Cornell University Ergonomics Web
DEA 3250/6510 CLASS NOTES
Ergonomics: Origin and Overview
Ergonomics
1. Definition -
Ergonomics is the study of human abilities and characteristics which affect
the design of equipment, systems, and jobs. The terms ergonomics and human
factors can be used interchangeably.
The latest formal definition of Ergonomics is:
"Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned
with the understanding of the interactions among human and other elements of a
system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to
design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.“
(International Ergonomics Association Executive Council, August 2000)
2. Development of Ergonomics -
3. Boundaries for Ergonomics -
Ergonomics includes study of the following:
Work Environment
1. Physical demands (e.g. lifting objects, moving objects)
2. Skill demands (e.g. typing at 110 words per minute)
3. Risk demands (e.g. running on an ice pavement)
4. Time demands (e.g. trying to finish all of the work by the end of semester)
Psychosocial Environment
1. Social (e.g. working in teams)
2. Cultural (e.g. pace of life is different in different countries)
3. Lifestyle (e.g. work vs. leisure time, and quality of life issues differ
between countries)
Physical Environment
1. physical agents (e.g. heat, noise, vibration)
2. chemical agents (e.g. air pollutants)
3. biological agents (e.g. airborne diseases)
Technology
1. Product design (e.g. designing product dimensions using anthropometrics,
biomechanics data)
2. Hardware Interface design (e.g. designing controls and displays to meet user
expectations)
3. Software interface design (e.g. designing icons and commands to meet user
expectations)
4. Ergonomic Considerations -
a. Physical factors - ambient conditions; objects (tools, furniture,
etc.)
b. Biological factors - body dimensions, body capabilities, physiological
processes
c. Psychological factors - mental workload, information processing,
training, motivation
d. Work factors - job demands (time, rate, etc.), job design
e. Organizational factors - organization type/climate, management
regimes
5. Objectives of Ergonomics -
a. Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness with which work is carried out
- A vital difference between people and machines is that people make
mistakes. If we look positively at how people make mistakes to decrease
errors (error analysis), we can increase ease of use and reliability of
performance. This can increase productivity and the effectiveness of the
system.
b. Enhance certain desirable human values at work - increase safety;
increase comfort (of using technology); decrease fatigue of operator (e.g.
by providing more rest breaks); decrease stress on individual; increase
user satisfaction; and increase quality of life for all people (able and
differently-abled people).