Core 1 Flashcards
What is anthropometric data?
The study of human body properties such as height, mass and volume. It is used extensively in consumer goods design to accommodate how humans use and interact with a product.
What is the difference between static and dynamic anthropometrics?
Static data/Structural data:
Data from measurements such as those between joints
Recorded using standardised equipment, e.g. callipers
Easy to collect as the subject is not moving
Include height, weight and various other body structure data
Dynamic data/Functional data
Data obtained while the subject is in movement: is often of greater use
demonstrates range and ease of movements: reaction time, reach arcs, grip strength
Instruments must be calibrated and of sturdy design for reliability
What equipment is used to collect anthropometric data
Stadiometer: used to measure the vertical distance from the floor to the head of a person standing
Sitting height table: measures the distance from the floor or seat to the top of the head of a seated upright person
Skinfold callipers: Determine the amount of subcutaneous body fat
What are the factors that affect the quality of anthropometric data?
Tools - may be inaccurate if not calibrated properly
Human error - incorrect training or making an error
Time of day - a person can become shorter in the evening
Cultural restrictions - nude body measurements prevent data collection
Primary vs secondary anthropometric data
Primary data is collected by the designer
- Measurements carried out on proposed user group
- Relates directly to intended population
Secondary data is collected from a database of measurements
- Often national in nature
What are percentiles?
the hundred equal groups a sample can be divided according to the distributions of value of a particular variable.
E.g, 70th percentile scored as well, or better than 70% of those in the total sample population
What are percentile ranges and their applications in anthropometrics?
Used to measure dispersion within a sample
‘Mean’ is the 50th percentile
Spread between 95th and 5th percentile shown as P95 — P5
Design within a range or to a value can depend on design context and can be critical
Extremes of any population sample will always require consideration
Only 95th percentile example: standard architectural doorway
Only 5th percentile example: ease of reach for vehicle controls
50th percentile example: crash test dummies (men’s)
Crash test dummies now developed for women and children
Issues can occur when having to consider large percentile ranges for products such as primary school age children encompassing significant age variation
What are intercepting percentile tables and why are they used?
When designing products for diverse user populations, designers often need to consider multiple body dimensions at the same time. For example, if you’re designing a car seat, you might care about both leg length and sitting height.
Used for inclusivity in product design and accommodating the widest range of users.
Adjustability
design made with features of changing sizes
Accommodate for the anthropometric variability between members of the user group
E.g. adjustable car seat height and steering wheel position
Inclusion of almost everyone in a design context
When considering adjustability, in the 95th percentile, the male population is taken, and in the 5th, the female
Human dimensions aren’t always to proportion e.g. tall person with short arms
Range of sizes
Sizes made for different percentile ranges
Making one size would be impossible to fit every person properly
Making a size for every variance would be uneconomical (tailor-made)
Some people may be different sizes in different stores
Clearance and reach
Clearance
Minimum space required to enable the user to move into or through an area
E.g. Important for emergency exits
Reach
Maximum distance around a user that is usable and reachable e.g. desk space. (Work-space envelope)
Space within which a user carries out physical activities when at a fixed location
What is a multivariate analysis?
Used to account for all variations and means more than 5% may be excluded on one or more dimensions if using 5th — 95th
The cost of accommodating all possible combinations increases dramatically past this range and usually isn’t justified
What are psychological factors?
Impact operations including effects of environmental conditions such as stress, lighting, temperature, humidity, noise, vibration etc.
Product effectiveness can be affected by user reaction to external sensory stimuli.
What are the stimuli?
Sight - visibility and readability
Hearing - pitch, frequency and volume
Touch - texture, grip, friction and temperature
Taste - ingestion of toxins
Smell - aroma, perfume and odour
How is psychological data collected?
Interviews: asking others questions to learn about beliefs, experiences and needs - Participants might want to tell the interviewer what they think is acceptable or desirable
Surveys: set of questions asked to a participant - Answers can be nominal, ordinal and interval data
Observation: watching the subject as they engage in a task, work in a space, or try to complete an activity
- Participants could act unnaturally under the feeling of being watched
Standardised tests: measure a user’s performance or ability, results can be compared to other users - Performance may be affected by stress
Case studies: in-depth examination of an individual - May not be easily generalised to others due to its specificity
