WORK-SPACE DESIGN
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READ
• HTTPS://[Link]/2019/02/KEYBOARD-PL
ACEMENT-AND-SITTING-STRAIGHT-ARE-KILLING-OUR-BAC
KS/
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WE WILL COVER:
-INTRODUCTION
-ANTHROPOMETRY
- STATIC DIMENSIONS
- DYNAMIC (FUNCTIONAL) DIMENSIONS
- GENERAL DISCUSSION ABOUT STATIC AND DYNAMIC DIMENSIONS
-USE OF ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA
-PRINCIPLES IN THE APPLICATION OF ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA
- DESIGNING FOR EXTREME INDIVIDUALS
- DESIGNING FOR ADJUSTABLE RANGE
- DESIGNING FOR THE AVERAGE
-SUGGESTIONS FOR USING ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA IN DESIGN
-POSTURE CONSIDERATION
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STATIC DIMENSIONS
• Taken when the body is in a fixed (static)
position.
• They consist of skeletal dimensions
(between the centers of joints) or
contour dimensions (skin-surface
dimensions such as head circumference).
• Many dimensions can be measured
(nasa anthropometric source book
contains 973 measurements from 91
worldwide surveys).
• Many of the dimensions have specific
applications (helmets, gloves, etc.). But
many body features dimensions also
have general utility. (See the figures in
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BODYSPACE).
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What does a 5th percentile or 95th percentile mean?
The answer is that the percentile refers to the
percent of the population that have a dimension
below the stated dimension.
Body dimensions vary as a function of age, sex,
and for different ethnic populations
Stature and related dimensions generally increase
until the late teens or early twenties. They then
remain relatively constant and then decline when
entering into old age.
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• DIFFERENCES IN DIMENSIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE
WORKING IN DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS ARE ALSO
COMMON (OCCUPATIONAL DIFFERENCES)
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DYNAMIC (FUNCTIONAL) DIMENSIONS
Taken while the body is engaged in some physical
activity.
In most physical activities, the individual body
members function in concert (many members are
moved and the relative position is affected).
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GENERAL DISCUSSION ABOUT STATIC AND
DYNAMIC DIMENSIONS
Static Anthropometric data exists more than
dynamic anthropometric data even though dynamic
data are more representative of actual human
activities.
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Although there is no clear way of converting static data
to dynamic, the following recommendations may be
helpful:
REDUCE HEIGHTS (STATURE, EYE, SHOULDER, HIP) BY 3
PERCENT.
ELBOW HEIGHT: No change, or increase by 5 percent if
elevated at work.
KNEE OR POPLITEAL HEIGHT, SITTING: No change,
except with high-heel shoes.
FORWARD AND LATERAL REACHES: Decrease by 30
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percent for convenience, increase by 20 percent for
extensive shoulder and trunk motions.
USE OF ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA
THE DATA SHOULD BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
POPULATION THAT WOULD USE THE ITEM DESIGNED.
IF DESIGNING FOR GENERAL PURPOSES, THE
FEATURES MUST ACCOMMODATE A BROAD RANGE OF
PEOPLE. BUT WHEN ITEMS ARE DESIGNED FOR
SPECIFIC GROUPS, THE DATA USED SHOULD BE
SPECIFIC FOR SUCH GROUPS.
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PRINCIPLES IN THE APPLICATION OF
ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA
THREE GENERAL PRINCIPLES:
1. DESIGNING FOR EXTREME INDIVIDUALS:
ALL SHOULD BE ACCOMMODATED.
• Sometimes, a single design dimension is a
limiting factor that might restrict the use of the
facility for some people. This factor can dictate
either a maximum or a minimum value of the
dimension in question.
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Designing for the maximum population value
is the strategy used if a given maximum (high) value
of some design feature should accommodate all
(almost) people.
Examples: heights of doorways, strength of
supporting devices such as ropes.
Designing for the minimum population value
is the strategy used if a given minimum value (low)
of some design feature should accommodate all
(almost) people.
Examples: the distance of a control button from the
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operator, the force required to operate the control.
2. DESIGNING FOR ADJUSTABLE RANGE:
Some features of equipment or facilities can be
designed so that they can be adjusted to the
individuals who use them.
Examples: automobile seats, office chairs, desk
heights.
• The practice is to provide for adjustments (of the
relevant dimensions) to cover the range from the 5th
percentile female to the 95th percentile male of the
population.
What will be the percent of the population covered18 if
the above mentioned range is used?
Designing for an adjustable range is the preferred
method of design. But sadly, it is not always possible.
[Link] FOR THE AVERAGE:
The cheapest and most quick method. But does an
average person exist?
A person who is average on one or few dimensions
will surely not be average on many dimension. This is
because there is no perfect correlation between the
dimensions.
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Designing for the average is common and often is
acceptable in situations involving non critical work
where it is not appropriate to design for the extreme
and also where adjustability is impractical.
Example: a checkout counter at a supermarket is
built for the average customer.
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SUGGESTIONS FOR USING ANTHROPOMETRIC
DATA IN DESIGN
1. SPECIFY THE BODY DIMENSIONS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT IN THE DESIGN.
2. DEFINE THE POPULATION TO USE THE FACILITY
OR EQUIPMENT. THIS WILL ESTABLISH THE
DIMENSIONAL RANGE THAT NEEDS TO BE
CONSIDERED.
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3. DETERMINE WHAT PRINCIPLE SHOULD BE
APPLIED (AVERAGE, EXTREME, OR ADJUSTABLE).
4. DETERMINE THE PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION TO BE
ACCOMMODATED.
5. LOCATE THE APPROPRIATE ANTHROPOMETRIC TABLES
TO BE USED AND EXTRACT THE RELEVANT VALUES.
6. ADD THE APPROPRIATE ALLOWANCES (CLOTHING,
SHOES ETC…).
7. BUILD A FULL-SCALE MOCK-UP OF THE EQUIPMENT
OR FACILITY AND HAVE REPRESENTATIVE PEOPLE OF
LARGE AND SMALL USER (OF THE POPULATION) 22TRY
IT.
POSTURE CONSIDERATION
POSTURE IS DEFINED AS THE RELATIVE ORIENTATION OF
THE PARTS OF THE BODY IN SPACE.
IT IS DETERMINED BY THE CONNECTION (RELATIONSHIP)
BETWEEN THE DIMENSIONS OF THE BODY AND THE
DIMENSIONS OF THE WORKSPACE.
THE CONNECTION MAY BE PHYSICAL (SEAT, WORKTOP)
OR VISUAL (LOCATION OF DISPLAYS AND TOOLS).
IF THE DIMENSIONAL MATCH IS INAPPROPRIATE, THE
SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THE
WELL-BEING OF THE PERSON MAY BE SEVERE. 23
TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN POSTURE OVER A PERIOD
OF TIME, THE MUSCLES MUST BE USED TO
COUNTERACT THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FORCES
ACTING ON THE BODY.
A VARIED WORKING POSTURE (DYNAMIC) IS
BETTER THAN A FIXED (STATIC) WORKING POSTURE.
SIMPLE GUIDELINES FOR BETTER POSTURE ARE
OFFERED IN Pheasant’s book (Page62 & 63).
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