ct oesign and Erg onomics 399

,,od"
follows : Persuasion This is the point at which the prospective
re as
~ese /J f hese are people who want to be the first to try adopter is open to the idea of purchase. They are actively
,ators . n They are ventu resome and interested in seeking information which will inform their event~al
/1~01 . yatlO · ·lr decision. This is the stage at which marketers will be seeking
~1, jJ1f1° These people are ~ mg to take risks. They are
35
• ide fi · t to develop new ideas . to convey the benefits of the product in detail. There will ~e
I~11 tJ1e ,rs a conscious effort to sell the product to someone at this
,~en t rs These are the people who represent opinion
·~~j adop e · d h. l stage of the diffusion of innovation.
They enJOY lea ers 1p ro es and embrace change
~8defS· . . s They are already aware of the need to ch ange D ecision At this stage eventually ~he adopter must ma~e a
f(Uf1ltle ·
1,11po oxnfortable in adopting new ideas. They do not decision. They will weigh up the pros and con s of adoption
1ndve%~ation to convince them to change.
and either accept the innovation- or reject it .
eed,n
n Majority These people are rarely leaders but t hey do Implementation This stage is ~when the adopter makes a
I
fl!}' w ideas before the average person. They typically decision as to whether or not the product is actually useful
Mt neee evidence that the innovation works before they to them. They may also seek out further information to
,edtO S . S . either support the use of the p rod uct or to better
n, willing to adopt 1t . t r~tegxes to appeal to this
Jlt tion include success stones and the evidence of the
understand the product in context. T his phase su~ests the
li!PuaI . designers and marketers ·alike n eed t o consider the
;nnovation effectiveness.
ownership process in detail. ·
iJtt Majority These people a re skeptical of change and will
Confirmation This is the st~ge at wh ich the user evaluates
on~ adopt an innovation after it has been tried by the
their decisions and decides whether they will keep using the
majority. Strategies t o appeal to this population include
product or abandon use of the product. T his p hase can only
m/onnation on how m any other people have tried the
be ended by abandonment otherwise it is con t inual. This
mnovation and have adopted it successfully.
phase will normally involve a personal examination of the
laggards These people are bound by tradition and very product and also social one. The users will seek information
:onservative. They are very skeptical of change and are the from their peers, colleagues and friends etc.
nardest group to bring on board. Strategies to appeal to this
~pulation includes statistics fear appeals and pressure from Design Communi cation
reople in the other adopter groups .
Design communication is a mixed discipline between design
The diffusion of innovat ion explains the rate at which new and information development which is concerned With how
deas and technology sp read. The diffusion of innovation media intervention such as printed, crafted communication
ieory is used extensively by marketers to understand with the people. The design communicatio n must achieve a
ilie rate at which consumers are likely to adopt a new reaction or get customer to see a product in a genuine way to
llOduct or service. attract sales or get message across .
~ oilier words, for businesses looking to roll out new The design communication seeks to attract, inspire, create
~ ucts, diffusion of innovation can help spell the desires and motivate people to respon d t o m essages. It is
1!ilference between a successful product launch and a with a view making a favourable impact. T his impact can be
·
'.~liled.one. It allows the designers and marketers to examme, to the bottom line of t he commissioning body, which can
111
1 h
r.:._V it is· that some inferior products are successfu w en either to build a brand or m ove sales. T he pro cess of d esign
'''ltSUp ·
enor products are not. communication involves st rategic business thinking using
~e diffu · m arket research , creativity and technical skills. It also
~es sion of innovation involves certain processes.
eare d. involves the kn owledge of colour page , layout, topography
, Iscussed below :
and creat ing visuals hierarchies.
'llo ledge This is the stage at which the adopter is first
sedto h · h Communication designers translate ideas and information
11011n . t e innovation itself. They do not have enoug
1 d h ave n ot through a variety o f med ia. The talents lie not only in the
%eeat on t O make a decision t o purchase on an
traditional skills o f the hand, but also in their ability to
\ keten sufficiently inspired to find out more. At this stage, h
•1 rs ,•..: 11 think strategically in design and marketing terms , in orde r
~.iduct ·•u be looking to increase awareness of t e
nd to establish credibility and influence audiences through
\te, a provide enough educat ion that the prospective . communication.
· ~~
e to the second stage
400 UCC NET Tutor • Home Science (Pel
. t>,tllj

Ergonomic Considerations Scope of Ergonomics

Ergo~omi~ consideration in design is defined as the S~e of the areas where ergonomics has been ~
relationslup between man and machine and the application applied are as : essfu11
1
of anatomical , physiological and psychological principles to • De
sign of furniture, seats, rests and steps fo
. roper
solve the problems arising from man-machine relationship. • Design of tools jigs and fixtures ators
The_ ergonomic consideration into product machine, • Design in equfpment, power and hand tools
equipment component design as well as work environment
• Improvement in workin_g conditions and environrnen
takes into account both psychological and physical needs of
• Computation of relaxat10n allowances for workers ~
the users helps to enhance user efficiency, satisfaction and
pro~uctivity. The ergonomics can optimise both human • Selection training and placement of personnel
performance and the use of technology for improved • M otivation to workers .
efficiencies and reduced costs .
The fundamental themes . of e~gonomics such
user-centred design , user fnendly inclusive design as
. . and
usability have becom~ buzzwor d s wit11in the desi
industry. The ergonom'.cs methods ca~ _be applied at tt
Ergonomics earliest stages of the d esign process, defmmg user needs
.. f . . and
identifying'opportumt1es or mnovat1on.
Ergonomics is th e science which deals with relationship
between man and his working environment. It takes care of Thus , the ergonomics aim is to ensure that the workin
factors governing the physical and mental strain. situation is in harmony with the activities of the worker. I~
helps in developing most com fortable conditions related to
Ergonomics is the study of how humans interact with man climate , lighting, ventilation and noise level.
made objects. The word ergonomic is derived from the
Greek word 'ergo11 ' meaing work and 'nomos' meaning laws or
usage. Ergonomics is relevant in many fields, it is commonly Areas of Study Under
applied to workplace environment. Ergonomics
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has Ergonomics is a wide concept. Areas of study under
defined ergonomics as " the application of human biological ergonomics are anthropometry, man-machine relationship,
Science in con junction with engineering sciences, to the environmental relationships, factors affecting physiolo~c~
worker and his working environment so as to attain cost of work, body mechanics, functional design of work
maximum satisfaction for the work which at the same time place, time and motion study, energy studies, etc.
enhances productivity."
Their detailed description is given below :
The word ergonom ics was independently used in 1949 b~ a
British scientist KR H Murrell . The modern ergonomICs Anthropometry
contribute to the design and evaluation of work systems Anthropometry is the scientific study of the measurements
and products. In earlier times an engineer designed a and proportions of h uman body. Alphouse Bertill0n IS
machine or products, but now a days design is a team effo1t. credited as the father of anthropometrics. It includes th~
measurement such as height elbow wrist, length etc.,~
Significa nce of Ergonomics . , ' h ometrJC
human bcmgs . The factors which affect the ant rop d
The ergonomists generally has an importa~,t role to play ~t wth an
measurements include gender, ethnicity, gro JI as
the conceptual phase and in detailed design as well as In .
d eve1opment, agemg, . as we
social and occupation
prototyping and the evaluation of exist ing products and clot hing and personal equipment.
facilities . k words .
The word anthropometry is derived from the Gree asure-
Ergonomics needs to be considered in the_design of virtually 'anthropas ' meaning man and 'metron , me ans me•fy the
any product, system or environment . Fa1!ure to do so ~ay . spec1
Anth_ropo~etric data are used in ergonori:ICS tot furniturt
1ea d to designs which do not fit the physical, psychological
. ff . physical dimensions of workspaces, equ1pmen ' ensuft'
or sociological needs of the users, leading to me ec~1ve, and clothing so as to fit the task to man an d aJso to-011 s 0f
inefficient or unsafe designs, which are to be commercially d·mens1 r
tha~ physical mismatch between the I onding u5e
successful. Ergonomics can be applied in all schemes of eqmpment and products and the corresp
human activity, be it in offices, factories, shops etc. dimensions are avoided .