Ergonomics (Product description and Idea Trigger)

i)

This is a peach coloured orange slicer. There is a ringed shaped object at the top of the slicer which allows the user to put his fingers through and grip the product more tightly.This provides the user with comfort and ease of use. There is an arc below the ring and there is a pointed triangular shaped object below the arc. So, the user will grip the ring and use the pointed triangular shaped object to cut the orange's skin. The triangular object and the whole orange slicer is made of plastic and not other sharper materials which is safe to use as it lessens injuries by being cut by the sharp part. This also speed up the process of cutting the orange as compared to using a knife as its shape allows the user to cut the orange in a fast and desired way. Overall, this object is ergonomic as it provides the user with safety, ease of use, comfort, productivity.

ii)

Is it safe to use? Will the user cut himself if the triangular shaped object is too sharp?

Is the triangular part sharp enough to penetrate the orange's skin?

Is the triangular part long enough to penetrate through the orange's skin at the riht depth?

Is it easy to cut with the product? Is the cutting smooth?

Is the ring too big or small for the user's finger to pass through?

Is the materials used expensive? Is it long lasting?

Is the material used safe for allergy sufferers?

Is the colour used appropriate for the user? (Not too bright etc.)

Is the design attractive?

Is the weight of the product appropriate?

Is the product environmentally friendly?

Is this product elderly friendly/ child safe?

iii)

Yes. The elderly may cut himself/herself as the triangular part is quite sharp. The elderly may not have enough strength to let the triangular part penetrate the orange's skin. The elderly's fingers might not fit through the ring. The elderly might not know which direction to pull the slicer to cut the orange's skin as the triangular part is pointed to a certain direction that requires the user to slice the orange in a particular manner.

iv) There is a collapsible or expandable plastic part for different finger sizes so peoples with bigger fingers will expand the plastic part while peoples with smaller fingers will collapse the plastic part to adjust the size of the ring to suit his needs.

There is also a clip to store the plastic part when it is not in used, or collapsed.

At the triangular part which it is very sharp, there is a spring next to the triangular part, connected to a movable plastic circle. There is a hole in the circle for the triangular part to come out if the spring was compressed when the person was slicing the orange. If the person accidentally slipped, the spring will expand and make sure that the person does not get injured by the triangular part. The spring is also anti-rust, and will last for a long time.

-Christopher Nah

Ergonomics II

1. What is Ergonomics?

It is the study of people's efficiency in their working environment. -New Oxford American Dictionary

Ergonomics is the science of designing the job, equipment, and workplace to fit the worker. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can develop over time and can lead to long-term disability.

- wikipedia

An applied science that coordinates the design of devices, systems, and physical working conditions with the capacities and requirements of the worker. - Dictionary.reference.com

My understanding and definition of ergonomics:

Ergonomics is the science of designing the job and devices, equipment, systems, workplace and physical workplace to fit the worker's requirements and capacities and ensure the efficiency of the worker in their working environment.

2. What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?

There are five aspects of ergonomics: safety, comfort, ease of use, productivity/performance, and aesthetics. Based on these aspects of ergonomics, examples are given below of how products or systems could benefit from redesign based on ergonomic principles. The benefits of an ergonomic redesign often cross over into more than one category.

Safety: E.g. Medicine bottles — print sizes could be enlarged so those with impaired vision (due to sinus problems, for example) can more easily read the label instructions. Ergonomics can discover the optimum font style, color and size to enhance readability using the limited space available on a medicine label.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chemistryland.com/ChemEdArticle/PrescriptionBottle.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.chemistryland.com/ChemEdArticle/PowerPoint.html&usg=__cFfubbDK6M3hUCE6RoV_Moey0yY=&h=412&w=500&sz=34&hl=en&start=3&sig2=5km1dVCalnIV0_WN60Tg1g&tbnid=MAa09wkJrJsgYM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=130&ei=Sl1ITOjFII_4cPuF4aMM&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmedicine%2Bbottles%2Bwith%2Blabel%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D580%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1

Comfort: E.g. Alarm clock display — some displays are harshly bright, drawing one’s eye to the light or keeping one awake when surroundings are dark. Ergonomic principles could redesign this based on contrast principles and include automatic dimming functions in low-light environments (such as when a user has turned off the room lights to sleep).

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.227volts.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/big-alarm-clock.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.227volts.com/%3Fm%3D200809%26paged%3D2&usg=__4g5_C6SZnUanUNwKypU6m2fp16I=&h=300&w=300&sz=12&hl=en&start=0&sig2=wz0FIFYp7UxC5z7Fto-N5Q&tbnid=QztuWIYTYufIlM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=151&ei=b11ITN7THIu6cefRkbEM&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dalarm%2Bclock%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D580%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=131&vpy=98&dur=1126&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=136&ty=105&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Ease of use: E.g. Street Signs — in an unfamiliar area, it can be quite difficult to spot street signs. This could be addressed by using principles of visual detection to make street signs more visible.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://danielschereck.com/wp2004/imageslud/r20030208-ludwigsburgsign.jpg&imgrefurl=http://danielschereck.com/wp2004/wp-ludwigsburg.htm&usg=__e_VLrEhQFDUrzTdW51OTXvyKFmg=&h=368&w=504&sz=49&hl=en&start=0&sig2=2oXBuUkSjPqGi_9mQG_hqA&tbnid=1ypdOmrtnNh9JM:&tbnh=168&tbnw=225&ei=Al9ITO-vK9XccPnd6a4M&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbright%2Bstreet%2Bsigns%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D474%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=519&vpy=95&dur=1836&hovh=192&hovw=263&tx=189&ty=116&page=1&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0

Productivity/performance: E.g. Office furniture/equipment — the use of ergonomically designed office furniture and equipment (such as office chairs and computer input devices) can drastically reduce work-related injuries and employee absences.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://a1.twimg.com/profile_images/503156572/ergonomic-chair-786724_bigger.jpg&imgrefurl=http://twitter.com/ergo_chair&usg=__q6BBvlKtPCgB0e-zXtpL5DuIJNs=&h=358&w=379&sz=10&hl=en&start=0&sig2=FJ2s17seCrRgHVcaV9nt5g&tbnid=owQ63ivxj8I86M:&tbnh=152&tbnw=183&ei=KF9ITObvAp34cPmonKsM&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dergonomic%2Bchair%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D474%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=295&vpy=101&dur=1229&hovh=218&hovw=231&tx=151&ty=114&page=1&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0

Aesthetics: E.g. Signs in the workplace — signage could be made more aesthetic by using a consistent format throughout the workplace.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.exponent.com/files/Uploads/Images/Biomechanics/trip%2520signs.jpg&imgrefurl=http://minutemanparking.com/news/2008/12/&usg=__f0gHJd7bMk6ohs5UmKdItdW1JjY=&h=300&w=400&sz=72&hl=en&start=0&sig2=wiyemLRbsgLEFpq529ZJ0g&tbnid=_glp7wGRtKsj3M:&tbnh=146&tbnw=194&ei=619ITLzrM4K8ccr4tKkM&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dworkplace%2Bsigns%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D474%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=982&vpy=121&dur=1493&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=177&ty=105&page=1&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0

-http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Ergonomics#Five_aspects_of_ergonomics

3. For each aspects of Ergonomics, explain with an example of a product that is designed for the elderly, how the product meet that particular aspect of Ergonomics.

Safety: E.g. Medicine bottles — print sizes could be enlarged so those elderly with impaired vision (due to sinus problems, for example) can more easily read the label instructions. Ergonomics can discover the optimum font style, color and size to enhance readability using the limited space

available on a medicine label. Picture is same as above.

Comfort: E.g. Make a product for example a chair that gives the elderly good support. It may be made of spongy material to make the chair even comfortable for the elderly to sit on and have parts that angle the chair according to the elderly's posture to suit his or her needs. Picture is same as above.

Ease of use: E.g. The product

made must be elder-friendly and must not have a complicated system which the elderly would have to know to use the product as it is not easy.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://eldergadget.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/elderly-computers.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.eldergadget.com/category/elderfriendly-computers&usg=__XB_8DoDIoGjCvPwxoWGTPPrde_M=&h=287&w=450&sz=26&hl=en&start=0&sig2=h0GT_lp04oTejZ6JeX3XEg&tbnid=AWOtZZARyaH0tM:&tbnh=143&tbnw=213&ei=EuxLTMa6J4TCrAec6IW6Dg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Delderly%2Bfriendly%2Binterface%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D583%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C4&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=271&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&biw=1280&bih=583

Productivity/performance: E.g. We can design a ergonomic sofa for the elderly to use and ensure that it reduces the chances of injuries caused by the sofa happening.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.inmagine.com/img/tongro/tg169/tg169002.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.inmagine.com/tg169/tg169002-photo&usg=__yhJRnQ4VbjwpCkAfny8o5eMwAKA=&h=400&w=400&sz=57&hl=en&start=18&sig2=gaeK8t4RRvmhyDFAKDGJCg&tbnid=S5Nn2wtQsUOXWM:&tbnh=131&tbnw=143&ei=m-xLTK_JJ4aevQOmoOy7Cg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Delderly%2Bfriendly%2Bsofa%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D583%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C448&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=190&page=2&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:18&biw=1280&bih=583

Aesthetics: E.g. the product made for the elderly can have a simple, plain look as elderly might not prefer furnitures with lots of sharp colours and graffiti arts on the surface as its design.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://somethingboutrenes.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/ino-mobile-front.jpg&imgrefurl=http://somethingboutrenes.wordpress.com/category/marketing-insight/&usg=__IjGd130txCcD1AWkgUXlTRz1YaA=&h=480&w=360&sz=15&hl=en&start=0&sig2=NtsufgSIwF0P6dxsgnHSAA&tbnid=BN7RL9ZzYvVgdM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=134&ei=8exLTOXWKoO4rAeX_725Dg&prev=/images%3Fq%3Delderly%2Bfriendly%2Bsimple%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D583%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=688&vpy=206&dur=2114&hovh=259&hovw=194&tx=75&ty=130&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0

Ergonomics I

1. Compare the 2 different workplaces, state your observations.

In terms of comfort and simplicity of the 2 workplaces, the first workplace have an uncomfortable chair and does not have a simple environment (desk, laptop etc.), the second workplace have a liberty chair and is more comfortable to sit on as it changes its angle to suit him as the worker adjusts his posture to his needs and what he is doing (Bending backwards to write a note etc.).

In terms of height and depth, the first work place have an incorrect height and depth of the monitor and the worker need to wear glasses to focus and see the monitor properly. He is also fidgeting around in his workplace. In the second workplace, the worker uses the M7 Monitor Arm to adjust the monitor to suit his posture as he works. This will ensure that he does not spoil his eyesight and injure his backbone as he does not need to fidget or stare at the screen to see what is on it properly.

In terms of task lighting, the first workplace have two lights, however, if he uses both, it is too bright, the light glares and the dazzling light blurs him, making him unable to work. On the other hand, if he uses only one light, the light is too dark and he cannot see what he is doing and will need to stare on the screen to see what he is typing. The second workplace, have an adjustable diffrient light and the worker can adjust the diffrient light to suit the lighting needed for what he is doing (He adjusts the diffrient light to have the lighting needed for him to write a note etc.)

In terms of freedom of movement, in the first workplace, the worker cannot move around freely as he will be blocked by his chair and table (He accidentally spoiled his armrest when he was drinking water) , in the second workplace, the worker enjoys a freedom chair, and the chair adjusts to suit what he is doing (The chair bends backwards and the armrest come upwards when he is drinking so that he can rest his hand and let him have maximum enjoyment etc.)

In terms of prolonged laptop use, in the first workplace, the worker feels uncomfortable and have to move around and adjust his laptop to suit his posture. In the second workplace, the worker uses a L2 Laptop Holder to hold his laptop inclined to the suitable angle for his work. He can also place his documents on the laptop holder to copy it into his laptop without bending his neck frequently.

In terms of desk space, the first workplace have an usable desk space and he cannot find the things that he need easily. (He accidentally knocked over the cup when he was writing and spilled water onto his notebook and also he has no place to put his keyboard and left it above his cup etc.). However, in the second workplace, there is an access rail for the worker to use and can easily find all the things that he need with racks attached to the rail.

2. Which workplace is preferred? State with reasons why one workplace is preferred over the other.

The first workplace is preferred as it provides the worker with more comfort and suits the working environment that he needs. The desk space is also enough for him to work. The second is not preferred as it provide the worker with uncomfortable chairs and the working environment does not suits his needs. The desk space is also not enough for him to work.

3. What are the considerations that should be taken into account when designing a workplace that is suitable for the user?

It must be spacious, comfortable and have the necessary equipments for the worker to work in a conducive environment.
4. Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?

The workplace must give the worker a good mood and must be a conducive environment for the worker to work comfortably and produce the best results for what he is doing.