Lecture 29: Anthropometry

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Lecture 29 Anthropometry
Readings Chapanis (1996), chapter 5, pages
158-170.
09/10/99
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Goals

• Introduce basic information about size and shape
  that is useful to designers in designing
  products, workspaces, and workstations.
• Show how information about size and shape is
  collected

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Definition

• Anthropometry is the study of body size and shape
  and its distribution in various populations.

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Dimensions of the Human Body

• heights,
• breadths,
• depths,
• distances.
• circumferences,
• and curvature,

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Workzone - Dimensions at Work
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Design Strategies to Accommodate Body Differences

• Make a single size fit all users.
• Fit 5th to 95th Percentiles
• Make equipment adjustable.
• Make equipment in several sizes.

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Measuring Instruments

• Tape measures
• Wall charts
• Calipers
• Specialized instruments

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Arm Circumference
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Measuring Circumference
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Reference Points for Arm Length
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ChildBodyLength
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Types of Measurement

• Height - point-to-point vertical measurement
• Breadth - straight-line horizontal measurement
• Depth - straight-line point-to-point front-back.
  
• Distance
• straight-line, point-to-point btwn body landmarks
• Curvature
• point-to-point measurement follows body contour
• Circumference
• closed measurement follows a body contour.
• Reach
• point-to-point measurement of long axis arm or leg

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Upright Posture
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Seated Posture
Thighs are horizontal Lower legs are vertical
Feet are flat on the floor
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Reference Planes and Descriptive Terms
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Landmarks in Frontal View
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Functional Anthopometry

• Anthropometry in Action
• Movement through space
• Strength related to position
• Design of workspaces

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Defining Position Accurately
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Tables of Percentile Measurements
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Seated Reach
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Light downward forces can be exerted at knee
angles of about 105 to 110 degrees
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Strong forward forces require knee extension at
135 to 155 degrees
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Couplings between Hand and Handle
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More hand/handle Couplings
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Effects of Elbow Angle on Elbow Torque
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Anthropometry and Human Requirements

• Understand the nature of the requirement.
• Collect scientific information about how that
  requirement applies to different people, tasks,
  and environments.
• Develop design guidelines for particular
  situations based on the available scientific
  information.
• If necessary, do new applied research on how
  human requirements apply in current situation of
  interest.

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Lessons

• Anthopometry illustrates how to derive and apply
  Requirements
• Define Quantities that are Relevant
• Measure Accurately
• Design Accordingly