Ergonomics

Anthropometrics
Outline
• Anthropometrics
• Measuring Anthropometrics
• Static Dimension
• Dynamic Dimension
• Anthropometrics Data Tables
• Design by Anthropometrics
Let’s Start with this…
Open your mind…
Anthrop-what?
• Anthro·pom·etry  deals with human body
shape and size.
• “Anthropos” (greek) = person, human being
• “Metron” (greek) = measure, limit, extent
• “Anthropometrics” = measurement of people
Measuring Anthropometrics

Transverse Plane Frontal Plane Sagittal Plane

Measuring Anthropometrics
• Two main points in measurement:
▫ Static Dimension
▫ Dynamic Dimension
 Static Dimensions
• Definition: “Measurements taken when the
human body is in a fixed position, which typically
involves standing or sitting”.
• Types
 Size: length, height, width, thickness
 Distance between body segment joints
 Weight, Volume, Density = mass/volume
 Circumference
 Contour: radius of curvature
 Centre of gravity
 Clothed vs. unclothed dimensions
 Standing vs. seated dimensions
Static Dimensions
Static Dimension
Static Dimension
Palm dimension

Foot dimension
Static Dimension
Head Dimensions
 Static Dimensions
• Static Dimensions are related to and vary with
other factors, such as …
• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity
• Occupation
• Percentile within Specific Population Group
• Historical Period (diet and living conditions)
 Static Dimensions
Anthropometry and aging

AGE

Lengths
and
Heights

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Age (years)
Static Dimensions
• Equipment design for 90% of US males would
fit:
▫ 90% of Germans
▫ 80% of Frenchmen
▫ 65% of Italians
▫ 45% of Japanese
▫ 25% of Thais
▫ 10% of Vietnamese
Dynamic Dimension
• Definition: “Measurements taken when the human
body is engaged in some physical activity”.
• Types: Static Dimensions (adjusted for movement),
Rotational Inertia, Radius of Gyration
Dynamic Dimension
• Principle 1 - Estimating
▫ Conversion of Static Measures for Dynamic Situations
 e.g. dynamic height = 97% of static height
 e.g. dynamic arm reach = 120% of static arm length
Dynamic Dimension
• Principle 2 - Integrating
▫ The entire body operates together to determine the
value of a measurement parameter
 e.g. Arm Reach = arm length + shoulder movement + partial
trunk rotation and + some back bending + hand movement
Dynamic Dimension
Anthropometrics Data Table
Useful Anthropometrics for Design
• Clearance
▫ Leg room, head room, & access to confined spaces
• Reach
▫ Designed for 5th%ile, thus 95th%ile of users can reach further
• Strength
▫ Similar to reach, 95% are stronger than required in design
• Posture
▫ Complex, limits may be imposed in multiple directions,

• e.g. Too high for a short person as bad as too low for a tall
person
Common uses of
Anthropometric variables
• Standing eye height:
▫ Maximum height for visual display = height of short
person’s eye height

• Standing elbow height:

▫ Maximum bench height for standing work
▫ Delicate = higher
▫ High force = lower
Common uses of
Anthropometric variables
• Sitting elbow height:
▫ Arm rest heights & work surface heights

• Hip breadth:
▫ Minimum seat width
Ergonomic Design Principles
1.Designing for the Average

2.Designing for the Extremes

3.Designing for Adjustment

4.Designing for special purposes

Ergonomic design steps
• Decide who you are designing for
▫ first of all you need to know exactly who you are
designing for.
▫ The group of people you are designing for is called
the user population.
Ergonomic design steps
• Decide which body measurements are
relevant
▫ You need to know which parts of the body are
relevant to your design
Ergonomic design steps
• Decide whether you are designing for the
'average' or extremes or adjustment
▫ nobody is 'average' in all body dimensions. Someone
might be say, of average height but have a longer than
average hand length.
▫ You may use %ile concept
Ergonomic design steps
• %ile concept
Ergonomic design steps
Ergonomic design steps
• Add dimensional allowances for any
clothing, equipment, safety precautions,
and task performance

• Think about other human factors

Design for Everyone
• Design processes that consider human
variability will influence:
▫ Comfort / Musculoskeletal pain
▫ Comfort = productivity, visual & muscle fatigue
Ong (1984)
• Performance / Usability
▫ 25% improvement in data-entry operators
• Health & Safety
▫ Short term: reduce muscle action, i.e. fatigue
▫ Long term: sickness absence - back, neck pain,
repetitive strain injuries.
Group Assignments I :
• Ergonomics anthropometric assessment (using
5W + 1H)
• Design a product/tool for special population,
briefly describe what dimension can be used for
your design