Topic 1: Human Factors and ergonomics

Question 1

Adjustability

Answer 1

Adjustability is 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

Alertness is the level of vigilance, readiness or cation of an individual

Question 3

Anthropometrics

Answer 3

Anthropometrics is the aspect of ergonomics that deals with body measurements, particularly those of size, strength and physical capacity

Question 4

Biomechanics

Answer 4

Biomechanics is 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

Clearance is the physical space between two objects

Question 6

Cognitive ergonomics

Answer 6

Cognitive ergonomics is 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

Comfort is a person’s sense of physical or psychological ease

Question 8

Dynamic data

Answer 8

Dynamic data are 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

Environmental factors are 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

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

Question 11

Fatigue

Answer 11

Fatigue is 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, manoeuvring and aspects of space and equipment use

Question 13

Human error

Answer 13

Human error are 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

Human factors are 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

Human information processing system is 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. Organized into even divisions or intervals, and 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

Ordinal data are 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 of position of items such as words, letters, symbols or numbers arranged in a hierarchical order. Quantitative assessment cannot be made.

Question 19

Percentile range