Ergonomic Design Process Research Articles

Method for the analysis of posture and interface pressure of car drivers

Biomechanical study of car driver posture is one of the most referenced aspects for the ergonomic design process of the whole vehicle. The aim of this work is to present a multi-factor method for the analysis of sitting posture and the resulting interactions of the car driver body with the cushion and the backrest. The proposed method, based on the combined use of an optoelectronic system for motion capture and suitable matrices of pressure sensors, has allowed the measurement of a large set of car driver posture parameters and the identification of specific sitting strategies characterising the driving posture, despite the different behaviours of the analysed subjects.

Integration of Ergonomics Into Hand Tool Design: Principle and Presentation of an Example

The development of ergonomic tools responds to health protection needs on the part of workers, especially the work related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limbs and to the development of ergonomic tools to take into account the needs of the factories. Only an ergonomic design process can enable tool manufacturers to meet these requirements. Three factors are involved: integration of ergonomics into the design process, definition of the different ergonomic stages involved, and finally knowledge of the different factors involved in hand tool design. This document examines these 3 elements in more detail and presents briefly a project of research whose main purpose is to integrate ergonomic criteria into a design process.

Ergonomic Ship Bridge Design Supports Minimum Manning

The Royal Netherlands Navy is planning to design a hydrographic survey vessel to replace the currently used vessels in order to extend the tasks of an Officer by reducing require manning. The design includes the arrangements of workspace and the detailed design of workplaces. Digital human models are used to check the anthropometric qualities of the design and enables a fast and iterative design process. This project shows an ergonomic design process integrating a wide range of human factors knowledge. The available results help to optimize the design of the ship bridge in order to meet the demand on minimum manning.

High touch: Ergonomics in a conceptual design process — case studies of a remote controller and personal telephones

In manually used consumer electronic products such as a remote controller and a telephone, integration of ergonomic principles into design is greatly emphasized. However, few attempts have been made to systematically include ergonomic design to product design. High Touch process developed by the first author provides a systematic means for ergonomic design of consumer products. In this paper, application of High Touch process to the design of a hand-held remote controller and personal telephones is demonstrated. High Touch process includes hierarchical structure of design variables, relationship matrix among design variables, and systematic evaluation of potential product functions. Many unique functions of remote controller and telephone that enhance user convenience were found out using the analysis scheme proposed by High Touch process. A consumer survey of the prototypes showed that High Touch functions were very well-received by potential customers. Relevance to industry Although consumer needs or preferences for better and more customized products force manufactures to put emphasis on ergonomic design, too often design and development of consumer products has been done as if it were independent of human needs and characteristics. High Touch is an ergonomic design process that enables designers to systematically consider the consumer's viewpoint right from the design stage to market launching. Using this process, a remote controller and three types of personal telephone are successfully developed.

Computer-aided ergonomics. A researcher's guide. : Karwowski, W., Genaidy, A.M., and Asfour, S.S. (Eds) Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, 570 pp

Part 1 Introduction: the computer human factors database, K.E.Phillips computer aided ergonomics - a tool for occupational safety and health, A. Genaidy, W. Karwowski and S.H.Mousavinezhad. Part 2 Anthropometry and computer models of man: SAMMIE - a man and workplace modeling systems, K.Case, J.M.Porter and M.C.Bonney WERNER - a personal computer implementation of an extensive anthropometric workplace design tool, W.B.Kloke. Part 3 Workspace design: ERGOSPEC - a prototype expert system for work station design, L.Brennan, L.Farrel and D.McGlennon CAD - Video - Somatography - a method for the anthropometric design of workplaces, H.J.Bullinger and D.Lorenz. Part 4 Workload and work measurement: job analysis and work design using ergonomic databases, K.Landau, et al OWLKNEST - a knowledge based expert system for selecting operator workload techniques, S.G.Hill and R.M.Harris. Part 5 Posture and manual handling of loads: computer aided posture analysis of the trunk, neck, shoulders and lower extremities, W.Monroe Keyserling OWASCA - a computer aided visualizing and training software for work posture analysis, S.Vayrynen, et al. Part 6 Artificial intelligence and safety analysis: strategy for developing an expert system for safety, K.Kjos knowledge based safety analysis in CAD enviroment, J.Suokas, P.Keino and I.Karvonen. Part 7 User - machine interface: INTUIT - intelligence user interface design tool, A.J.Russell computer aided design applied to the flight telerobotic service user interface, M.A.Stuart and R.L.Smith. Part 8 Performance evaluation and decision support: SPES - assessing the effects of the work on a man with compuerized performance testing, F.Gamberale, A.Iregren and A.Kjellberg. Part 9 CAD - Ergonomic design process: the contribution of CAD to the enhancement of the ergonomists' role in the design process, L.Brennan and E.F.Fallon.

Macro-ergonomic design: the need for empirical research evidence

An increasing number of designers and managers is becoming aware of the fact that technology per se will not be able to give relevant answers when it comes to questions of rationalization and automization. It is fundamental to take the human factor into consideration. Technical systems and the organizations in which they operate can be (and are) only accepted by the workforce when people are well selected and trained for their jobs and when their capabilities and limitations in performing tasks are taken into account. Although nowadays a quite extensive body of knowledge exists in the human factors/ergonomics area, organizations often lack the expertise and/or management structure to include the results of basic and applied human-factors research. Starting from a description of the development in the ergonomics discipline, the ergonomics design process is discussed, followed by two examples in which (parts of) this design process is illustrated. The main conclusion is that, ultimately, the value of an ergonomic approach should be based on substantial research evidence.

The Edge System: Ergonomic Design Using Graphic Evaluation

EDGE is a computer-based ergonomic workspace design system which integrates several models of operator performance with a common graphic interface. In addition to serving as a practical design system, it also serves as a research tool for understanding the ergonomic design process in industry. System users include trained ergonomists and engineers responsible for manual workspace design. The design system centers around a core vocabulary of task-related terms. A common input format, modeled after the traditional “work methods table” addresses the input requirements of the varied human performance models. Output from the performance models is displayed on multiple screens in varying levels of detail. Among the measures of physical stress currently integrated into the system are models of biomechanical strength, NIOSH lifting limits, metabolic energy expenditure, and elemental time prediction.