MINGCHI INDTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ERGONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR HEALTH:

A Case Study of Universal Design

Rungtai LinDepartment of Industrial DesignMingchi Institute of TechnologyEmail: rtlin@ccsun.mit.edu.tw

This paper presents a case study of "UNIVERSAL DESIGN" by combining "ERGONOMIC

CONSIDERATIONS" with “MANUFACTURING PRINCIPLES” in designing school furniture.

ABSTRACT

1. INTRODUCTION

In today's classroom, childrenare repetitively exposed to the hazards of abnormal or awkward postures due to classroom furniture that is often either TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL.

新式胖與瘦

TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL?

Because children vary widely in their anthropometric measurements, the anthropometric considerations become very important for HEALTH to design school furniture.

However, the most effective application of such data in product design isanother important issue.

1. INTRODUCTION

* ERGONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS and MANUFACTURING PRINCIPLES can sometimes present conflicting recommendations for design.

* The school furniture design must consider both of these objectives that integrate ERGONOMICS and ENGINEERING.

1. INTRODUCTION

Therefore, this paper presents acase study of "universal design" for developing design guidelines that integrate

"ergonomic considerations" and

"manufacturing principles"

in designing school furniture.

1. INTRODUCTION

THE PROCEDURE:

1. A SURVEY

2. AN EVALUATION

3. AN ANALYSIS

4. REGULATIONS

5. RECOMMANDATIONS

2. METHOD

2.1 To identify the merits and demits

2.2 Questionnaire

2.3 Data Collection

2.4 MDS Analysis

2.5 Perception Mapping

(2) AN EVALUATION OF SUBJECTIVE COMFORT

2. METHOD

2.1 ERGONOMIC CONSODERATIONS

The most important ergonomic consideration of designing daily-life products is

”DESIGNING FOR HUMAN USE.“

However, cost conflicts between optimizing the design for ”ERGONOMICS" or ”MANUFACTURING” often appear, especially when the issue of applying “ANTHROPOMETRIC DATA" is addressed.

2. METHOD

In many anthropometric problem of ”FITTING" some design, it is necessary to consider a numberof anthropometric variables at the same time.

Therefore, it is important to consider therelationship between body dimensions in the design of products based on combinations of dimension.

2. METHOD

2.1 ERGONOMIC CONSODERATIONS

School furniture from manufacturers is typically NOT DESIGNED to accommodate different individual user dimensions.

While a few desks offer an overall heightadjustment and chairs of different sizes, individual adjustments for the seat, arm and back are not offered.

2. METHOD

2.2 UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Universal design, a ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL philosophy, has been adopted in the industry, because such furniture is less costly to manufacture and easier to sell at a lower price, and lessens the inventory problems for manufacturers and schools.

2. METHOD

2.2 UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Universal design can be defined as the design of products and environments to be usable to the greatest extent possible by people of all ages and abilities.

Today, ergonomic considerations are a part of ”UNIVERSAL DESIGN" and taken into account by manufacturing engineers in product development.

2. METHOD

2.2 UNIVERSAL DESIGN

1. COMFORTABLE FACTOR - Anthropometric database2. DESIGN FACTOR - Design approach3. SPATIAL FACTOR - Design approach - Anthropometric database

2. METHOD

2.3 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

USER PRODUCT TASK

MA

NIP

UL

AT

IONIN

TE

RF

AC

E

EN

GA

GE

ME

NTIN

TE

RF

AC

E

TASK ADAPTIVE FEEDBACK

STATIC DYNAMIC

TOOL FEEDBACK

2. METHOD

Using anthropometric data for designing products, there are generally two aspects:

1) DETERMINE WHAT ANTHROPOMETRIC DESIGN PRINCIPLE SHOULD BE APPLIED.

2) HOW TO ACHIEVE THE ANTHROPOMETRIC CONSIDERATIONS IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MANNER.

3. RESULTS

3.1 ERGONOMIC DIMENSIONS

When applying anthropometric data, three anthropometric design principles must be considered: EXTREME INDIVIDUALS, AN ADJUSTABLE RANGE, AND THE AVERAGE.

Based on these principles, the recommendations of ergonomic dimensions for the ideal school desk and chair are SHOWN IN TABLE 1.

3. RESULTS

3.1 ERGONOMIC DIMENSIONS

3.1 ERGONOMIC DIMENSIONS

代號

項 目 5 % 50 % 95 % 47cm

44-50cm 48cm 44cm

3 - 5? 30cm 48cm 62(15)

100 - 105?

Design approach 76-81cm 65cm 50cm 0~10? 55cm

40cm 64cm 56cm

Seat surface height 39 cm 43 cm 47 cm A Adjustable range 37-39 cm 40-46 cm 44-50 cm

Adjustable design

B Seat surface width 48cm 48cm 48cm Extremely design C Seat surface depth 44cm 44cm 44cm Average design D Seat surface angel 3- 5? 3 - 5? 3 - 5? Average design E Back support length 30cm 30cm 30cm Average design F Back support width 48cm 48cm 48cm Extremely design G Dynamic distance BS to ground 49(10) 55 (12) 62 (15) Adjustable design H Back support angel 100 - 105? 100 - 105? 100 - 105? Average design

Desk surface height 71cm 75cm 79cm I Adjustable range 69-74cm 72-78cm 76-81cm

Adjustable design

J Desk width 65cm 65cm 65cm Average design K Desk depth 50cm 50cm 50cm Average design L Desk angel 0~10? 0~10? 0~10? Average design M Drawer width 55cm 55cm 55cm Average design N Drawer depth 40cm 40cm 40cm Average design O Distance from drawer to ground 56cm 60cm 60cm Adjustable design P Distance from Drawer to BS 56cm 56cm 56cm Adjustable design

3.1 ERGONOMIC DIMENSIONS

AVERAGE DESIGN - Seat surface depth

EXTREMELY DESIGN - Seat surface width

ADJUSTABLE DESIGN - Desk and chair’s surface height

3. RESULTS

3.1 ERGONOMIC DIMENSIONS

Generally, designing for an adjustablerange is the preferred method of design,but it is NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

In this study, the sitting height and desk height can be adjusted to the individuals who uses them.

3. RESULTS

3.2. ADJUSTABLE DEVICES

Two adjustable devices are designed using a spring and screw structure to provide for adjustments to cover a wide range from 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male is divided into three different parts.

3. RESULTS

3.2. ADJUSTABLE DEVICES

For the manufacturing, the same screw structure is used in the adjustable devices for adjusting different ranges.

3. RESULTS

COMBINED-TYPE DESK AND CHAIR

COMBINED-TYPE DESK AND CHAIR

SEPARATED-TYPE DESK AND CHAIR

SEPARATED-TYPE DESK AND CHAIR

Desk 5% 50% 95%5% 50% 95%

a 12 12 12

b 70 76 82

c 50 56 62

Unit: cm

a:adjustable range

b:desk surface height

c:distance from drawer to ground

ADJUSTABLE DESK DRAWER

Chair 5% 50% 95%5% 50% 95%

a 8 8 8

b 40 44 48

Unit: cm

a:adjustable range

b:seat surface height

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR DRAWER

UNIVERSAL DESIGN is an approach to create everyday environments and products that are usable by all people to the greatest possible extent.

By using UNIVERSAL DESIGN, companies can maximize their potential market.

4. CONCLUSION

However, successful application of UNIVERSAL DESIGN requires an understanding of human diversity -- ERGONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS.

Design and manufacturing engineersseem well aware that the most efficientway of improving ergonomics is in the early phases of product development.

4. CONCLUSION

THIS STUDY PRESENTS A PARADIGM OF HOW TO TAKE ERGONOMIC CONSIDERATIONSINTO MANUFACTURING FOR UNIVERSAL DESIGN AND HEALTH.

4. CONCLUSION