Topic 1: Human Factors and Economics

Question 1

Adjustability

Answer 1

The ability of a product to be changed in size, commonly used to increase the range of percentiles that a product is appropriate for.

Question 2

Alertness

Answer 2

The level of vigilance, readiness or caution of an individual.

Question 3

Anthropometrics

Answer 3

The aspect of ergonomics that deals with body measurements, particularly those of size, strength, and physical capacity.

Question 4

Biomechanics

Answer 4

The research and analysis of the mechanics of living organisms. Biomechanics in Human factors includes the research and analysis of the mechanics (operation of our muscles, joints, tendons, etc.) of our human body. It also includes Force (impact on user’s joints), Repetition, Duration, and Posture.

Question 5

Clearance

Answer 5

The physical space between two objects.

Question 6

Cognitive Ergonomics

Answer 6

How mental processes, (memory, reasoning, motor response and perception), affect the interactions between users and other components of a system.

Question 7

Comfort

Answer 7

A person’s sense of physical or psychological ease.

Question 8

Dynamic data

Answer 8

Human body measurements taken when the subject is in motion related to range and reach of various body movements. E.g. crawling height, overhead reach and the range of upper body movements.

Question 9

Environmental factors

Answer 9

A set of psychological factors that can affect the performance of an individual that come from the environment that the individual is situated.

Question 10

Ergonomics

Answer 10

The application of scientific information concerning the relationship between human beings and the design of products, systems and environments.

Question 11

Fatigue

Answer 11

A person’s sense of physical or psychological tiredness.

Question 12

Functional data

Answer 12

Functional data includes dynamic data measurements while performing a required task e.g. reaching abilities, maneuvering, and aspects of space and equipment use.

Question 13

Human error

Answer 13

Mistakes made by users, some of which can result in catastrophic consequences for people, property and the environment, as they are considered key contributors to major accidents.

Question 14

Human factors

Answer 14

A scientific discipline concerned with understanding how humans interact with elements of a system. It can also be considered the practice of designing products, systems or processes to take account of the interaction between them and their users. It is also known as comfort design, functional design and user-friendly systems.

Question 15

Human information processing system

Answer 15

An automatic system that a person uses to interpret information and react. It is normally comprised of inputs, processes (which can be sensory, central and motor), and outputs.

Question 16

Interval data

Answer 16

Interval data are based on numeric scales in which we know the order and the exact difference between the values. They are organized into even divisions or intervals, and the intervals are of equal size.

Question 17

Nominal data scale

Answer 17

Nominal means ‘by name’ and used in classification or division of objects into discrete groups. Each of which is identified with a name e.g. category of cars, and the scale does not provide any measurement within or between categories.

Question 18

Ordinal data

Answer 18

A statistical data type that exists on an arbitrary numerical scale where the exact numerical value has no significance other than to rank a set of data points. Deals with the order or position of items such as words, letters, symbols or numbers arranged in a hierarchical order. Quantitative assessment cannot be made.

Question 19

Percentile range

Answer 19

That proportion of a population with a dimension at or less than a given value. For a given demographic (gender, race, age), the 50th percentile is the average.

Question 20

Perception

Answer 20

The way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted.

Question 21

Physiological factor data

Answer 21

Human factor data related to physical characteristics used to optimize the user’s safety, health, comfort and performance.

Question 22

Qualitative data

Answer 22

Typically descriptive data used to find out in depth the way people think or feel - their perception. Useful for research at the individual or small (focus) group level.

Question 23

Quantitative data

Answer 23

Data that can be measured and recorded using numbers. Examples include height, shoe size, and fingernail length.

Question 24

Range of sizes

Answer 24

A selection of sizes a product is made in that caters for the majority of a market.

Question 25

Ratio data scale

Answer 25

A ratio scale allows you to compare differences between numbers. For example, use a rating scale of 1-10 to evaluate user responses.

Question 26

Reach

Answer 26

A range that a person can stretch to touch or grasp an object from a specified position.

Question 27

Secondary data

Answer 27

Data collected by someone other than the user.

Question 28

Static data

Answer 28

Human body measurements when the subject is still.

Question 29

Structural data

Answer 29

Refers to measurements taken while the subject is in a fixed or standard position, e.g. height, arm length.

Question 30

Workplace environmental factors

Answer 30

These factors can be considered to maximize performance of a user in a role and reduce the risk of accidents. They can be categorized as:
•Management (policies, safety education)
•Physical environment (noise, temperature, pollutants, trip hazards, signage)
•Equipment design (controls, visibility, hazards, warnings, safety guards)
•The nature of the job (repetitiveness, mental or physical workload, force, pressure)
•Social or psychological environment (Social group, morale)
•The worker (personal ability, alertness, age, fatigue).

Question 31

Primary data

Answer 31

Data collected by a user for a specific purpose.

Question 32

Psychological factor data

Answer 32

Human factor data related to psychological interpretations caused by light, smell, sound, taste, temperature and texture.