Design & Manufacture ERGONOMICS

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

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

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

Anthropometrics

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

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

Anthropometrics Take a look at this man.

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

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. .

Look at the range of height sizes Tallest Average Shortest

Most fit into the middle range Now 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

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

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

Anthropometrics in Design

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.

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

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...

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

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

Ergonomic Design How does 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 8’11” was the tallest person the tallest living person is 8’9”

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

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.

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

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 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. 50th Percentile 425mm Number of people Popliteal Height

Physiological Factors

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

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

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 and Chair?

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

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

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.

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