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Ergonomics and anthropometricsLesson 22

James PlayfordSeries Editor: Louise T Davies

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Lesson objectives/aims

• Know how to consider ergonomics and the use of anthropometric data when designing products.

• Apply an understanding of anthropometric data when designing products.

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Learning ladder

By the end of the lesson:

You must: • be able to explain the term ergonomics.• be able to explain the term anthropometrics.

You should:• be able to use examples to explain how ergonomic considerations have

affected the design of products• be able to use examples to explain how anthropometric considerations have

affected the design of products.

You could: • explain why specific products are unsuccessful ergonomically.

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Introduction

• As a Graphic Products student you will need to understand the terms ergonomics and anthropometrics and the effect they have on the design of products.

• One of the most important aspects of product design is considering how the user will interact with the product; how comfortable will it be to use, sit on or wear?

• How easy will it be to control an aspect of the product’s performance such as temperature, volume, height, time, brightness or intensity?

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Learning task: ergonomics (1)

‘How do you play the CD? We borrowed a portable stereo from a friend. We put a CD in the CD player and then pressed the play button on the row of buttons next to the CD player. It didn’t work. Careful study revealed that the row of buttons next to the CD player controlled the tape player! And the row of buttons that controlled the CD player? They are next to the tape player!’

How might the designer have made the product more intuitive for the user?

Tape buttonsCD player

Tape player CD buttons

Read the following posting from www.baddesign.com

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Task 1: ergonomics

• In small groups discuss products that you have recently used that were badly designed under the following headings:

• physically uncomfortable• hard to understand• hard to operate• gave inadequate feedback (e.g. you could not tell if it was switched

on or off).

• For each product discuss how a designer could make the product better.

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Ergonomics (1)

• Ergonomics is concerned with the way people interact with products, including how they feel, sound, smell and even taste.

• The keys on a computer keyboard are suitably sized and spaced for human fingers.

• Door handles are placed at a comfortable height for adults.

• Mobile phone display screens’ text and symbols can be easily read by the naked eye.

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Ergonomics (2)

• Ergonomics is derived from the Greek words ‘ergon’ (work) and ‘nomos’ (law).

• In America ergonomics is known as human factors.

• If you would like to find out more about ergonomics the UK based Ergonomics Society provides support for professional ergonomists and has an excellent website:

http://ergonomics4schools.com/

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Learning task: ergonomics (2)

What are the ergonomic factors that affect the design of mobile phones?

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Learning task: ergonomics (3)

• Did you get?

How well it fits in the user’s hand.

How easily the user can read the

display.

The positioning of the earpiece.

The positioning of the microphone.

The size of the keys.

The distance between the keys.

How easily a call can be answered.

How easily an unwanted or badly timed call can be rejected.

The volume of the ringer.

The brightness of the screen.

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Task 2: ergonomics (1)

• In small groups you will be presented with a range of objects that fulfil the same function.

• You are to devise and conduct a series of non destructive tests that will allow you to draw up a list of requirements for an ergonomically sound product.

• Your group will need to produce an A3 information sheet and short presentation.

• You need to include a photograph or sketch of the type of product you have been studying, annotated and with the key ergonomic information.

• Please see the example on the following slide.

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Task 2: ergonomics (2)

The handle must be an appropriate size for an adult

hand.

The diameter of the brim must be correctly sized for an adult’s face.

The rim of the mug must fit

comfortably on the user’s lips.

The mug must not hold a weight of liquid

greater than an adult can comfortably lift.

The handle must allow a gap between the

user’s knuckle and the side of

the mug.

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Anthropometrics (1)

• Anthropometrics is the study of the sizes of people.

• Designers use this information to make products that are of a suitable size and weight.

• As with ergonomics the origin of the word anthropometrics is the Greek language. ‘Anthro’ means human and ‘Metrics’ means to measure.

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Anthropometrics (2)

• It would be nearly impossible for companies to cater for entire ranges of body sizes. Imagine a shoe shop trying to carry all styles of shoes in all sizes.

• To minimize the impact of ‘abnormal data’ anthropometric studies ignore the lowest 5% and highest 5% leaving the 90th percentile on which product designs are based.

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Task 3

• Aim: To understand the process of gathering anthropometric data.

Task:• In groups of three you are to collect

each others anthropometric data.• Record your findings in the table on

Worksheet 1.• Calculate the averages for the group.• Report your findings back to the

class.

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Plenary

• What is meant by the term ergonomics?• What is meant by the term anthropometrics? • How is the design of products affected by ergonomic

considerations?• How is the design of products affected by anthropometric data?• How is anthropometric data gathered? • What is the 90th percentile?

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Extension

• Many designs do not work well from an ergonomic standpoint. • There is an excellent website dedicated to these design blunders:

www.baddesigns.com• Explore the site.• Find an example of bad design from your own experience.• Write a report about the product in the style of baddesigns.com.

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Homework

You will need to include: • a definition of the term ergonomics• a definition of the term anthropometrics• examples of how the design of products is affected by ergonomic

considerations• examples of how the design of products is affected by

anthropometric data.

Remember: You are a GCSE Graphic Products student so all your work must be clearly laid out and well presented.

You are to produce an information sheet on ergonomics and anthropometrics.