The vehicle as an IT office environment: ergonomics design requirements for mobile computing

Abstract

Many people now use their car or van as a working environment in which to routinely carry out the tasks that would previously have been done in the office. The ready availability of mobile computing and telecommunications technology has meant that many people no longer work from an office but from their vehicle. The concept of a vehicle as a working environment raises significant human factors issues. This paper describes studies that investigated how people use their cars as mobile offices. There are important human factors issues that must be addressed when introducing information technology into vehicles. The problems include poor working posture while using the systems, lack of secure storage and nowhere on which to rest materials. The advantages include ready access to information, easy communication and direct interfacing with field equipment. Ergonomics design recommendations and user requirements for enabling vehicles to be used as IT office environments are presented.