Bringing Human Performance Data to the Design Table

Abstract

Product design is often viewed as being a heterarchical and iterative process, possessing both systematic and chaotic qualities. However, a common denominator across all design activities is the access and utilization of information. In today's computer-aided design market, most of the available tools are narrowly focused on specific computational details for individual stages of design. Aids are needed to support information access and utilization during all stages of the design process. The application of human engineering and ergonomics data by designers is an increasingly challenging problem. Locating and understanding relevant information so that it can be applied to specific design issues is difficult given the abundance of existing and new data available. This is further complicated, in that the data are typically written to communicate research results to other human factors specialists. A new software product, Computer Aided Systems Human Engineering: Performance Visualization Subsystem (CASHE:PVS), is described which will assist the designer during the decision making process, maximizing creative and analytical abilities while minimizing costs due to design time and errors. The software contains several features to enhance the designer's ability to interpret and apply the human factors data available in the product. Phenomena descriptions in text, figures, and tables are combined with experiential information via simulations, animations, and audio. This provides the user a unique and rich understanding of human performance phenomena and how they relate to the design of new products.