© Boardworks Ltd 2005 1 of 25 © Boardworks Ltd 2005 1 of 25 Product Design Anthropometrics and Ergonomics These icons indicate that teachers notes or useful

© Boardworks Ltd 20051 of 25 © Boardworks Ltd 20051 of 25

Product Design Anthropometrics and

Ergonomics

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Learning objectives


Lea

rnin

g o

bje

ctiv

es To consider the anthropometrics of potential end users when designing a product.

To ensure that products being designed are ergonomically suitable for a range of user groups.

To become familiar with anthropometric terminology.

To be able to place users in a percentile range.

To be able to carry out some empirical anthropometric research.


If a product is going to be successful and meet the needs of the user group, product designers must use specific information about the user group, such as their dimensions and physical characteristics.

The dimensions of the human body are called anthropometrics. This word refers to the actual measurements of body parts, e.g. the length of an arm or the width of a foot.

Anthropometrics are vital to product design because they are one of the key product criteria that designers use when developing solutions.

Background on anthropometrics


Anthropology

The word anthropometrics takes its root from two other words:

Metric

Anthropology is the study of humankind.

Metric describes the universal unit of measurement.

When they are combined, they mean the study of human measurements.

The study of anthropometrics


The study of anthropometrics


You must decide which group of people your product is aimed at.

Anthropometric information is provided in tables and divided up into different ages, gender and nationalities.SO… you need to know who you are designing for!

A design for an executive office desk for use in the USA would need to take into account the anthropometric data for working adults from America.

A children’s keyboard must have keys sized for children’s fingers.

Using anthropometric information


Work out which body measurements are important.

It is vital to know which parts of the body your product needs to accommodate.If you are designing a chair, what anthropometric information will you need?

Buttock width

Popliteal height

Buttock to popliteal length



Are you designing for smaller, average or larger people?

No two people have exactly the same dimensions but we all fit into one of three categories – depending on your dimensions, you will fall into the 5th, 50th or 95th percentile range.

Most people appear to be a similar height. These people fall into the 50th percentile range and are considered of average height.A small percentage of people are shorter than this majority – this group is known as the 5th percentile.Others are taller than most people and belong to the 95th percentile.

5% of the population are smaller than the ‘average’ person and 5% are bigger than the ‘average’ person. About 90% of the population are considered average.



Look at the people around you now. Let’s carry out some empirical research.

Arrange yourselves into gender groups (female and male).Within the gender groups, arrange yourselves into height order.How many people are ‘average’ and how many are significantly taller or shorter?

Could you plot individual heights on the graph and draw a line through them?Does it look like the graph on the previous slide?If not, are there any obvious reasons why?

Tallest1.85m

Shortest1.5m

Frequency

Average1.68m



It’s important to think about whether to use the 5th, 50th or 95th percentile anthropometric data.

Consider the following design scenarios and discuss why the particular range has been used.

Designing a car dashboard

5th percentile measurements are used so that smaller people can reach the instruments easily.

Designing an aircraft seat95th percentile measurements are used so that larger people can sit in the seat.

Anthropometric constraints


Anthropometric constraints


Anthropometrics of the hands


Anthropometrics of the head and neck


Anthropometrics of the lower body


Anthropometrics of the upper body


Anthropometrics for seating


What is ergonomics?

The word ERGONOMICS comes from the Greek language:

ERGOS = workNOMOS = natural law

Ergonomics is the relationship between a product and its user.

Ergonomics


Ergonomists study products, systems and environments and how they fit with their users.

As a product designer, you will need to consider how well a product meets the ergonomic needs of its user group in performing a task.

If the relationship between these aspects in the circle is weak, the product is ergonomically unsuitable.

How would a specification, a product analysis and anthropometric data be useful in this scenario?

Ergonomics


Bottle case study


Designing a kitchen

The work triangle. For a right-handed person, the sequence of activities must allow movement from left to right from the sink, to a work surface, to the cooker (in that order).Tall cupboards, doors, routes through the kitchen and passageways should not interfere with the work triangle.The work triangle must not measure more than 7000mm (7m) for medium-sized kitchens.

Using the activity on the next slide, create a kitchen layout based around an ideal work triangle.

Using ergonomics in the home

When designing a kitchen, there are several principles which are essential to stick to:


Designing a kitchen


Car seats


The same chair is being used by a 50th percentile person, a 5th percentile person and a 95th percentile person. How could the design of the chair be improved to suit all three people?

Designing a chair


Plenary


Key points


Key

po

ints

Anthropometrics is the study of body measurements and statistical data concerning the sizes and shapes of the population.

Ergonomics is the relationship between a product and its users.

All people fall into the 5th, 50th and 95th anthropometric percentile range.

User group, posture, clearance, reach and strength are all important factors in anthropometrics and ergonomics.

Documents

© Boardworks Ltd 2005 1 of 25 © Boardworks Ltd 2005 1 of 25 Product Design Anthropometrics and Ergonomics These icons indicate that teachers notes or useful