MEC 325 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Decision-Making, Voicemail, Visual Angle
3 May 2018
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Objectives of Ergonomics:
1) Safety
2) Productivity
3) User satisfaction
What is the difference between ergonomics and HF?
What do we know about the characteristics of people?
-People vary, so they have different characteristics and perceive/comprehend information
differently.
Apply ergonomics all the time, helpful during beginning b/c safes lot of time and money than
if a design or major human factors flaw is realized later to meet the users needs. Better
design when HF is applied.
Channels- visual (computer screen), auditory(fire alarm), feel(controls on crane/touch
screens-communicate feedback), smell(gas leak in cars/burning toast), taste()
ergonomics considerations where design work for Conveyer belt:
- the conveyor height should depend on the size of the object that is being handled.
-speed of conveyer can result in dizziness and nausea for the operators
-unloading-> overexertion and back injury
-to be left open on both sides for maintenance work (constantly jam)
- room under conveyer for people with seated position (leg and knees room)
- provide crossing points or gates where people and material can be brought through
- It should be possible to slide assemblies along the conveyor rather than to lift them. This can be
achieved by using special rollers or low friction material to connect a moving and a
stationary conveyor at a workstation.
***Provide 2 subjective methods and 2 objective methods that can be used to measure
ergonomic problems arising from bad work postures. Give a sentence to describe how each
method works.
Subjective- 1) questionnaires & 2) a body part discomfort scale
> subjective evaluation and usabity feedback from users
Use poor-good or ineffective-effective
7 point scale> 5 pt scale
Objective methods-
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1)OWAS method-> code work posture into system, system assesses force, work phase and
collects the data about posture.
2) RULA method-> postures evaluated using #s, ^#worse, force estimated from that, groups
measure effects on diff body parts
^score, immediate action
Basic design principle: let the small person reach, let the big person fit.
Small vs large: consider cost and specify design for small range of people, designing for
generic group of people w same characteristics
control movement stereotypes- be consistent w what the user expects
ie. toaster – turn dial to set tempature
car turn car wheel CW to turn right
power button on left side of remote
four fundamental elements in a warning sign:
1. Signal word: to convey the gravity of the risk; for example, “Danger”, “Warning” or
“Caution.”
2. Hazard: the nature of the hazard.
3. Consequences: what is likely to happen if the warning is not followed?
4. Instructions: the appropriate behavior required to reduce the hazard.
Ie.
Danger
High Voltage Wires
Can Kill
Stay Away
4 stages in which users process warning signs: (OACC- only allow cool cats)
Observe
Attention
Comprehension
Compliance
Fix problems:
Rubber dampening
Flex joints
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Objectives of ergonomics: safety, productivity, user satisfaction. People vary, so they have different characteristics and perceive/comprehend information differently. Apply ergonomics all the time, helpful during beginning b/c safes lot of time and money than if a design or major human factors flaw is realized later to meet the users needs. Channels- visual (computer screen), auditory(fire alarm), feel(controls on crane/touch screens-communicate feedback), smell(gas leak in cars/burning toast), taste() ergonomics considerations where design work for conveyer belt: The conveyor height should depend on the size of the object that is being handled. Speed of conveyer can result in dizziness and nausea for the operators. To be left open on both sides for maintenance work (constantly jam) Room under conveyer for people with seated position (leg and knees room) Provide crossing points or gates where people and material can be brought through. It should be possible to slide assemblies along the conveyor rather than to lift them.
