Human Factors in Design

Ergonomic in everyday things

Human factors (or ergonomics) is the science

of adapting products to match the human
body and mind
mind.
It focuses on the product user
user, and aims to
ensure products are easy to use, easy to
learn, productive and safe.
Getting human factors right is an essential
part of getting the design of a product right
right.

Anthropometric
factors
Antropometry deals with
dimensions and physical
characteristics of the
human body.

BMW Isetta

(1950-1953)

Anthropometric
factors
p
Usually design to the Xth percentile
level. i.e. X% of the population will
not be adequately accommodated.
accommodated

Ci ili P
Civilian
Populations:
l ti

Military populations:

Standard Height

2.5 97.5 percentile

5 95 percentile
til

Standard Dimensions

Anthropometric
factors may
need to
change as
obesity
becomes more
and more a
problem.
problem

Adjustability to overcome
anthropometric problem

Keep
p everything
y
g within easy
y reach
Long reaches can strain the body and
make work more difficult,, and waste
time.
Make tasks more user-friendly by
keeping frequently used items like
knobs, switches, etc within easy reach.

Keep everything within easy reach

All controls are within

easy reach of the driver

Reduce excessive forces

- how many are like these?

2008 Honda Civic Si Mugen

How much force can we exert?

Minimize fatigue
Continuous exertion of the same
muscle group over a period of time
should be avoided.

Example:

Forces exertable at various postures

S l ti
Solution

Ergonomic chairs

P
i
Poor
ergonomics
can cause fatigue

Poorly designed equipment and operation

manuals can cause mental fatigue

Jacob Jensen has

created a timer clock
which is a refined alarm
clock displaying time in
a different way. What
time is shown here?

Bang & Olufsen

clock What
Beotime clock.
time is shown here?

Minimize contact stress

X-rays of hand using conventional and redesigned

pliers. Redesigned model is more anatomically
correct.
Conventional

Contact stress
causes
discomfort and
can inhibit
nerve function
and blood flow
Ergonomically
redesigned

Parts
P t off tool
t l in
i contact
t t with
ith hand
h d are
padded to reduce contact stresses

Clipper
C ppe

Ergonomically designed

Aesthetics

Ancient
Greek
pottery,
5000BC

Sander

Ancient sewing
machine by
Gresham &
Craven,
Manchester,
England, 1870
Note the walnut
table and the
aesthetically
designed treadle

Colour
your brain
think

colours

Example: Apple i-Mac

Ferrari F40

Proctor Silaxs steam irons unashamedly borrow their

and
cool colours and their strawberry,
y, lime,, tangerine
g
blueberry designations from the Apple production line.

Original design of Harveys sherry bottles was the

same with
is
used
i h white
hi background.
b k
d Colour
C l
i later
l
d to
distinguish the different sherry bottles. Size of label on
bottles was reduced to make characteristic shape
more visible, hence unique and prominent

TDKs innovative rainbow colour one-sided, petal-shaped

CD case can be stacked, carried individually or hung on
h k CD
hook.
CDs are wellll protected
t t d one side
id only,
l h
hence only
l
half a case is needed to reduce materials and space

So does Swatch

People like choices. So Nokia designs phones that allow

users to change colours to suit their tastes or occasions.

. and

Shur-Line paint
brushes: Handle
designed with
ergonomically round
edges and soft
materials;
Differently shaped
for different
painting tasks; Grip
zones on surfaces
anatomically shaped
and textured for
superior grip
comfort, grip
security and brush
control.

Bahco hacksaw:
A th ti
Aesthetic:
Harmonious colour scheme and
fresh visual appearance
Belzer Screwdriver: Robust and non
slip
non-slip
handle designed to fit hand comfortably to
reduce stress on hand muscles. Entire handle
surface
f
may be
b gripped
i
d with
ith palm;
l
so shaped
h
d
that it cannot roll far away when set down.

Ergonomics:
Lightweight frame with steel core jacketed in plastic
f strength
for
t
th and
d durability;
d
bilit minimized
i i i d weight
i ht and
d slim
li
body increase accessibility; quality tactile non-slip
rubber handle with rounded ends promotes comfort;
smoothly rounded secondary grip at front for extra
stability and power

Nito Ergo water gun: designed to make its use

as easy as possible. Ergonomic handle is situated
in an angle so user is in resting position without
bending wrist. Trigger is long; all fingers (except
thumb) are engaged to prevent stretching of
some fingers
fi
iin order
d to reach
h trigger
i
while
hil the
h
rest of the fingers are holding onto the handle.

DV90 is designed with steering that automatically aligns

direction of joystick to the driven direction. Seat can be
rotated 3600. When compacting, driver only needs to rotate
seat so that he always drives forward literally. Note
innovative free view concept with see-through cabin.

Aesthetics

Honda CBF600 is designed for smaller rider and

women in particular; key feature is a "Just-Fit-Design"
"Just Fit Design"
with adjustable handlebars, a fully adjustable seat,
adjustable brake lever and adjustable windscreen.
These adjustments make the bike suitable for any
rider, providing them with extra confidence.

Students amphibian
vehicles - 1

Aesthetics

Aesthetics
Students
amphibian
vehicles packaging

Students amphibian
vehicles - 2