Topic 1 - Human factors and ergonomics Flashcards
Adjustability
Ability of a product to be changed in size - used to increase range of percentiles a product appropriate for
Alertness
Level of vigilance, readiness or caution of an individual
Anthropometrics
Aspect of ergonomics dealing with body measurements, particularly size, strength and physical capability
Biomechanics
Research and analysis of mechanics of living organisms. Incl research and analysis of mechanics of human body. Also incl force on users joints, repetition, duration and posture
Clearance
Physical space between two objects
Cognitive ergonomics
How mental processes affect interactions between users and components of a system
Comfort
Sense of physical or psychological ease
Dynamic data
Human body measurements taken when in motion related to range and reach (crawling height, overhead reach, range of upper body measurements)
Environmental factors
Set of psychological factors that can affect performance of an individual that come from environment that individual is situated
Ergonomics
Application of scientific information concerning relationship between human and design of products, systems and environments
Fatigue
Sense of physical or psychological tiredness
Functional data
Includes dynamic data measurements while performing required task (reaching abilities, maneuvering, aspects of space and equipment use
Human error
Mistakes made by users, some can result in catastrophic consequences for people, property and environment as they are considered key contributors to major accidents
Human factors
A scientific discipline concerned with understanding how humans interact with elements of a system (aka comfort design, functional design, user-friendly systems)
Human information processing systems
Automatic system a person uses to interpret information and react. Normally comprised of inputs, processes and outputs
Interval data
Based on numeric scales in which we know the order and exact difference between the values. Organized into even divisions or intervals, and intervals are of equal size.
Nominal data scale
Used in classification or division of objects into discrete groups, each of which identified with name (category of cars)
Ordinal data
A statistical data type that exists on an arbitrary numerical scale where exact numerical value has no significance other than to rank a set of data points. Deals with order or position of items such as words, letters, symbols, or numbers arranged in a hierarchal order
Percentile range
That proportion of a population within a dimension at or less than a given value.
Perception
Way in which something is regarded, understood or interpreted
Physiological factor data
Human factor data related to physical characteristics used to optimize users safety, health, comfort and performance
Primary data
Data collected by a user for a specific purpose
Psychological factor data
Human factor data related to psychological interpretations caused by light, smell, sound, taste, temperature and texture
Qualitative data
Typically descriptive data used to find out in-depth the way people think or feel - their perception (useful for research at individual or small focus group level)
Quantitative data
Data that can be measured and recorded using numbers (eg height, shoe size)
Range of sizes
Selection of sizes a product is made in that caters for majority of market
Ratio data scale
Allows you to compare differences between numbers (rating scale 1-10)
Reach
Range a person can stretch to touch or grasp an object from a specified position
Secondary data
Data collected by someone other than user
Static data
Human body measurements when user still
Structural data
Refers to measurements taken while subject in a fixed or standard position (height, arm length)
Workplace environmental factors
Factors can be considered to maximize performance of a user in a role and reduce risk of accidents
