The Essentials of Ergonomics
Ergonomics should be considered in the design of virtually any product, system or environment. Failure to do so may lead to designs which do not fit the physical, psychological or sociological needs of the user which are unlikely to be commercially successful.
The human sciences of psychology, anatomy and physiology provide information about the abilities and limitations of people, and the differences that exist between individuals. People vary in many ways including body size and shape, strength, mobility, sensory acuity, cognition, experience, training, culture and emotions. Ergonomists are trained in analytical techniques which identify these user characteristics that should inform the design process.
So, in basic terms ergonomics is about ensuring a good fit between people; the things they do, the objects they use and the environments in which they work, travel and play.
Designers are trained to consider the people who will use the products, systems and environments they design, but they also have many other factors to consider. All too often commercial or time pressures mean that ergonomics principles are compromised or not given adequate priority until too late in the design process.
However, in recent years crowded and competitive markets, raised consumer expectations, and new legislation have lead to a more rigorous application of ergonomics. Fundamental themes of ergonomics, such as 'user-centred design', 'user-friendly', 'inclusive design' and 'usability' have become buzz-words within the design industry. Far from being a constraint on creativity, ergonomics methods can be applied at the earliest stages of the design process, defining user needs and identifying opportunities for innovation.
Some design consultancies employ qualified ergonomists and many other design groups work closely with specialist ergonomics consultancies. Large manufacturers, such as Ford, Philips and Nokia employ ergonomists to work alongside their in-house design teams. Most design projects involve multidisciplinary teams, including designers, engineers, market researchers, brand managers and, increasingly, ergonomists.
Ergonomics is a very broad subject area and is applied in many areas of industry, commerce and government. It falls under three broad headings:
- Physical ergonomics - the study of human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics as they relate to physical activity. This includes controls and displays, working postures, manual handling, repetitive movements, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout, safety and health, lighting, and the thermal and acoustic environment.
- Psychological ergonomics - concerned with mental processes, such as perception, cognition, memory, reasoning and emotion and how people interact with products, systems and environments. The relevant topics include mental workload, cognition, decision-making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work stress, training, cultural differences, attitudes, pleasure and motivation.
- Organisational ergonomics - involves optimising socio-technical systems, their organisational structures, policies, and processes. The relevant topics include communication, staff resource management, work design, design of working times, teamwork, participatory design, community ergonomics, co-operative work, new work paradigms, organisational culture, virtual organisations and quality management.