Applied Anthropometry

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Applied Anthropometry

• The study of human body dimensions and related
  properties

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Topics of Discussion

• Overview
• Learning Outcomes
• Definition and key concepts
• Theory and Limitations
• Applying Anthropometric Data
• Explanation of Group Projects
• Break into Groups to Complete Projects
• Group Presentations (Teach your Classmates)
• Questions and Answers
• Time to work in your groups

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Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate a knowledge
  of basic anthropometry theory and cite 5 real
  world applications.
• Students will be aware of the need to design for
  the extremes, for an adjustable range, and for
  the average.
• Students will demonstrate beginning skills to
  define appropriate applications of data and
  calculate necessary data for a presentation.

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Definition

• Anthropometry is the study of human body
  dimensions.
• Also body volumes, masses of body segments,
  center of gravity, and inertial properties.
• Anthropometry is applied to the design of
  consumer products, work and other places, and
  equipment. Adapted from Sanders
  McCormick (1993)

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Body Postures
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Static Anthropometric Measurements

• Static Fixed or not moving
• Between joint centers
• Examples
• Body lengths and contours
• Examples
• Measuring tools Laser (computer), measuring
  tape, calipers
• Resource Examples NASA Anthropometric Source
  Book, Dr. J.T. McConville Anthropology Research
  Project (Yellow Springs) , United Nations

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Dynamic Anthropometric Measurements

• Dynamic Functional or with movement
• No exact conversions for static to dynamic
• Kromer (1983) offers some rough estimates for
  converting static to dynamic
• e.g. Reduce height (stature, eye, shoulder, hip,
  etc.) by 3.
• Somatography
• e.g. A CAD program named SAMMIE
• e.g. A virtual reality program named dv/Maniken
• Scale model mock-up

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Dynamic Anthropometric Measurements, continued

• Envelopes
• Work, walking, turning, bending. boundaries, etc.
• Graphic depiction of envelopes
• Examples

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Human Variability

• Myth of the average human
• does not exist
• Human Variability
• age, sex, societal, daily changes, generational
  changes, ethnicity

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Design Principles

• Designing for extreme individuals
• Design for the maximum population value when a
  maximum value must accommodate almost everyone.
  E.g. Doorways, escape apparatus, ladders, etc.
• This value is commonly the 95th percentile male
  for the target population.
• Design for the minimum population value when a
  minimum value must accommodate almost everyone.
  E.g. Control panel buttons and the forces to
  operate them.
• This value is commonly the 5th percentile female
  for the target population.
• (continued )

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Design Principles, continued

• Designing for an Adjustable Range
• Designing for the 5th female/95th male of the
  target population will accommodate 95 of the
  population.
• 95 because of the overlap in female/male body
  dimensions (if the male/female ratio is 50/50).
• Examples are auto seats, stocking hats
• Designing for the Average
• Use where adjustability is impractical, e.g. auto
  steering wheel, supermarket check-out counter,
  etc.
• Where the design is non-critical, e.g. door knob,
  snack machine, etc.

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Designing for Motion

• Select the major body joints involved
• Adjust your measured body dimensions to real
  world conditions
• e.g. relaxed standing/sitting postures, shoes,
  clothing, hand tool reach, forward bend, etc.
• Select appropriate motion ranges in the body
  joints, e.g. knee angle between 60-105 degrees,
  or as a motion envelope.
• Avoid twisting, forward bending, prolonged static
  postures, and holding the arms raised.
• Karl H.E. Kromer, Virgina Tech, from The
  Occupational Ergonomics Handbook

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7 Steps to Apply Anthropometric Data

• Identify important dimensions, e.g. hip breadth
  for a chair seat.
• Identify user population, e.g. children, women,
  U.S. population, world population, etc.
• Determine principles to use (e.g. extremes,
  average, adjustable)
• Select the range to accommodate, e.g any, 90,
  95
• Find the relevant data, e.g. from anthropometric
  data tables.
• Make modifications, e.g. adult heavy clothing
  adds 4-6 linear inches.
• Test critical dimensions with a mock-up, user
  testing, or a virtual model.
  (Sanders McCormick 1993)

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Resource ListIn your handouts

• Sanders and McCormick, 7th Ed., McGraw-Hill, Inc.
  1993. Chapter 13 (Data Tables), Chapter 22 PP.
  744. (CAD-SAMMIE CAD, LTD., 1987).
• Anthropometric Source Book, Part II A Handbook
  of Anthropometric Data, National Aeronautics and
  Space Administration,1978.
• Article Human-centric Design - Human-centric
  Design Advances in manikin software are enabling
  engineers to consider a fuller spectrum of user
  interactions with virtual products. By Mark
  Morrissey It has been 15 years since "Sammie"a
  computer model of a human, or manikin
  emerged...--http//www.memagazine.org/contents/cur
  rent/features/centr... 30-Jan-2000 Note This
  article discusses virtual reality in
  anthropometric measurement.
• ANTHROPOMETRY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES -
  (file size - 62K) ANTHROPOMETRY FOR PERSONS WITH
  DISABILITIES NEEDS FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
  Task 2 Analysis and Recommendations prepared for
  U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers
  Compliance Board Suite 1000 1331 F. Street
  Washington.--http//www.access-board.gov/pubs/anth
  ro. 30-Jan-2000
• Physical Characteristics of Children - Physical
  Characteristics of Children As Related to Death
  and Injury for Consumer Product Design and Use
  UM-HSRI-BI-75-5 Final Report Contract FDA-72-70
  May 1975 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN AS
  RELATED TO DEATH INJURY FOR CONSUMER
  PRODUCT..--http//www.itl.nist.gov/div894/ovrt/pr
  ojects/anthrokids/c 30-Jan-2000