What is Ergonomics ?

In recent years, the study of ergonomics has been put into practice, due to the correlation of ergonomics to productivity. Ergonomics is one of the under looked aspects of design. It is usually unseen, or just seen as a “cool” design, but the importance of ergonomics goes well beyond that. The purpose of ergonomics according to the textbook definition reads; “The applied science of equipment design, as for the workplace, intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort.” What this means is that not only does the product have to look nice and do what it is intended to do, it must also do it safely and “body friendly”. If a chair is comfortable to sit on for five minutes but starts to hurt your back after half an hour, chances are the chair doesn’t have the best ergonomic design; and that is what is meant by “body friendly”. The main body friendly feature of ergonomics is posture.  Now to achieve an effective ergonomic design the following three principles should be considered:

All work activities should permit the worker to adopt several different, but equally healthy and safe postures. And where muscular force has to be exerted it should be one by the largest appropriate muscle groups available and work activities should be performed with the joints at about mid-point of their range of movement. This applies particularly to the head, trunk, and upper limbs.

The Study of Ergonomics?

Ergonomics has become an important field of study for different reasons. For example, developing a more comfortable workstation for individuals in an office environment can lead to more productive workers, and can also help employees avoid repetitive stress injuries (injuries resulting from repetitive movement).

In a more physically demanding workplace, ergonomics plays an important role. For example, the study of ergonomics in relation to heavy machinery can be lifesaving in some cases, since ergonomics also aims to reduce user fatigue.

Examples of Ergonomics

All of these three principles, and the positive or negative affects of production, can be seen in most of the everyday things someone might use in the office. One of the best examples would be the chair. The Ergo Chair is just one of many chairs that are designed to support the back and correct improper posture. Many of the ergonomic designs, especially the chairs may look different from that of a regular office chair, and even feel uncomfortable at first, but that is the point. The Ergo Chair allows for the back to be supported properly and allow the hands to be at an appropriate angle and height for a keyboard or desk. The standard office chair allows the user to sit improperly which will result is discomfort.

Ergonomic Keyboards

Another example of an ergonomic design is the keyboard. Just like the chair, the keyboard is another place where the average office worker spends most of their time. The Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 is at first glance, an odd looking keyboard that serves no purpose but to be to “different” in design. However, what the user does not appreciate is the reverse stop that allows the users wrists to lay in a more natural and comfortable position. Such a feature will reduce carpal tunnel syndrome, which is one of the leading problems of most keyboards. Also, the padded wrist rest allows the users wrist to be elevated, again to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. Although, not all ergonomic keyboards look like the Microsoft version, they all have the same features and solutions in common. The Microsoft keyboard also has several other features that make it very ergonomically friendly for the user.

Car Ergonomics

Ergonomics in an automobile are very important and its importance can range from comfort to safety. There are many ergonomic issues to look for in the ergonomics of a car. Mostly, it has to do with the interior of the vehicle. The way the buttons are placed, the size of the button, the visibility of the driver information center (ie speedometer, warning lights, gas level, engine temperature, etc), the ease of reach from the normal sitting position and others. A car that has had very good ergonomics since its year 2000 redesign is the Nissan Maxima. With the center stack housing the CD/stereo controls on top of the HVAC (heating, ventilation, ac) both with big, clearly labelled buttons, flowing nicely down to the gear shifter with a smooth glide and big button to release the shift lock, right down to the center console armrest that can be height-adjusted with the push of a button. The dashboard is curvy which is aesthetically pleasing and it curves down below into the firewall providing better knee room. The instrument cluster has large, easy to read dials and all the power controls are neatly placed within reach of the driver's hands. Special focus was put into the design of the Maxima's driver ergonomics, Nissan said."  After coming into the year 2006-2007 model year, the Maxima continues to garner respect in regards to its interior ergonomics, "While we've never had serious problems with the Maxima's interior, Nissan upgraded some of the dashboard materials and cleaned up the centre stack to create a more ergonomic and more attractive environment. The result is that the Maxima's inside continues to be its best side. Ergonomics in any car, not just the Maxima, should always be considered. The reason why ergonomics is so important in an automobile is that it can prove to be the difference between safety and a hazard. Even though keeping one's eyes on the road is the key rule, people still change the radio station, insert CDs, fiddle with the temperature controls...all while driving! If things are placed ergonomically within the reach of the driver, minimal effort is required to access these features and the chances of the driver having to remove his/her eyes off the road for too long are minimized.