THE CONCEPT OF ERGONOMICS

BME 2006

THE BASIC CONCEPTS, VIEW AND APPROACH OF ERGONOMICS

Outline of presentation
The concept of Ergonomics A brief historical overview ManMan-Machine Systems (MMS) Usability Main areas of Ergonomics

The concept of Ergonomics

The concept of Ergonomics

ergos (work) + nomos (laws) = ergonomics Ergonomics = human factors Ergonomics = a science and practice that deals with the interaction of Man, Machine and their Environment A short definition: ergonomics is human centered technological development

The concept of Ergonomics

Sanders and McCormick (1993): Human factors" (ergonomics) discovers and applies information about human behavior, abilities, limitations and other characteristics to the design of tools, machines, systems, tasks, jobs, and environments for safe, comfortable, and efficient human use.

The concept of Ergonomics

Main tasks and possibilities of ergonomics at the working places: protecting the health and safety of workers increasing work efficiency increasing work satisfaction and feeling of comfort providing possibilities for personal development (developing skills, personality, social relationships, etc.)

The concept of Ergonomics

Ergonomics
has a broad interpretation: human centered technological development, is the science and practice of developing Man-Machine Systems, is not limited to working activity, is not limited to the ergonomics of scales, handles and pedals either, is interdisciplinary science and practice. Therefore the complex subject of ergonomics can only be understood and practiced successfully on the basis of approaches from different directions.

The concept of Ergonomics The three main optimizational goals of ergonomics: Safety Comfort Efficiency

A brief historical overview

A brief historical overview

Cognitive/software ergonomics.

Ergonomics outside the world of work: Product ergonomics

Man-Machine Systems

Production systems, environmental ergonomics, system ergonomics.

The birth of ergonomics. Classical ergonomics (ergonomics of scales and handles').

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

Man-Machine Systems
Ergomomics deals with the optimization of different Man-Machine Systems (MMS). Examples: worker working tool" socio-technical system (factory, ship, aircraft etc.) sportsman sport device" driver vehicle" "operator controlled system" user product soldier weapon housewife household appliances human computer system etc.

Man-Machine Systems
Man - Machine System
Human subsystem
Motivational and emotional characteristics Cognitive characteristics Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual characteristics Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological characteristics Body dimensions
Muscle power (arm, leg, etc.),

Technical subsystem
Motivational and emotional requirements Cognitive requirements Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual requirements Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological requirements Power/force needs (arm, leg, etc.), Control sizes, distances
Handle, pedal, pushbutton, etc.

Arm, leg, trunk, head, etc.

User Interface (UI)

Man-Machine Systems
A MMS always has a human subsystem, a technical subsystem, and a user interface (UI).
These subsystems can further be devided into smallar and even smaller elements as necessary depending on the particular aim of the analysis. If the human subsystem and the technical subsystem are not compatible, the particular activity may not be safe, comfortable and efficient and therefore the user may experience increased stress. The stress will be the topic of a whole lecture later on.

Man-Machine Systems
Thus the human subsystem, for example, can be broken down into antropometric, physiological, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, etc. sub-subsystems, that can further be devided into even smaller elements if necessary .

Man-Machine Systems
The technical subsystems, on the other side, can have a very big variety and therefore we cannot give here even a general level description. The technical subsystems of the following MMSs, e.g. have very different main characteristics and working behavior a pilot and the aircraft, a control operator and the NPP, a designer and the CAD system, a bank official and his information system, a bank system administrator and the system itself, client and the ATM, a tennis player and his racket, etc.

Man-Machine Systems
The user interface (UI) is the machine as the human perceives it - GARDINER s CHRISTIE
(1987)

The user gets into touch with the perceptible surface of the machine and creates a general judgement about the whole system based only on this perceptible surface. Therefore the same technical equipment/device/tool etc. may appear differently for different users. As a consequence of learning during usage the perceived quality of the same UI may change even within the same person.

Usability It is not enough, if a product is aesthetic, original, or novel in its appearance. it has also to be usable!

Usability

Usability
General frame: frame: efficiency of working activity

Usability

Efficiency =

Benefits Costs
Human performance

If efficiency is considered in the context of using a certain tool, the key term becomes usability

That the use of the tool makes possible

Benefits Efficiency =
(Usability)

Costs
That the use of the tool requires

Human expenditures

Usability
Usability is the central concept of ergonomics. Usability is umbrella term for all those factors, which influence the efficiency of any human activity done by technical tools, by shaping that very tools. For the usability of software products see: ISO/IEC 9126 international standard. The usability factors are measurable characteristics of usability.

Usability
The most important usability factors : Speed of activity, Number of error committed during the activity, The users possibility to correct these errors by the help of this tool, The users expenditures during learning the system, The endurance of the skills built during learning , The users possibility to costumize this tool to the circumstances, The users possibility to rearrange the activity by the help of this tool, The users general satisfaction with this tool.

Usability
The designers primary task is to find the best compromise between usability, functionality and financial costs.
A summary of Usability techniques will be the topic of a whole lecture later on.

Main areas of ergonomics

Man - Machine System
Human subsystem
Motivational and emotional characteristics Cognitive characteristics Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual characteristics Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological characteristics Body dimensions
Muscle power (arm, leg, etc.),

Technical subsystem
Motivational and emotional requirements Cognitive requirements Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual requirements Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological requirements Power/force needs (arm, leg, etc.), Control sizes, distances
Handle, pedal, pushbutton, etc.

Arm, leg, trunk, head, etc.

User Interface (UI)

Main areas of ergonomics Depending on the actual task, any level of compatibility could become important or even critical!
Man - Machine System
Human subsystem
Motivational and emotional characteristics Cognitive characteristics Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual characteristics Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological characteristics Body dimensions
Muscle power (arm, leg, etc.),

For example physical working place design mainly Main areas of ergonomics relates to
Man - Machine System
Human subsystem Technical subsystem
Motivational and emotional requirements Cognitive requirements Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual requirements Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological requirements Power/force needs (arm, leg, etc.), Control sizes, distances
Handle, pedal, pushbutton, etc.

Technical subsystem
Motivational and emotional requirements Cognitive requirements Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual requirements Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological requirements Power/force needs (arm, leg, etc.), Control sizes, distances
Handle, pedal, pushbutton, etc.

Motivational and emotional characteristics Cognitive characteristics Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual characteristics Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological characteristics Body dimensions
Muscle power (arm, leg, etc.),

Arm, leg, trunk, head, etc.

Arm, leg, trunk, head, etc.

User Interface (UI)

User Interface (UI)

Main areas of ergonomics The design of the physical environment mainly relates to
Man - Machine System
Human subsystem
Motivational and emotional characteristics Cognitive characteristics Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual characteristics Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological characteristics Body dimensions
Reaction to high/low temperature, luminance, noise, etc.

Main areas of design ergonomics The ergonomic product may relate to any level
Man - Machine System
Human subsystem Technical subsystem
Motivational and emotional requirements Cognitive requirements Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual requirements Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological requirements Power/force needs (arm, leg, etc.), Control sizes, distances
Handle, pedal, pushbutton, etc.

Technical subsystem
Motivational and emotional requirements Cognitive requirements Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual requirements Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological requirements
Climate, luminance, noise, etc.

Motivational and emotional characteristics Cognitive characteristics Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual characteristics Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological characteristics Body dimensions
Muscle power (arm, leg, etc.),

Arm, leg, trunk, head, etc.

Control sizes, distances

Handle, pedal, pushbutton, etc.

Arm, leg, trunk, head, etc.

User Interface (UI)

User Interface (UI)

Main areas of ergonomics Similarly human factors of safety may also relate to any level and even beyond (to organizational issues)
Man - Machine System
Human subsystem
Motivational and emotional characteristics Cognitive characteristics Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual characteristics Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological characteristics Body dimensions
Muscle power (arm, leg, etc.),

Main areas of ergonomics

In the following the usual main areas of ergonomics are listed Some of them will be given a short example still within this lecture Some of them will be given a whole lecture later on In the cases of the rest we have to confine ourselves simply to listing them here

Technical subsystem
Motivational and emotional requirements Cognitive requirements Memory, thinking, etc. Perceptual requirements Vision, hearing, touch, etc. Physiological requirements Power/force needs (arm, leg, etc.), Control sizes, distances
Handle, pedal, pushbutton, etc.

Arm, leg, trunk, head, etc.

User Interface (UI)

Main areas of ergonomics

The usual main areas of ergonomics: ergonomics:
Information input Human output and control Workplace design Environmental conditions Product ergonomics Cognitive/software/web ergonomics

Main areas of ergonomics

Information input
Information input and processing Text, Graphics, Symbols, and Codes Visual Displays (example: VDT ergonomics) Auditory, Tactual, and Olfactory Displays Speech Communications Cultural Stereotypes (example: role of cognitive schemata) etc.

Main areas of ergonomics

Human output and control
Physical Work and Manual Materials Handling Motor Skills Human Control of Systems Controls and Data Entrs Devices Hand Tools and Devices etc.

Main areas of ergonomics

Workplace design
Applied Anthropometry Arrangement of Components in Physiscal Space Interpersonal Aspects of Workplace design etc.

Main areas of ergonomics

Environmental conditions
Illumination Climate Noise Motion etc.

Main areas of ergonomics

Product ergonomics
Needs analysis Consumers behavior study User profile identification Prototype building Safety testing (example: test conditions) etc.

Main areas of ergonomics

Cognitive/software/web ergonomics
Analytic software usability methods (Cognitive Walkthrough, Heuristic Methods, GOMS-based Methods, etc.) Empirical software usability methods (the INTERFACE method, etc.) Automated website evaluation methods Applying Data Mining (DM) techniques as website traffic analytic tools: webmining

Example: VDT ergonomics

Picture quality of CRT devices
Based on the Modulation Transfer Function Area (MTFA) Based on the just noticeable differences (jnd)

The principle color VDT

Example: VDT ergonomics

A Contrast sensitivity and spatial frequency

Example: VDT ergonomics

A Contrast sensitivity and spatial frequency
unstructured field Contrast necesary for perception

Contrast sensivity

structured field

spatial frequency, cpd

Example: VDT ergonomics

Picture quality of CRT devices Light vertical lines (stripes) will be presented on dark background by a given VDT and the object/background contrast is studied as a function of line density. Contrast:

Example: VDT ergonomics

High contrast

Lob

Lob = luminance

C=

Lob - Lbg Lbg

of object Lbg= luminance of background

Lbg

Example: VDT ergonomics

Smaller contrast

Example: VDT ergonomics

Even smaller contrast

Lob Lbg

Lob Lbg

Example: VDT ergonomics

Modulation Transfer Function Area (MTFA)

Example: VDT ergonomics

Comparing the spatial resolution of the VDT and the human vision system by the jnds High picture quality Low picture quality

VDT

display resolution limit human sensation threshold

A monitor ltal biztostott s a szem ltal rzkelt kontraszt a tri frekvencia fggvnyben spatial frequency, cpd

spatial frequency, cpd

A kontraszt s a tri frekvencia szemlltetse Example: VDT ergonomics

A sznrzkels VDT egyszer stett modellje Example: ergonomics

Receptor sensitive to low wavelengths
( BLUE ON

High contrast

Receptor sensitive to medium wavelengths

GREEN ON

Receptor sensitive to high wavelengths

RED OFF OFF

Low contrast
BLUE + YELLOW GREEN RED

Low temporal frequency

Medium temporal frequency

Small temporal frequency

Example: VDT ergonomics

The principle of the hole mask color VDT: creating color pixels by the red (R), green (G) and blue (B) electron guns

Example: role of cognitive schemata

How much is the time? (This watch runs backwards!)

phospour layer

hole mask
triplett electron beam

1 12 2 3

11 10 9

electron guns In the tube

4 5 6 7

Example: role of cognitive schemata

How much is the time? (This watch runs normally)

Example: role of cognitive schemata

Do this calculation by heart:

( XXIV + IL + IV ) / XI

11 12 10 9 8 7 6

1 2 3 5 4Result: 10:12
in both cases

Result: VII
Now do this
calculation also by heart:

Result: 7

24 + 49 + 4 11

Example: test conditions

Safety testing of products and processes

Example: test conditions

Safety testing of products and processes

Example: test conditions

Safety testing of products and processes

Example: test conditions

10