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!