Ergonomics and User Centred Design Flashcards
Define Ergonomics
The discipline of ensuring a good fit between people and their objects, activities and environments
What is one of the key differences between ergonomic design and user centered design?
Ergonomics takes a measured approach, with measurable outcomes or benefits from the ergonomic design
What is physical ergonomics?
Looks at human anatomical, physiological and bio mechanical characteristics. These include working posture, manual handling, controls,displays etc.
What is cognitive ergonomics?
Looks at human characteristics of perception, cognition, memory, reason and emotion. The tools in cognitive ergonomics looks at how people respond to the products and interacts with them. This includes, human computer interaction, mental workload and safety, product interfaces, etc.
Do physical and cognitive ergonomics work collaboratively or separately?
Collaboratively. Most design challenges will have to address both the physical and cognitive ergonomics, for example, the BA business class plane seats.
What is anthropometrics?
Matching the physical form and dimensions of the product/workspace to the user.
What subset of ergonomics focuses on body measurements - specifically body size, shape, strength and working capacity?
Anthropometrics
How many extreme users are you designing for?
Typically design for 90% of users, excluding the top and bottom 5% of the curve.
When do you not design to 90% of the population?
In safety critical situations e.g. escape hatch, we design to at least the 99th percentile.
What do you do if ergonomic data is not available for the particular design task?
The ergonomist will carry out a fitting trial. Design an experiment to get the data required to be able to design ergonomically.
Give a description/walk through of a fitting trial.
Take a representative sample of people in your population and design a rig.
This rig allows you to adjust the product you are making ergonomically.
Each participant must answer saying whether it is ‘too high’, ‘too low’, ‘satisfactory’, ‘just right’.
Then plot 4 curves based on the percentage of users providing hose answers at that height.
This will identify the best compromised fit for your population.
Define User-Centered Design
A design process that is centered around the user. The system/product is designed to support the user need, rather than making a product to which the user must adapt to
What is the general approach to user centered design?
- Early focus on the user
- Empirical data collection - using questionnaires, performance data, etc.
- Iterative design using prototypes
What is the design process where users are directly involved? This is through either co-designing or providing creative input.
Participative Design
Why is user-centered design needed for product success?
It allows for the delivering of products that users actually need. This is because it focuses on the behaviors of the user, and therefore what can be done to aid them
What does Don Norman believe every user should be able to do while using the product?
- Figure out what to do
- Decipher what is going on
What are the 7 Norman Principles?
- Use both knowledge in the world and knowledge in the head
- Simplify the structure of tasks
- Make things visible
- Get the mappings right
- Exploit the constraints of the system
- Design for error
- When all else fails standardise
Describe the first Norman Principle
Use both knowledge in the world and knowledge in the head.
It should be easy to learn how to use it, and then easy to use once it is learned.
Describe the second Norman Principle
Simplify the structure of the task.
Think about different ways to accomplish your goal while keeping the structure the same. E.g. replacing shoe laces with velcro
Describe the third Norman Principle
Make things visible, both before and after the action
This lets the user know what to do, and assess the effect of their actions afterwards
Describe the fourth Norman Principle
Get the mappings right
Through the design of the system, the user should be able to understand possible actions, effects on the system and the system state. E.g. forward is for acceleration
Describe the fifth Norman Principle
Exploit the constraints of the system.
The user can only do the right thing. e.g. an assembly that can only fit together in one right way.
Describe the sixth Norman Principle
Design for error
Make it easy to recover from error/reverse unwanted outcomes. e.g. cancel button
Describe the seventh Norman Principle
When all else fails, standardise
If there are no natural instincts (mappings) to use, choose an arbitrary way of doing something and stick to it. e.g. driving on the left, units of measurements, etc.
