c Unit: cm a:adjustable range b:desk surface height c:distance from drawer to ground ADJUSTABLE DESK DRAWER

Chair5%50%95% 5%50%95% a888 b Unit: cm a:adjustable range b:seat surface height ADJUSTABLE CHAIR DRAWER

UNIVERSAL DESIGN is an approach to create everyday environments and products that are usable by all people to the greatest possible extent. By using UNIVERSAL DESIGN, companies can maximize their potential market. 4. CONCLUSION

However, successful application of UNIVERSAL DESIGN requires an understanding of human diversity -- ERGONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS. Design and manufacturing engineers seem well aware that the most efficient way of improving ergonomics is in the early phases of product development. 4. CONCLUSION

THIS STUDY PRESENTS A PARADIGM OF HOW TO TAKE ERGONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS INTO MANUFACTURING FOR UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND HEALTH. 4. CONCLUSION