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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
It uses Anthropometric data to improve...
Safety Comfort
Function
Ergonomics is a DESIGN FACTOR...
Ergonomics affects...
…any interface between people and machines
Shape
Form
Layout of controlsThe height objects are
placed
Texture
How colour is used
Materials chosenSize of buttons
Width of handles
Forces required
Anthropometrics
AnthropometricsQ. 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.
AnthropometricsHe is average!
How do we know he is average?
Average age
Average weight
Average height
Average size
1.7
5m
Lots and lots of people and every possible measurement. .
Anthropometric Data is the measurements of people.
We know he is average because we know the sizes of the smallest to largest people and how many there are of each size.
Look at the range of height sizes
Shortest
TallestAverage
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...
Nu
mb
er
of
people
Height
The graph represents 100% of the population
Nu
mb
er
of
people
Height
The graph is divided into 100ths.
These are called Percentiles.N
um
ber
of
people
Height
This is the 50th Percentile
Average man belongs in the 50th Percentile
Num
ber
of
people
Height
The 50th Percentile is the largest group of people.
Anthropometrics in Design
Anthropometrics in DesignIt 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.
These people are in the range between the 5th and 95th percentiles
Nu
mb
er
of
peop
le
Height
5th to 95th percentile is 90% of people
5th Percentile 95th Percentile
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...
Anthropometrics in Design
Ergonomic Design
Good Ergonomic design is based on Anthropometric Data.
Q. How has this designer considered the user?
The seat is shaped so the weight is supported evenly
The height adjusts to suit different
desk heights
The seat has5 castors so that it won’t tip over
The handle is easily accessibleThe seat rotates to
to reduce twisting of the body
The seat is paddedfor comfort
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 PercentileN
um
ber
of
people
Height
So instead doors are made to suit people using the 95th Percentile for height.
We ignore those above that height.
95th Percentile
1870mm
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.
So instead the shelves are designed using the 5th Percentile for height.
We ignore those below that height.
People above the 5th PercentileN
um
ber
of
people
Height
5th Percentile
1500mm
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
To get the feel of this raise your feet of the ground…
It is uncomfortable!
If we design for the 95th
Percentile the chair seat would be 470mm high.
In this instance the designer uses the 50th Percentile for Popliteal height.
So the chair is comfortable for most people.
Nu
mb
er
of
people
Popliteal Height
50th Percentile
425mm
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
Think about how these factors might affect the design of this medicine bottle.
As well as gender, we may also need to consider factors such as Age, Strength, Dexterity, Fitness and Literacy of the user.
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.
Consider the design of this product.
Example
Consider the design of this product.
Example
Consider the design of this product.
Example
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