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Ergonomic Design with Virtual Applications 2010
Instructions for Assignment P1 - Design Project
Aims and objectives
The aim with the design project is to give the opportunity to practice and reflect
over the consideration of ergonomics in a product development context. This is
done by applying the knowledge, tools and methods learned within the course
(and in previous education) on a specific design task. The focus in the design
project will be to design the product, vehicle or workplace according to the users'
physical requirements (anthropometry and physical load). The overall objective is
to gain enhanced knowledge about successful integration of ergonomics in
product design.
General
• The design project carried out in groups of 3-4 students
• It is up to the students to form project groups
• It is up to the students to suggest an appropriate design task to carry out
• It is up to the students to plan, carry out and report the design project
• You are expected to spend approx. 120 hours/student on the design project
(including planning, performing and reporting).
There is time for supervision on the weekly seminars. Make use of this time and
note that this time is yours in the sense that it is non-planned time, open for
discussions/supervision. Hence, it will to a large degree be up to you how fruitful
these seminars will be.
It is recommended that to carry out the design project according to a design
process structure you are familiar with from previous education. This can for
example be as described in:
- The Mechanical Design Process, by David Ullman
- Product Design and Development, by Karl Ulrich and Stephen Eppinger
- Total Design, by Stuart Pugh
- Engineering Design Methods, by Nigel Cross
- Design Methods in Engineering and Product Design, by Ian Wright
- Product Design, by Kevin Otto and Kristin Wood
Since this course focuses on the consideration of ergonomics in product design
at virtual/digital stages, it is required that user requirements are in particular
focus in the design project, hence, in the design project:
- You need to consider what is dealt with in the lecturers given in the course.
- You need to base your work on the content in the course book, Guidelines for
using anthropometric data in product design, by Dainoff et al.
- You need to use a Digital Human Modelling system (e.g. Jack) to visualise and
evaluate the design from an ergonomics perspective, and hence you need to
model your product in a CAD system.
- You need to use your university library to find additional books and articles to
base your work upon (some of these shall be scientific articles).
Dan Högberg, School of Technology and Society, University of Skövde, ver 1, 2009-11-16
Ergonomic Design with Virtual Applications 2010
Ensure that there is a good working climate in your project group. Collaborate,
support, work in parallel, keep in contact, document, write daily notes and
protocols, inform, visualise project status, follow up and, last but not least, do
your best and have fun.
Tips for performing the design task and content of the written report
1) Define the overall design objective
What is the basis of the design problem you are set out to solve, i.e. clearly
define: what is your design task?
As support you may consider following questions (and add your own):
- What. What is the problem? Is it related to productivity, quality, comfort,
irritation, health, safety risks, others? What product (or similar) is used (interacted
with) when the problem occurs?
- Where. Where is the problem? In what environment or context? Temperature,
humidity, wind, light. Where in the human body?
- When. When does the problem occur. How often? For how long?
- How. How is the product used? How is the product use related to the design
problem? What will users be wearing, carrying or holding? Are users likely to
read instructions? Will users be under stress or be distracted?
- Why. Why is the product used in this manner? Why is the task performed in this
situation or context (e.g. room, environment or step in a use process)?
- Who. Who is using the product? Who gets problem? Who performs the task
(e.g. the human or the machine/product)?
2) Who are the users, more specifically?
Consider who are the users of your product (in this context this mainly refer to
the end user of the product, but other users along the product lifecycle also
applies). Define product users according to issues like (when applicable):
- Age / age groups (don’t over specify, i.e. note who you may exclude by
restricting age)
- Gender
- Anthropometry (valuable support can be found in the course book)
- Strength
- Vision
- Knowledge/training/experience
Recognise what user groups that will have largest problem when using the
product (worst-case users) and how they differ from other user groups. Often, by
designing so that worst-case users can use the product, the usage problem is
often solved for other user groups as well, according to the principles of the
“limiting user” and design philosophies like “design for all “ and inclusive design.
Dan Högberg, School of Technology and Society, University of Skövde, ver 1, 2009-11-16
Ergonomic Design with Virtual Applications 2010
3) What tasks are performed?
What overall goal does the user wants from using the product? What tasks are
performed to reach this overall goal?
What characterizes a successful use? Aim to identify quantifiable and
measurable/testable criteria. For example you may state:
- the adjustability of the product shall enable 95% of all targeted users to find a
comfortable seating position according to elbow height seated (anthropometric
accommodation/fit).
- the biomechanical load on the L5/S1-disk in the spine shall not exceed 3400 N
(biomechanical load).
- 90 % of the targeted users shall be able to get money from the ATM
(“bankomat”) within 2 minutes (achievement of objectives).
4) How serious are the consequences of non-accommodation?
Consider what the consequences of the use for persons outside of the targeted
users specified, e.g. will it lead to irritation, discomfort, difficulties, non-health,
safety risk, life danger). Is the targeted user group to be increased? What
advantages and disadvantages would that lead to? Is it possible to find design
solutions that include rather than exclude (have a look at the “design for all” and
inclusive design links on the course web page)?
5) Previous experience and training
Consider what the user needs to know or learn before the product use. Is it
reasonable to assume or demand that user will know the product or will read
instructions before use (e.g. a fire extinguisher or an alarm clock at a hotel)? Can
you design the learning in the product, or remove the need for learning? Avoid
basing your design on the requirement that the user will need to read instructions
because instructions are often ignored.
6) Other factors that affects the use
Consider stress and other competing activities performed simultaneously that
calls for the user’s attention. Try to be realistic about the time users will spend on
learning the product, read instructions etc. Even low levels of stress reduce
human performance considerably.
7) User trials
Make mock-ups where you can test the design on representative users. Most
likely not known usage problems will be identified. Improve and test again
(design is an iterative process). Since this course focuses on ergonomics
evaluation in the virtual/digital world, some mock-ups will be digital mock-ups.
Dan Högberg, School of Technology and Society, University of Skövde, ver 1, 2009-11-16
Ergonomic Design with Virtual Applications 2010
Example of methods to use in the project
For task analysis:
- Video analysis (to observe what is performed and how it is done)
- HTA (hierarchical task analysis)
For consideration of anthropometric variation (reach, fit, see...):
- Boundary cases / Distributed cases (see course book)
- Jack
- Anthropometric data sources (books or data bases)
- Video analysis
For biomechanical evaluations:
- Manual calculations
- NIOSH lifting calculations
- Jack
For posture/work analysis:
- RULA- Rapid Upper Body Assessment
- OWAS – Ovako Work Analysis System
- Jack
- Video analysis
Tips for the written report
In addition to the oral presentation each group submit a written report that
describes the design project both regarding process (what you did, your method)
and product (end results and findings). The report is to be written in good
English. Approximately 12-20 pages including attachments are recommended.
The inclusions of figures/pictures that illustrate the content are suggested.
Recommended structure for the report is the so-called IMRAD-structure.
IMRAD are the first letters of the main sections of the report:
- Introduction
- Method
- Results
- (And, or sometimes Analysis)
- Discussion and Conclusions
Within these sections you may have sub-chapters to enhance readability.
Sometimes a modified structure is usable for design projects, e.g. repetition of
Method and Results chapters.
First in the report (i.e. before Introduction) you place the Abstract. After
Discussion and Conclusions you place the References. The last part of the report
is Appendices.
Dan Högberg, School of Technology and Society, University of Skövde, ver 1, 2009-11-16
Ergonomic Design with Virtual Applications 2010
Following text aims to describe what each section may contain.
Abstract
The abstract will in short describe what the report covers. Approximately a
number of 150-200 words are often appropriate.
Introduction
In the introduction you describe the background of the project, the basic problem
with the current solution, the context etc., and clarify what the aim of the design
project is. Try to see the task in a general perspective (don’t write “the aim with
the report is to get approved result of the course” or similar). Also mention
possible limitations in the project (things that have not considered) that are good
for the user to know about. You preferably also present your “frame of reference”,
based on your literature survey, e.g. presenting the current views and
experiences found in the books and articles that you found valuable and relevant
for understanding the design problem and its (possible) solutions.
Method
In this section you describe the methods (line of tactics) you have employed in
the project in order to solve the design problem. You may mention that you have
performed a literature survey by searching databases, used the library and
possible Internet, using a number of specific keywords (e.g. “vehicle design”,
“ergonomics”, “comfort”, “vision”, “digital human modelling”...).
You also report on the tools and methods you have used in the project (e.g. HTA
in order to..., Jack to...). You may also describe other types of information
gathering; such as studying people (user behaviour) or that you have been in
contact with people or organisations (in order to...). You describe how this has
been done (e.g. visits, telephone, questionnaire, interviews, observation...). For
example. If you did a telephone interview, you describe if you did use closed
(predefined questions and answer alternatives) or open questions (structured /
non-structured) or a mixture (semi-structured). The concept is that you clearly
describe what you did and how you did it, without any judging (that is placed in
the Discussion section)
Result
In the result section you present the results (product / findings) from the project.
This can be on a detailed level (e.g. what the Jack Vision analysis gave) but also
on an overall level (your final product). As mentioned earlier you may have
several Methods and Results loops if you think that enhances the readability of
the report. Typically the results are presented without discussion (that is placed
in the Discussion section).
Discussion and Conclusions
The discussion section is the freest to write. Often it is divided in a discussion
part and a conclusions part. In the discussion section you discuss your results
and your method. Are there any shortcomings in your method or your results? If
Dan Högberg, School of Technology and Society, University of Skövde, ver 1, 2009-11-16
Ergonomic Design with Virtual Applications 2010
so, why? Could the design task have been dove differently, could other types of
methods have been used as a complement or instead? You are free to discuss
the advantages and limitation of the methods used and the process you chose to
follow in the design project.
In the final concluding section you state what conclusions you draw from the
project carried out. You can also state how you recommend how the project may
be continued, your recommendations as next step etc.
References
In reference list you list all references that you have used in your work and your
report (books, journals, web pages etc. all in same list). Note that all references
must be referred to in the text to be included in the reference list. You must at
least have 10 references that are from books and scientific journals. Use the
Harvard system for referencing. Note how to write Internet references (if
applicable).
Appendices
In the appendices you may put material interesting for the reader but slightly
outside the core of the report (e.g. HTA diagrams, Interview templates, additional
pictures etc).
Tips for oral presentation
- Create a PowerPoint presentation ready to be uploaded on Adobe Connect Pro.
- Circa 20 minutes presentation + ca 10 min discussion per group.
- All group members shall be present and active at the presentation.
Dan Högberg, School of Technology and Society, University of Skövde, ver 1, 2009-11-16
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