E2: Human Factors Data

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E2 Human Factors Data

• Option E Human Factors Design
• IB Design Technology

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User Population

• Definition
• The range of users for a particular product or
  system.
• Larger user groups could be defined in terms of
  age group, gender group and physical condition.

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Sampling

• Sampling allows you to gain important
  information about potential users.
• When considering a product for mass use, it is
  not good to rely on information collected from
  just a few people, as it is unlikely to be
  representative of the whole range of users.
• A user group sample could be based on a large
  user population group, such as teenagers (age
  group) or males (gender).

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Age, gender and physical condition

• These factors can be further defined to
  determine the exact nature of a user group
  sample. As these factors are important to the
  evaluation, these characteristics must be
  represented by the members of the sample.
• What user population groups can you think of?

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methods of extreme

• Sample users are selected to represent the
  extremes of a user population plus one or two
  intermediate values, for example, evaluating a
  kitchen layout may use the shortest (5th
  percentile), the mean (50th percentile) and the
  tallest (95th percentile).

U shaped kitchen
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Population stereotypes

• Definition
• Responses that are found to be widespread in a
  user population.

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• Radio knobs are mechanical products which are
  usually turned clockwise to turn on or up.

Taps deal with fluids and gases and are usually
turned anticlockwise to turn them on
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Population stereotypes

• Population stereotypes can be displaced by
  alternative learnt responses, but they frequently
  reassert themselves under conditions of stress
  such as tiredness or panic.

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• For example, gas cooker controls are turned
  clockwise for off, but for an electric cooker
  they are the other way around. This is because
  the gas cooker knobs are effectively taps,
  operating a fluid or gas.

This can be confusing for consumers and can be a
safety hazard, especially with a gas hob and
electric oven combined into one product.
A gas cooker knob that is turned anticlockwise
For on and clockwise for off.
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• When considering Human Factors at the design
  stage you must account for the range of sizes and
  adjustability.
• Some examples

Clothing comes in a range of sizes.
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Ironing tables can be adjusted to allow for
people of a different height to use
comfortably. This has an effect on the design of
the legs, as this is how the board is adjusted in
height.
Childrens car seats are adjustable to allow for
a range of sizes and a growing child.
As are other items in a car, such as adjustable
seat backs, adjustable leg room, adjustable seat
belts, adjustable steering wheels, adjustable
mirrors, adjustable headrest, etc.
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Perch is a result from a 2 year research
masters with the National College of Art and
Design, Dublin, Ireland by Simon Dennehy.Active
sitting is central to the design. Continuous
movement, higher sitting and working, fully
adjustable furniture and a patented flexible seat
pan contribute to the overall design. Students
are not built to sit still. Movement is key to
physical and psychological development.
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Anthropometric Data

• Static anthropometric data is much easier to
  gather as people are asked to remain still while
  measurements are taken.
• Dynamic anthropometric data involves people
  carrying out tasks. People carry out tasks in a
  range of different ways, which can make it
  difficult to measure.
• Static data is more reliable, however, dynamic
  data is often more useful.

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Collecting anthropometric data

• Equipment

Sliding calliper
Torso calliper
Stadiometer
Harpenden anthropometer
Tape measure
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• Accurate anthropometric data can be difficult to
  gather using this equipment as often a person
  would need to be naked, rather than clothed, to
  get an accurate measurement.

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Percentile ranges

• Adjustable equipment requires a range of
  anthropometric data from a percentile range.
• Consider the following adjustable examples
• Car seats
• Office chairs
• Desk heights
• You will also need to consider gender groups.

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Car seats

• What percentile ranges would be required for
  adjustable car seats?

Sitting height Leg room Arm reach Viewing
angles Hip breadth Thigh length
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Office chairs

• What percentile ranges would be required for
  office chairs?

Sitting height Leg room Arm reach Thigh
height Hip breadth Thigh length Elbow
height
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Desk heights

• What percentile ranges would be required for
  desks?

Sitting height Leg room Arm reach Elbow
height Seated elbow height Thigh height
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Multivariate accommodation
Multivariate accommodation (fitting in several
variables, eg, in a car you need to fit in terms
of sitting height, leg room, arm reach, viewing
angles, hip breadth, thigh length)

• means that accepting 5 being designed out for
  each important dimension is not viable, because
  different people will be designed out for each
  variable. People have different proportions.
  Thos designed out because they are too tall may
  not be those designed out because their arm reach
  is too short.

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Primary secondary anthropometric data

• How do designers use primary and secondary
  anthropometric data in solving a design problem?

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Biomechanics

• IB Definition
• The research and analysis of the mechanics of
  living organisms.

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The importance of biomechanics

• Biomechanics is important in the design of a
  product in terms of muscle strength, age, handle
  size, surface texture, and torque.
• Examples
• Can opener
• Valve wheel
• Corkscrew
• Door handle
• Jam jar lid
• Discuss