Lecture 2.

Anthropometry , Ergonomics
and Work design

Books
1. Introduction to ergonomics R.S. Bridger
2. Anthropometry Ergonomics and the Design of Work
Stepehn Pheasant Christine M. haslergrave
Ergonomics
The study of people's efficiency in their working environment.
Physical Cognitive Sensory Organizational

Ergonomics Ergonomics Ergonomics Ergonomics
What is ergonomics??
Ergonomic is the study of interaction between people and machine and the factors that effect
the interaction .the purpose of ergonomic is improve the performance of a system by
improving human machine interaction.
OR
The study of people efficiency in their working environment is called ergonomics.
(extra)
The focus of ergonomics
The Ergonomics focus on the interaction b/w people and machine and the design of their
interface.
Forexample
We use a machine and we interacts with it via an interface (hand, computer keyboard and mouse etc) The way
this interface is designed determines how easily and safely we can use the machine.
Ergonomists focus on better interface and better interaction between the people and the machine.
Disciplines
Psychology
-Environmental
-Work
Ergonomics
Anatomy Physiology
Product -Anthropometry
- Cognitive
Ergonomics -biomechanics
-Work
Sensory Mechanics
-Social
What is anthropometry
• Anthropos = Human
• Metron = measure
• Anthropometry is the study of measurement of the human body.
And it is The comparative study of sizes and proportions of the
human body
anthropometry is Traditionally, used to design equipment tools etc.
for use when user is constrained in posture (e.g. chairs/seats,
workstations) and it is More recently, being applied to the design of
computers
Purpose
• The purpose of anthropometry is to optimize the human product
interaction with respect to comfort, safety and efficiency.
Purpose
Purpose
• To optimize the human product interaction with respect to comfort,
safety and efficiency.
Why anthropometry is important?
Anthropometry is very important for manufacturers to make perfect product
that is fit for the human. Manufacturer tries to make different design for
majority of people and not for the minority.
Example: When manufacturers design clothes, they make sufficient clothes of

each size in order to satisfy most of the customers needs. E.g. height, body
size, neck size etc. Fact is the Japanese people are generally smaller than
Americans, so for Japanese people smaller clothes should be designed.
Stages involved in using anthropometric
data
The stages involved in using anthropometric data are the following
1) What are the important/relevant body dimensions?
2) What is the relevant population?
3) What principle should be followed?
Design for extremes
Design for adjustable range
Design for average
Types of Anthropometric data
1. Structural anthropometric data  Structural anthropometric data
are the measurements of the body dimensions in fixed (static)
positions. Measurements are made from one clearly detectable
anatomical landmark to another.(e.g. the height of the knuckles above
the floor)
Currently skip but most important
2. Functional Anthropometric Data  Functional anthropometric data
are collected to describe the movement of a body part with respect to
a fixed reference point.
Functional anthropometric data. The figure shows the shapes of the reach envelopes and the allowable (a) and
preferred (p) zones for the placement of controls in a workspace.
3. Newtonian anthropometric data  Newtonian anthropometric
data are used in mechanical analysis of the loads on the human body.
Difference Views of Anthropometry
• 1D  Percentiles
• 2D  Ellipses
• 3D  We need a tool to describe the density in 3d space in the
context of man-product-interaction (fit)
• 4D  We need a tool to describe the changes in time of this fit
1-Dimensional Anthropometry (static)
• Dimensional anthropometry is the measurement of the body
dimension in the static position
e.g
1. skeletal dimensions (centers
of joints e.g. elbow & wrist)
Anthropometric Measuring Tools
Anthropometer
Medical scale
tape
Sliding calipers
spreading calipers
Anthropometric Measuring Tools
Anthropometer
Tape
Medical scale
Sliding Calipers: large and
Spreading Caliper
small
20
Annotated List of Body Dimensions and Their
Definitions
• See table 2.4
Target population
• If we want to design a cab for bus drivers in Pakistan, we require data
on the anthropometry of Pakistani bus drivers. If we want to design
workspaces in private hospitals in Saudi Arabia, we need data about
the European and Australian nurses who usually work in them.
• As a rule of thumb, take the smallest female and the tallest male in
a population
WHO 1995 : Minimum sample size should be 200

The Statistical Description of Human
Variability (chapter 2)
The Statistical Description of Human
Variability
• Data describing dimensions is analyzed as a statistical distribution
rather than a single value
• Most anthropometric variables conform quite closely to the normal
distribution (at least within reasonably homogeneous populations).
Wait imp
Percentile a value on a scale of 100 that
indicates the percent of a distribution that is
equal to or below it”
Example : at 10th percentile stature is 1650,

which means only 10 % population is below
this height.
CV : also known as relative standard deviation (RSD), is a
standardized measure of dispersion of a probability
distribution or frequency distribution.
Percentile vip
• the 95th %ile stature for the general public might only be the 70th
%ile for a specially selected occupational group like the police force
• For example, suppose you have 25 test scores, and in order from
lowest to highest they look like this: 43, 54, 56, 61, 62, 66, 68, 69,
69, 70, 71, 72, 77, 78, 79, 85, 87, 88, 89, 93, 95, 96, 98, 99, 99. To find
the 90th percentile for these (ordered) scores, start by multiplying
90% times the total number of scores, which gives 90% ∗ 25 = 0.90 ∗
25 = 22.5 (the index). Rounding up to the nearest whole number,
you get 23.
Calculating the Percentile values for the
body dimensions
• A normal distribution is fully defined by its mean and standard
deviation. If these are known, any percentile may be calculated
without further reference to the raw data
𝑋𝑝 = (𝑋 ) + (𝑧)(𝑆𝐷)
Example:
British men have Mean stature = 1740 mm
SD = 70 mm
Calculate 90th Percentile
Examples
• The 90th %ile value of stature = 1740 + 70 x 1.28 = 1830 mm.
Calculate the 25th %ile male stature,

Mean stature = 1740 mm
SD = 70 mm
Answer = 1693 mm.
vip
Effects of Deviation from a Normal
Distribution
Design Limits: Accommodation Provided by
a Design Decision
The advantage of such a
plot is that, since we may
read off percentiles directly,
it enables us to evaluate the
consequences of a design
decision in terms of the
percentage of users
accommodated
Design Constraints and Criteria
Clearance Reach Posture Strength

Environments Reach Limitations of
must provide constraints strength impose
adequate determine the a one-way
access and maximum constraint, and it
circulation acceptable is sufficient to
space e.g dimension of determine the
level of force
handles uses the object.
that is
95% ile e.G visual acceptable to a
displayes 5% ile weak user 5th
Methods of Analysis Design Problem
1. Fitting Trials
2. Analytical Application of the Method of Limits
3. Body Link Diagram
Fitting
MethodsTrials
of Analysis Design Problem
1. A fitting trial is an experimental study in which a sample of subjects
use an adjustable mock-up of a workstation in order to make
judgments as to whether a particular dimension is ‘too big’, ‘too
small’ or ‘just right’.
Example lectern Design
2. Analytical Application of the Method of
Limits
• this technique is a model or analogue of the fitting trial, in which
anthropometric criteria and data are used as substitutes for the
subjective judgments of real people.
3. Body Link Diagram
• Another way of analyzing a workplace layout to accommodate a
range of people of different sizes is by using a body link diagram.
Seat Design Assignment

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Anthropometry , Ergonomics

and Work design

Physical Cognitive Sensory Organizational

Example: When manufacturers design clothes, they make sufficient clothes of

WHO 1995 : Minimum sample size should be 200

Example : at 10th percentile stature is 1650,

Calculate the 25th %ile male stature,

Clearance Reach Posture Strength

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