DT Topic 1 -- Key Terms

Adjustability

The ability of a product to be changed in size, commonly used to increase the range of percentiles that a product is appropriate for.

Alertness

The level of vigilance, readiness or caution of an individual.

Anthropometrics

The aspect of ergonomics that deals with body measurements, particularly those of size, strength and physical capacity.

Biomechanics

The research and analysis of the mechanics of living organisms. Includes the research and analysis of the mechanics (operation of our muscles, joints, tendons, etc.) of our human body. Includes Force (impact on user's joints), Repetition, Duration and Posture

Clearance

The physical space between two objects.

Cognitive Ergonomics

Concerned with mental processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response, as they affect interactions among humans and other elements of a system.

Comfort

A person's sense of physical or psychological ease.

Dynamic data

Human body measurements when the subject is in motion/physical activities, e.g. crawling height, overhead reach and a range of upper body movements.

Environmental factors

A set of psychological factors that can affect the performance of an individual that come from the environment that the individual is situated.

Ergonomics

The application of scientific information concerning the relationship between human beings and the design of products, systems and environments.

Fatigue

A person's sense of physical or psychological tiredness.

Functional data

Includes dynamic data measurements while performing a required task e.g. reaching abilities, maneuvering and aspects of space and equipment use.

Human error

Has been seen as a key factor associated with almost every major accident, with catastrophic consequences to people, property and the environment.

Human factors

A scientific discipline concerned with understanding how humans interact with elements of a system. It is also the practice of designing products, systems or processes to take proper account of the interaction between them and their users. It is also known as comfort design, functional design and user-friendly systems.

Human information processing system

An automatic system that a person uses to interpret information and react. It is normally comprised of inputs, processes (which can be sensory, central and motor), and outputs.

Interval data scale

Are based on numeric scales in which we know the order and the exact difference between the values. Organised into even divisions or intervals and intervals are of equal size. There is no zero e.g. speed of car from 60-100km/h

Ordinal data scale

A statistical data type that exists on an arbitrary numerical scale where the exact numerical value has no significance other than to rank a set of data points. Deals with the order or position of items such as words, letters, symbols or numbers arranged in a hierarchical order. Quantitative assessment cannot be made.

Percentile range

That proportion of a population with a dimension at or less than a given value. 95th is taller and 5th smaller percentile range. 50% is average depending on gender, race and age range

Nominal data scale

Means 'by name' and used in classification or division of objects into discrete groups. Each of which is identified with a name e.g. category of cars and the scale does not provide any measurement within or between categories.

Ratio data scale

Allows you to compare differences between numbers. Use a rating scale of 1-10 to evaluate user responses.

Perception

The way in which something is regarded, understood or interpreted. Switches and dials are sometimes interpreted differently between countries.

Physiological factor data

Human factor data related to physical characteristics used to optimise the user's safety, health, comfort and performance (motor processes).

Primary data

Data collected by a user for a specific purpose.

Psychological factor data

Human factor data related to psychological interpretations caused by light, smell, sound, taste, temperature and texture.

Qualitative data

Typically descriptive data used to find out in depth the way people think or feel - their perception. Qualitative data is typically descriptive data and as such is harder to analyze than quantitative data.

Quantitative data

Is information about quantities; that is, information that can be measured and written down with numbers. Some examples of quantitative data are your height, your shoe size, and the length of your fingernails.

Range of sizes

A selection of sizes a product is made in that caters for the majority of a market. Some equipment or products are designed to allow a variety of users to be able to access and use as they often include some adjustable features. Products might include car seats, office chairs, desk heights, footrests.

Reach

A range that a person can stretch to touch or grasp an object from a specified position.

Secondary data

Data collected by someone other than the user.

Static data

Human body measurements when the subject is still.

Structural data

Refers to measurements taken while while the subject is in a fixed or standard position, e.g. height, arm length

Workplace Environmental Factors

A 3-dimensional space within which you carry out physical work activities when you are at a fixed location. These factors can be considered to maximise performance of a user in a role and reduce the risk of accidents. They can be categorised as: •Management (policies, safety education) •Physical environment (noise, temperature, pollutants, trip hazards, signage) •Equipment design (controls, visibility, hazards, warnings, safety guards) •The nature of the job (repetitiveness, mental or physical workload, force, pressure) •Social or psychological environment (Social group, morale) •The worker (personal ability, alertness, age, fatigue)

Workspace Envelope

A 3-dimensional space within which you carry out physical work activities when you are at a fixed location.