Brian Russell
Human Factors
Human Factors
Things about people we need to consider when designing products and environments
Physiological factors
• Physical limitations
• How the body moves
• Hand/eye coordination
• Strength
• Size
• Stamina
Anthropometrics
• The study of human measurements
• Numerous data available
• Need to be selective
• Match target group
5th-95th percentile
• Ignore the extremes
• Top 5% and bottom 5% taken out
• Consider the rest as a normal range
• Be selective – tallest for doors, shortest for chairs?
Ergonomics
• Efficiency - people to their products
• Efficiency - people in their working environments
• Comfort
• Ease of use
• Safety…
Ergonomes
• Ergonomes are models of people in normal proportions
• Sometimes they are full size and sometimes to scale
• They help designers make decisions about sizes, positioning etc.
Working triangles
Most efficient working spaces:
• Reach envelope
• Production lines
• Kitchens
• Offices
Adjustment
• Cycles
• Car seats
• Office chairs
• Clothing…
Many products need to adjust to different sizes:
Psychological factors
• How we taste
• How we smell
• How we feel
• How we see
• How we hear
How we taste
• Sweet
• Sour
• Bitter
• Salty
• Spicy
• Bland…
How we smell
• Enjoy• Disguise• Pleasant• Unpleasant…
How we feel
• Textures• Grip• Shape• Temperature• Comfort…
How we see
• Colour
• Moods
• Identity
• Information
• Analogue/digital
• Lighting levels
• Field of vision…
How we hear
• Sound
• Feedback
• Noise reduction
• Relaxing
• Warning
Sociological factors
• Personal space
• Access
• Toilets
• Cleaning/maintenance
• Safety
• Disability
• Transport
Personal space
We live and work in groups but need:
• our own space
• privacy
Disability
• We are all disabled at some times in our lives
• Sometimes temporary
• Sometimes very mild
• For some people a serious disability is there for life
Access
Many products cause access problems
• Medicines
• Food and drinks
• Transport
Special groups
• Elderly
• Disabled
• Children
• Athletes
• Vegetarians
• Diabetics
• Religious groups…
Coping with physical disability
• Wider doorway
• Lower sink/bath
• Handrails
• Alarms
Health & safety
• How easy to swallow?
• What temperature does skin burn?
• How much can we safely lift?
• How close do uprights need to be on a child’s cot?
• What materials are toxic?
Risk Assessment
Stereotypes
• Similar age?• Similar values?• Similar beliefs?• Similar lifestyles?• Similar size range?
Different values/beliefs
• Religious
• Cultural
• Moral
• Social
Social issues
• Trying to copy the catwalk models
• Size Zero is not “normal”
• “Normal” is a very large range
Exclusive design
Targeted at a narrow range of people:• Young• Wealthy• Female…
Inclusive design
An impossible aim?
• Suitable for all
• Inexpensive to purchase
• Inexpensive to run
Research and testing
• Find out as much about the user as you can before you start
• Products should be easy to use and easy to understand
• Consumer trials needed
• Human factors are the
most important ones!