Advances in Ergonomics In Design, Usability & Special Populations: Part I

AHFE International

Accelerating Open Access Science in Human Factors Engineering and Human-Centered Computing

Advances in Ergonomics In Design, Usability & Special Populations: Part I

book-cover

Editors: Francisco Rebelo, Marcelo Soares

Topics: Usability & User Experience

Publication Date: 2022

ISBN: 978-1-4951-2106-7

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe100761

Articles

Cognitive Ergonomics in the Design of the Display Interface for Manually Controlled Rendezvous and Docking

Manually Controlled Rendezvous and Docking (manual RVD) is a complex and demanding task for astronauts. The design quality of the display interface is critical for astronauts’ performance in manual RVD tasks. Present study aimes to improve the design of the display interface for manual RVD based on the analysis of the cognitive demands of the task. The cognitive demands of the RVD task on the human operators were analyzed by theoretical analysis and imperial research, and the cognitive demands were taken into consideration in the ergomomic design of the display interface for RVD tasks. Theoretical analysis and experimental data suggest that spatial transformations are highly demanded, and speed perception may be difficult for the operators. The arrangement of the display and the characteristics of the elements on the display were designed to facilitate human perception, judgement and decision, and several design schemes were proposed. The overall display interface which we designed demonstrated satisfying qualities. Analysis of the cognitive processes and cognitive demands of the manual RVD task provided important guide for the design of the RVD interface. The display interface we designed successfully supported the manual RVD tasks in China’s SZ-9 and SZ-10 missions.

Chunhui Wang, Yu Tian, Ting Jiang

Conference Proceedings

Visual Search in Airport-Security Screening

Security screening is a special visual search process. The quality of the airport-security screeners directly determines the safety of the passengers, and understanding is the premise of improvement, so, it is necessary to learn the visual search details in security screening. Two groups of subjects (screeners’ group and students’ group) were selected to conduct a screening simulation experiment, to test the rationality of the current security principle (from difficult to easy, from complex to simple) and the difference between the two groups. Tobii T120 eye tracker was used to record the eye movements in the process and some parameters were selected to characterize eye movements. The data visually showed that screeners’ accuracy rate was 28.7% higher than students’, and screeners’ experiment time was shorter on average. Moreover, the accuracy of the judgment increases were produced by changes of observers’ experience on airport-security screening, not by changes of the number of the fixation point, and there were significant differences on fixation time percent, saccade distance, judgment accuracy between the two groups. The screeners tended to examine the images systematically according to the principle of screening but the students group preferred to random searching.

JIN Huibina CAI Yaminb HONG Yuanc

Conference Proceedings

Ecodesign and Usability in the Redesign of Everyday Products

The design activity involves achieving design solutions that preserve as much as possible, natural resources, while improving the physical and social contexts of its users. Currently the market is saturated, with products that offer little advantage over its predecessors, or do not effectively respond to what users long for, thereby contributing to an excessive increase of resources. Therefore, in this study, the intention is to respond to the users’ needs, but considering also the environmental aspects. This study seeks to adapt these concepts for the redesign of a domestic product – a vacuum cleaner. For this purpose, the study was divided into two main phases of research: (1) recognition of the real needs of users as well as problems associated to the product, through surveys and usability tests (N=120), and (2) quantification of the environmental impact of the product (via eco-indicator 99 method). The overall data allowed to define the product requirements and outlined the criteria to be incorporated into the redesign product and also the measures to improve product usability that are consistent with ecodesign solutions.

Ana M. Sousaa, Álvaro M. Sampaioa, Paulo Simõesabc

Conference Proceedings

Designing and Evaluating Ubicomp Characteristics of Intelligent In-Car Systems

In this paper, we present a preliminary taxonomy for designing and evaluating intelligent systems from the viewpoint of ubiquitous computing (ubicomp). As an example of intelligent systems, we examine a few novel in-car systems, which are already commercially available. We also discuss some ergonomics issues related to the design of in-car systems and argue that rationale for solving these issues can be found from the ideal qualities of ubicomp systems. The five characteristics we define to be ideal for genuine ubicomp systems are context-awareness, natural interaction methods, invisibility, support for everyday tasks, and interconnectivity. Based on these characteristics, we create a framework to analyse the differences between the ubicomp characteristics of the examined novel in-car systems. To assess the utility of the framework in the development of entirely new systems, we use it to evaluate two intelligent prototype in-car systems. The results suggest that the framework suits well for guiding the design and evaluation of in-car computing systems from the ubicomp point of view. Future work needs to be conducted to improve the applicability of the framework in evaluating also other intelligent systems than only in-car systems.

Hannu Karvonen, Tuomo Kujala

Conference Proceedings

Drawing Accessibilities - Classroom Introductory Module to UX Design

Reflection through drawing is a strategy capable of developing perception, project values. Several studies explain how drawing serves as a reasoning tool when engaging a student to learn a subject of study; the learner tries to represent their comprehension on a specific subject. The act of drawing works as an incentive, students interact with the subject of study through the graphic representation of an idea. There is the need to empower drawing as a reasoning tool in higher education settings, in finding new approaches in classroom in developing user experience (UX) projects focused in accessibility, usability factors. This learning strategy is crucial in the contemporaneous context of user Interface design because it allows new outcomes, allows learners to understand in a systematic approach how to develop, empower accessibility solutions in a UX project.

Jose Miguel Gago da Silva, Fernando Moreira da Silva

Conference Proceedings

Fashion Design and Garment Performance: Human Factors in Fashion Design Projects

The fashion design project is a multifaceted process that involves several levels and multiple choices. During the design process, the fashion designer creates a fashion concept starting from a user’s needs and fashion styling, evolving to a concrete creation of outlooks and garments that will be proposed to a specific market. Working from general considerations to specific and particular characteristics, any fashion methodology applied by the designer, in order to achieve its goals, has the need to identify and characterize the final consumer and its necessities in terms of garment performance requirements. Due to a high number of human factors involved into the consumer characterization, the identification of the consumer’s performance needs are sometimes difficult to achieve, letting fashion design project far from the real consumers’ needs and market preferences. The multi-dimensional attitude demands nowadays fashion designers for a change to a holistic perception about consumer needs, product design and market characteristics, requiring supplementary fashion design features analysis. The main objective of this paper is an introduction to human factors in fashion design, beginning with the need to confront the perception of fashion clothing by consumers and designers.

Gianni Montagna, Carla Morais

Conference Proceedings

Dressing Autonomy for Frozen Shoulder Users: Inclusive Fashion Design Principles

Donning and doffing procedures are among of the five basic activities of daily living that define the degree of autonomy and independence. In this paper, we produce an analysis of the movements performed in donning/doffing procedures and identify which are the main difficulties in patients with frozen shoulder. Therefore, we utilized five pieces of clothing for the upper body with different characteristics that we consider relevant for the evaluation of movement and to identify range of motion limitations: poncho, tank-top, blouse with long sleeves, batwing blouse and front-opening blouse. Then, we observed a group of women during donning/doffing procedures, connecting the performed movements to the characteristics of those garments. As main results, we verified that the poncho and the batwing blouse are more appropriate for users with a frozen shoulder. Among the possible conclusions, we infer that the inclusion of users before and during the design process, through the methodology of participatory design, provides greater interaction in the whole process and increases the chances of success of the product to the real needs of the targeted user. In association, the inclusion of a kinesiological study in the design of clothes increases efficiency donning/doffing procedures, ensuring greater autonomy to the user.

Letícia Schiehll, Fernando Moreira da Silva, Inês Simões

Conference Proceedings

Wayshowing Through Urban Furniture: An Ergonomic Approach to a Color Planning Methodology

This paper subject arises from a PhD research which defined the need to create a new methodology for urban furniture color planning. The present research is a Post-Doctoral project that aims to develop a methodology which purposes to establish the importance of a pertinent and structured color application to urban furniture, which will make possible to create color plans for urban environments, allowing urban furniture to stand out from its background, contributing for their better legibility, and transforming them in identification elements that will improve the orientation within the cities. The development and implementation of the new methodology will allow the determination, with a higher scientific approach and rigor, of the color planning to be applied to urban furniture in each district or urban area, of a city. The new methodology will be developed through an active research, focused in case studies, including three Portuguese cities with different specifications. For each city will be defined samples areas which will encompass the most representative city zones and, there, the new methodology will be applied to all urban furniture elements, in order to validate the results and the new city color planning.

Margarida Gamito, Fernando Moreira da Silva

Conference Proceedings

Sustainable Design Through the Case Study Daciano da Costa

This paper, which stems from a PhD research, aims to disseminate among the international scientific community the thought of Daciano da Costa (1930-2005) throughout his teaching career and his professional practice. Daciano conceived numerous interior and installation design projects of outstanding quality from the early 60’s onwards. His work made him one of the most important figures of Design in Portugal. Through this case study we focus on the role played by Daciano on his teaching and professional practice concerning Sustainable Design concept. He brought to practice and teaching a modernization of processes, a new perspective on the emerging themes of Design during the XX century. Daciano da Costa believed that designing was providing a service to the community and so designers should assume new social roles towards a sustainable development. On his own practice and teaching he implemented a design process which deals with sustainability and social commitment, searching for simple long-term solutions that could last and fulfil human needs, causing minimum material waste. Some of the design products he developed and implemented during the 60’s are still in use nowadays, fulfilling human actual needs and their simplicity combines with the aesthetic paradigm changes of the XXI century.

Ana Moreira da Silva

Conference Proceedings

Wayfinding Design: An Ergonomic Approach to Signage Systems

Signage systems are closely linked to the security of persons and goods, as well as pressing issues such as ergonomics, accessibility, orientation, and mobility, among others. Signaling traffic, tourism, emergency signaling, railway signaling, air, maritime, etc., well reflect the role of signage/signalization in contributing to the safety and mobility of societies and the social role of design as a methodology or discipline that conceives orientation signs in space – The Signage systems. The potential benefits of information design (more properly signage systems) for social development are also looking for new approaches and methodologies, for research in and by design in an attempt to maximize new solutions that improve the lives of societies. The found solutions at the level of signage systems do not always consider the real needs of multiple users, i.e., at the level of design of these systems lack truly design projects centred on the users and that incorporate real solutions at technical, aesthetic, ergonomic and also inclusive levels. The development of signalling systems, which are considered as spatial information systems, involves the vital function of transmitting information in order to guide and direct certain individuals or groups / classes of individuals. It is a communication process that uses artifacts designed for the transmission of information and guidance clear and unambiguous for Citizens: The wayfinding. Considering wayfinding as the organization and communication of our dynamic relationship with space and environment, we are in the field of an important area for the design, to architecture and ergonomics, which is not only limited to the design of systems, but all that pertains to human interaction with spaces (Arthur; Passini, 1992). Thus, wayfinding design seeks to develop activity in the design of signage systems and of spatial information, which aim to guide and assist the task of accessibility to a particular space or territory. It is understood to be fundamentally a user-centred approach, which favors the ergonomic issues, anthropometric and inclusiveness, making signage systems truly universal or rather, accessible to a majority.

João Neves a b, Fernando Moreira da Silva b

Conference Proceedings

ColorErg - Color Ergonomics in Fashion Design

We all have a personal relationship with Color. Often we give ourselves an instinctive color treatment, just by choosing clothing of a particular color, or putting around us certain colors in our homes or gardens. Most of our reactions are, however, unaware and it is only when we begin to use color in an informed way that we can take advantage of this extraordinary life force in order to improve the quality of life and our well-being. The colors we use can provide protection against many physical ailments as well as can give us emotional inspiration. Obviously the clothes also protect us from the elements, being a form of personal expression, protecting us from the world around us and affecting the way we feel and think. ColorErg is a research project which aims to study physical, physiological and psychological color effects, in its interaction with human beings through clothing, underlining the importance of color ergonomics. The main objectives focus on the acquisition of scientific knowledge in the area serving as a projective tool for fashion designers, as well as to contribute, through the dissemination of its results, as a reference to the use of color to users in general.

Fernando Moreira da Silva

Conference Proceedings

Evaluation of Ecological Interface Design for Supporting Cognitive Activity of Nuclear Plant Operators

The paper describes procedure and results of evaluation of the Ecological display for monitoring and control of the drum-separators at the RBMK-type NPP. This task is characterized by heavy cognitive workload and insufficient human-machine interface. Trial operation of the proposed Ecological display has been carried out during four months at the full scope simulator of the Leningrad NPP with participation of six licensed control room operators. Four exercises and three realistic scenarios were used to collect experimental data. After execution of the tasks the participants filled the questionnaire.The results from the trial operation demonstrate that the ecological interface essentially quickens response time and execution of tasks (in more than 80% of all cases). The Ecological display provides operator with efficient feedback which ensures moderate increase of accuracy and smoothness of control actions. It was revealed that the use of the ecological interface four time reduces frequency of errors compared with the use of conventional interface. However, the efficiency of the Ecological display depends on situation. We revealed that the additional logical processing and the additional director pointer are required to prevent operator from delays and too sharp control actions

Alexey Anokhin, Alexey Ivkin

Conference Proceedings

Material and Ergonomics in Chairs: Study Focusing on Identity of the Materials and Perception of Textures

This article discusses the relationship between the material properties perceived by individuals and the incorporation of their identity to the product, through studies of dining chairs. Its central focus is on ergonomics aspects related to materials from an experimental study with users participation. The method of study is composed of different tests, two of them have been chosen to present in this article dealing with issues related to materials with potential application in chairs. Criteria such as polymeric material texture, material identification and perceived surfaces by individuals, perception of different surfaces like metals and naturals, perception of distinct attributes associated with different material families and semantic evaluation of products made of different materials were evaluated. The study is part of a work as master research and its results will be presented showing that the product incorporates part of its material properties and interfere to the product’s identity, and consequently in the mechanisms of user’s perception, because there was reflected in the judgment of the chairs that had similar model.

Gilberto Almeida Jr., Regina Álvares Dias, Jairo José Drummond Câmara

Conference Proceedings

Hand Tools: A Study of the Perception of Domestic Users and Woodwork Professionals

The use of some hand tools, utilized within the process of manufacturing wood products, is already popular in the activities of maintenance and setup in domestic environments, which creates groups of users with distinct repertoires, as well as differentiated frequency and kinds of use, with equal mastery of judgment and shopping decision. In the moment of the decision process leading to acquisition, the visual sensorial modality is the most important one. And, sometimes, information about such tools is acquired in catalogs, virtual shops and packages that provide interaction exclusively at the visual level. In order to know the perception of users about some hand tools, parting from visual interaction with them, subjective opinions were collected through: inquisition about the process and criteria on selecting tools, semantic differential tests and evaluation of the perception of comfort through the pair comparison method. Among the results obtained we can highlight that: the aspect “safety” is considered by both user groups as the most important in the moment of selecting the tool; and some users, both domestic and woodwork professionals, relate tool handling with difficulty of use and discomfort.

Franciane da Silva Falcão, Leonardo Correa Pinheiro, Guilherme Macedo da Silva, Luis Carlos Paschoarelli

Conference Proceedings

Perception of Effort in Manual Actions (Torque and Pulling Strength) on Different Interfaces

Tasks and products still require inappropriate demand of manual force are considered risk factors for the development of occupational diseases (Kattel et al., 1996; Aghazadeh and Mital, 1987). In ergonomic assessments, psychophysical data may provide relevant information that complement or assist understanding the results of physical assessments. In previous studies, we measured the pulling strength with 3 different handles (Razza et al., 2012) and torque strength was obtained with 5 different prismatic-shape handles (Paschoarelli et al., 2012). This study aimed to assess the reported individual perception of the strength exerted in the same conditions of those previous studies using VAS perception scale. The effects of individual characteristics (laterality and gender) and tasks elements were investigated in the reported perceived effort. This study employed three handles height (40 mm, 20 mm and 1 mm thick) grasped with 3 types of pinch grips (pinch 1, pinch 2 and pulp-pinch) and 3 prismatic-shaped handles for the assessment of torque (cylindrical, square and triangular). Results indicate that subjects of both genders could exert less effort with the handle of 40 mm height in comparison to the other heights, and pulp-pinch was considered the easiest to perform the effort. Torque’s results indicated that subjects required more effort with the cylindrical handle than to the others shapes. Of all observed conditions, the type of pinch grip had the greater impact on this measure of perceived effort.

Bruno M. Razza, Luis Carlos Paschoarelli, Cristina C. Lucio, José Alfredo C. Ulson, Danilo C. Silva

Conference Proceedings

Comparative Analysis Between Two Distinct Realities Concerning the Transport of School Material

This paper presents a comparison regarding the transportation of school supplies by children and pre-adolescent in two different countries with distinct economic and social realities (Portugal and Sri Lanka). This approach focusses on the way how school supplies are transported considering the reality of a European developed country and an Asian developing country. For this, the study of Jayaratne (2012) carried out in Sri Lanka was reproduced in the public education system in Portugal. Attended by 110 students, 56% of which were female, with ages between 12 and 15 years old (M=13.1; S.D.=0.92) from 7th to 9th grade, this study consisted of a survey and an on-site observation that had the purpose of gathering two types of data (qualitative and quantitative) regarding the context of use, the typology of products used and the user himself, of products able to transport school supplies. Major findings revealed that for both realities, the scholar backpack was the elected product (82% vs. 79.6%), by the students, to carry school supplies. However, considering the user interaction with this, it was observed that only 51% of the Portuguese students, in comparison with the 97% of Sri Lanka’s, make a proper use of their backpacks (wearing the two straps of the backpack). Despite the fact that the percentages found in both studies were around 10% of total body weight (respecting the internationally recommended limit placed between 10% and 15%), it is relevant to say that in both cases, the amount of students that reported musculoskeletal discomfort or pain during and/ or after the carriage of their school supplies was around 50%.

Ricardo Dagge, Ernesto Filgueiras

Conference Proceedings

Ergonomic Studies in Brazil and Portugal in the Operators of Electric Power Control Centers

The electricity sector has resulted in more sophisticated equipment and requires more attention from operators, bringing the monitor and operating a growing set of equipment. This results in increased workload with emphasis on cognitive and environments more conducive to error. The task of an operator, in the Electric Power Control Centers is very complex and specialized situation. They have the basic item, the prevention of incidents and errors that disrupt the operation of the electrical system, or when this is not possible, they attempt to make the process of returning to normal, which is called recovery. They have to do it by mobilizing knowledge and reasoning for which they received training, which, from the point of view of existing rules, are adequate. However, there are some factors that need to be improved because there are still accidents and incidents caused mainly by fatigue, lack of concentration, or inadequate human-computer interface. The aim of this paper is to evaluate workload and ergonomics aspects on the operators in the electric power control centers and analyze whether there are differences in two countries of different continents Brazil and Portugal.

Miguel Melo, Luiz Bueno

Conference Proceedings

Heuristic Evaluation for Serious Games (HESG): Using HESG for Designing and Evaluating Serious Games

Heuristic evaluation has become an extensively acknowledged method of usability evaluation in software development. Serious games became an useful method in teaching because they can provide meaningful learning activities and challenges. It makes us considerer serious games as important research area. Available evaluation methods for games are falling short in evaluation process of serious games due to lacking comprehension and not covering the seriousness therefore, we took the challenge of proposing a brand new heuristic method for the evaluation of serious games - Heuristic Evaluation for Serious Games (HESG). HESG consists of three modules, Game Play, Entertainment and Usability and Game Mechanics. Each module can be used remotely, autonomously and allows certain variations depending on the needs of designers and evaluators. The purpose of HESG is to create a complete and easily applicable instrument for evaluating different types of serious games. The main objective is to provide researchers and game developers with complete method to evaluate serious games and specialized training simulators in order to assure that used games are meeting the objectives, standards of quality and improve learning and training process. HESG has proven to be a comprehensive easily applicable method, a good tool to evaluate the special training purposes and may significantly help the professionals to develop good usability serious games.

Natalia Jerzak ab, Francisco Rebelo bc

Conference Proceedings

Human Body-Sleep System Interaction in Residence for University Students: Evaluation of Interaction Patterns Using a System to Capture Video and Software with Observation of Postural Behaviors During Sleep

The behavioral and postural habits and sleep rhythm of university students change depending on the academic period, either because it requires a different pace of study (academic activities) or other types of events but this has rarely been reported in the literature which would allow an analysis and evaluation of this behavior through sleep disorders. This paper presents a study whose objective was to investigate the human interaction with postural behaviors in the residences' bedroom of female university students during the periods in which the subjects were asleep, awake, out of bed, doing activities, using a pillow in different time periods and with ecological validation. A sample of 6964 observations, which corresponds to 196 sleep-hours of 12 university students, was classified into six Interaction Categories (IC). The results show that 28.7% of the participants presented the prone position as the most common postural behavior during sleep. During the image capture, participants answered a questionnaire about the perception of pain in the spine according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). 100% of the students complained about back pain; 50% referred to the evening as the period in which the pain was more intense; 25% of participants reported that pain disrupted their sleep and; the biggest indication of median of pain was in the Lumbar region (3.33+ 1.231). This data is essential for health care professionals who can use this information to enable a reduction factor of complaints of back pain, to make recommendations with schools and universities to change the demands of academic activities by distributing them throughout the semester and not at the end of each period.

Gustavo Desouzart, Ernesto Filgueiras, Rui Matos, Filipe Melo

Conference Proceedings

Effect of Low-Amplitude Oscillation Applied to the Control Device of a Tracking Operation

In order to find a stimulus that improves tracking operation accuracy, low-amplitude oscillation was applied to two types of control device (a grip type and a steering wheel) in a tracking simulation. The tracking operation was as follows: The target cursor moves side to side at a fixed velocity. Subjects control the device with the aim of making the control cursor follow the target cursor. The velocity of the target cursor was set at either a low or a high velocity. The separation between the target cursor and the control cursor (the tracking error) was used to evaluate the task performance. Three oscillation stimuli were used: sin waves of 10, 20, and 40 Hz, each at three different amplitude levels. A no-stimulus experiment was used as a control. In the slow cursor, the tracking error was significantly reduced with the 20 Hz oscillation compared to the control (p<0.05). In the fast cursor, no stimulus improved the accuracy of the tracking operation. On the other hand, the tracking error was significantly increased with the 10 Hz oscillation in comparison to the control (p<0.01). These results suggest that an oscillation of 20 Hz could improve the accuracy of tracking in the slow target. The oscillation of 20 Hz could affect the protagonistic muscles of the operation, and could improve sensitivity of the muscle spindles by stochastic resonance phenomenon. As a result, the devices were operated more accurately and the tracking errors were decreased.

Hideyuki Mukae, Akira Yasukouchi

Conference Proceedings

Analysis of Baggage Handling in Airplane Cargo Hold of Commercial Airplane: A Case Study in Ergonomics

Ergonomic studies related to commercial aviation have focused on improvements related to drivers’ commands and cockpit. However, a small number of studies are devoted to the ground manual transport related to the airplane cargo hold. This study aimed to analyze the biomechanical overload in manual load lifting tasks among ramp operators of commercial airplanes through the application of NIOSH and RULA methods. Two cases involving luggage loading and unloading activities were observed. Data collection was performed with a ramp operator, which photos and filming of activities and workplace during passenger boarding and disembarking of passengers. The biomechanical factors observed and analyzed in this study, with the application of NIOSH and RULA methods, allowed generating values that indicated that luggage loading and unloading activities bring high biomechanical risk for both the manual load lifting activity and for the postures used during luggage handling, which may cause health problems to ramp operators.

Alexandre Crespo Coelho da Silva Pinto, Francisco Felipe da Silva Júnior, Diogo Cunha dos Reis

Conference Proceedings

The Importance of a Sensory-Motor Wayfinding System for Promoting Autonomy and Mobility on People with Low Vision Condition

Some evidences related to demography will change the way we design built environment, mainly hospitals. The world is facing a situation without precedents, so that soon there will be more elderly of extreme old age than ever before. With a continuous decline in death rates and rising life expectancy among them, reaching 80 years and even over 100. Living longer with a better life quality doesn’t mean a healthier living, but a hospital care dependency related to health problems. We are facing a change of the demographic profile for which we must undertake a mentality readjustment in order to suit and give qualitative answer to these groups’ life. With an increasing ageing population, the burden of age-related sensory impairment is expected to increase. There is a growing interest in the effects of the physical environment on the health and well being of the elderly and disabled population. The research is being held in an ophthalmological hospital, where all kinds of eye pathologies are treated, though presenting difficulties in color discrimination and perception, incapacity of reading at distance and interpreting complex pictograms. For a structured and effective research a participatory design methodology is considered to evaluate patient’s low vision condition and working health professionals testimonials. Through observation, interviews and tests validating its results with groups of specialists. The final result will be the installation in this hospital of a sensory-motor wayfinding system (Percept Walk) reflecting the conclusion held in the research process.

Miguel de Aboim Borges, Fernando Moreira da Silva

Conference Proceedings

The Analysis of the Floor-Sitting Behavior Within the Context of Ergonomics Science Elements for the Development of the Floor-Sitting Furniture Design

This paper presents an analysis of the floor-sitting behavior within the ergonomics’ science context for the development of the floor-sitting furniture design. This study was conducted by observing the floor-sitting behaviors using the video surveillance method within the perimeters of a home environment. The floor-sitting furniture prototype was used as the auxiliary tool to manifest the dwellers’ postural dynamics. Data collection was used over a 6-month period in order to identify the frequency of floor-sitting postures, based on the synthesis of ergonomics science elements. These include: physics, psychology, anatomy, physiology, and engineering, which are mellifluously articulated within the ergonomics’ ergosystems. The prototype of floor-sitting furniture contemporaneously exhibits the significant context of objects used as perching mechanisms; where through this engagement to floor-sitting expressions, the dwellers form another dimension to the sitting comfort definition. This study has successfully produced a detailed illustration of the floor-sitting postures which are idyllically practiced by Malaysians within their home environments. The majority of houses used in this study were fully furnished. However, it was identified that the majority of Malaysians in this study typically preferred sitting on the floor with their bodies perched against objects used for resting. A compilation of floor-sitting data was obtained, and the designed prototype demonstrates the capability of the culturally linked subject’s extension within the explication of the ergonomics, and creative design contexts.

Sani. M.Najiba, Yusoff. B.Saifulb

Conference Proceedings

Development of Pictograms Depicting the Five Moments of Hands Hygiene for Healthcare Workers: A User-Centered Design Approach

The Health Care-Associated Infections (HCAIs) are a serious health problem, having contributed to high morbidity and mortality rates, as well as an increase in associated costs. Together with a set of good practices, hand hygiene is considered one of the key measures of preventing and controlling the spread of HCAIs. However, compliance with hand hygiene is relatively low. Therefore, there is a well-recognized need for measures that increase compliance rates. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a set of pictograms that illustrate the "Five Moments for Hand Hygiene”. The pictograms depict the key moments where hand hygiene is a mandatory obligation to healthcare workers. In the design and validation of the pictograms, a user-centered design approach was adopted, involving the participation of health care workers through methods such as focus group sessions, the comprehensibility judgment test and the perceived adequacy, effectiveness and preference assessment questionnaire. The gathered results could serve to improve the effectiveness of the present campaigns, which are intended to promote hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers.

Rita Ferreiraa, Emília Duartea, Carlos Rosaa, Paulo Noriegabc, Francisco Rebelobc, Elena Noriegad

Conference Proceedings

Technically Challenging Human Factors Issues for a Policy Argumentation Approach

This work addresses the user requirements of an authoring environment interface for creation and appraisal of policy domains and models. This paper focuses on the technical considerations and challenges for the design phase requirements and modeling solutions during the first iterations for the user-driven development lifecycle. It presents the results of the focus group sessions as well as the main interaction tasks tested with the prototype version of the user interface. The technically challenging issues regarding the modeling of the interaction with complex visual structures such as tree-based hierarchies, mindmaps and graph representations are presented.

Dimitris Spiliotopoulos, Athanasios Dalianis

Conference Proceedings

Certification of HCD Professionals in Japan

The certification program of HCD-Net started for responding to the demand of the society for the usability professionals who have a certain level of skills and knowledge. A competence model was first established and the framework for assessing the expertise was then formed. The program that started in 2009 has been recognized as the unique system and more than 300 professionals are now playing the leading role in the area of HCD

Masaaki Kurosua, Seiji Hayakawab, Sachi Mizobuchib, Darold Davisb, Masaya Andoc

Conference Proceedings

Activities of Certified Professional Ergonomist in Japan

In Japan, 10 years pass after certified professional ergonomist starts. About 200 specialists, an associate specialist and an assistant are certified. However, as these activities and their effects are not known widely, these important outcomes are not handed down to many specialists and their specialty is not recognized enough. Thus, it is important for specialists to know many activities and effects by professional in other accredited organizations.

Shin’ichi Fukuzumi a, Ryoji Yoshitake b

Conference Proceedings

Education and Professional Development of Ergonomists in Russia

The paper describes current state of education and professional development of specialists in human factors and ergonomics in Russia. University education in Russia is regulated by the fixed list of specialities and by the State learning standards. Currently, there are four university specialities that can serve as “umbrella” for education of ergonomists, namely: “System Analysis and Control”, “Biotechnical Systems and Technologies”, “Psychology”, “Design”. Two Russian leading universities offer bachelor and master programs on ergonomics. Postgraduate ergonomics education is available in the form of training courses and courses for preparation of candidate or doctoral dissertation. Any dissertation must be attributed to one of the predetermined scientific specialities. The most relevant speciality is “Occupational psychology, engineering psychology, ergonomics”. Nearly half of all candidates and doctors of sciences who have defended research work on ergonomics have degree in technology, one third – in psychology. Currently, Russian ergonomics society is elaborating procedure for certification of professional ergonomists following the CREE (Centre for Registration of European Ergonomists) model. As a first step to this target, the Standard for certification of the specialists designing human-machine systems has been developed. This standard establishes three evaluation criteria concerning of applicant’s educational level, professional experience, and professional development and self-education.

Alexey Anokhina, Igor Gorodetskiyb, Vladimir Lvovc, Pavel Padernod

Conference Proceedings

Ergonomics Certification in the United States

The mission of the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics (BCPE) is to support a standard of competency and advocate the value of certification. This paper highlights the key components of a U.S. “gold standard” certification, including the periodic updating of an exam and constantly evolving the method of administration to reflect best practice and user needs. The challenges of conducting outreach and promoting the value of certification is discussed, noting successes being brought about as a result of societal demand while challenges persist in persuading segments of the community of the value of ergonomics certification.

Ian Noy a, Carol Stuart-Buttle b

Conference Proceedings

Applied Anthropometrics in School Furniture Design: Which Criteria Should be Used for Standardization?

Students most likely have one of the most sedentary occupations, one where permanent habits of sitting are formed. However, there is much more concern regarding office furniture. The mismatch between students and school furniture is likely to result in a number of negative effects, such as uncomfortable body posture, pain, and ultimately, it may also affect the learning process. This situation has provoked an increased concern about school classrooms, particularly regarding the study and design of school furniture. An important milestone is setting standards for school furniture, where a series of furniture sizes are defined with the aim of accommodating students with different anthropometric dimensions. Despite that, and with the exception of Europe, where the development of school furniture standards has been most actively pursued, there is a lack of standardization for the design of classroom furniture for educational settings in many countries. The aim of this study is to describe the process of designing school furniture by considering the students’ anthropometric data. The adopted methodology was to perform a literature review regarding different issues, such as setting standard, the design of school furniture, and equations for defining the mismatch between students and school furniture. There are some activities that need to be done before starting to gather the anthropometric measurements. These activities include, for example, identifying the target population, defining the sample size, determining the anthropometric measures, preparing the evaluation team(s), and obtaining the approval from the ethics committee. During the anthropometric measurements it is important to follow a standard procedure, where the measures are collected from the right side of the subjects while they are sitting in a standard position, without shoes and using light clothes. After collecting the measurements, it is important to check the data by using: observation of mean, minimum and maximum values, as well as the calculation of the different measures (for example: Buttock knee length - Buttock popliteal length), and observation of scatter plot graphics of stature with the other variables. To determine the dimensions and characteristics of different types of school furniture, seat height should be the starting point and the designs need to be based on a bottom-top approach. This dimension will split the sample in, at least, five different sizes of school furniture to accommodate students from 6 to 18 years of age. Some characteristics of the furniture have to also be considered, since the presence of a drawer will influence two important dimensions – the desk height and the seat to desk clearance. Finally, special attention should be given to the needed anthropometric measurement for furniture size selection. This is usually done by using Stature; however, some authors suggest that furniture selection can be done more efficiently if popliteal height is used instead.

Ignacio Castellucci a, Pedro Arezes b, Johan Molenbroek c

Conference Proceedings

Analysis of the Mismatch Between School Furniture and Children

The characteristics of school furniture are strongly associated with back and neck pain, referred by school-aged children. In Portugal, about 60% of the adolescents involved in a recent study reported having felt back pain at least once in the last three months. The aim of this study was to compare furniture sizes of the 2 types indicated for primary schools, within 9 schools, with the anthropometric characteristics of Portuguese students, in order to evaluate the mismatch between them. The sample consisted of 432 volunteer students. Regarding the methodology, 5 anthropometric measures were gathered, as well as 5 dimensions from the school furniture. For the evaluation of classroom furniture, a (mis)match criterion equation was defined. Results indicated that there is a significant mismatch between furniture dimensions and the anthropometric characteristics of the students.

Maria Antónia Gonçalvesa, Pedro Arezesb

Conference Proceedings

Hand Anthropometry and Its Application to Design

This study presents a literature review and a comparison of selected hand anthropometric studies of many populations. The main purpose of this study is to determine the measurements and variables that need to be included in a study of hand for Portuguese population. The comparison and review were performed with studies selected from publications that were found in a literature search performed on Scopus and Google Scholar databases. The considered studies have an evident consideration for the design of hand tools and hand-held devices in the aims of the study and report data collected later than 1990. The review was performed by identifying the measurement included in each study and by comparing their aims and methods. Each study involved a different number of hand measures. Each study had their own reasons for the selection of the hand anthropometric measures involved. However, it can be generally concluded that the studies selected the measures based on a few criteria. The included studies involved a range of 8 to 51 different hand dimensions. The hand dimensions that were considered in at least five different studies were identified.

Mahrus Khoirul Umamiab, Pedro M. Arezesa, Alvaro M. Sampaioc

Conference Proceedings

University Classrooms and

This study aimed to assess the compatibility between students’ anthropometric dimensions and 9 school furnitures (5 chairs and 4 tables) available in the classrooms of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). 206 students (131 males and 75 females) from different courses, with ages ranging from 18 to 35 years old, were measured by using both a stationary and a portable anthropometer. A set of 14 static anthropometric dimensions were collected. This enabled the creation of the anthropometric database of the faculty’s student population. Students’ majority (69.9%) reported feeling discomfort while using the classroom furniture. The interpretation of the obtained factor plans highlights not only a difference between genders, but also differences regarding the importance of anthropometric variables in the explanation of the perceived comfort. The results show that most of the chairs are incompatible with users’ characteristics, being noticeable a significant difference between fixed and adjustable type chairs. Likewise, when used with the chairs, tables also revealed significant incompatibilities. This study seems to indicate that classroom furniture is usually selected and acquired without due previous ergonomic concern, which often results in its inadequacy and mismatch with the end users anthropometric characteristics.

Students' Compatibility

Conference Proceedings

Measurement and Research on Foot Size of Juveniles in Shanghai

China has been lack of accurate human body size datas of juveniles in a long term, which foot size is one of them. This article discusses the application of three-dimensional anthropometry technology. By measuring the foot length and sole circumference of 4000 juveniles between 4 to 17 years old in Shanghai, foot shape of Juveniles can be defined and classified, which can provide effective scientific basis for Juveniles' shoes design, plate-making, edition and publishing, while Juveniles' shoes, leather shoes, sports shoes, cloth shoes, etc., can only achieve the best suitable, comfortable, warm, beautiful effect with perfect matching with human foot shape. The classification, shape definition and ergonomics research of juveniles in Shanghai has a profound economic and practical significance to the footwear manufacturing enterprise and the society.

Zhou Xiang, Hu Shouzhong

Conference Proceedings

Virtual Fitting Based on 3D Human Body Measurement Software Research and Application

This article expounds the barriers in the development of intelligent fitting system, which focuses on the correlation between body database and of intelligent fitting system. How can the system estimate the suitability based on the deformation under constraint of human body and clothing material. The data collection adopted a non-touching 3D anthropometric method by taking pictures of front, back and side of a human body in a background with scale, marking several feature points of important body parts, calculating and speculating these feature points to get the corresponding data of human body, and setting up an anthropometry database to simulate the corresponding virtual 3D body model in the software. And this article focuses the analysis and application of 3D anthropometric data in the intelligent fitting system of female skirt.

Hu Shouzhong, Zhou Xiang

Conference Proceedings

Ergonomics Solutions in the Footwear Industry: The Case of the Activity of Footwear Unmold

This work analyzed the influence of the implementation of ergonomic measures in the work conditions of the cemented assembly section in the unmold activity in a shoe industry located in the state of Paraiba. To do so it took place a comparative analysis with relationship to the ergonomic improvements previously implanted in the workstations of the company, looking for to verify if the application of those measures had influenced or not the work conditions in the assembly section mentioned. Historically, that type of industry doesn't have in its practices a culture of Prevention of Accidents and Ergonomics. Consequently it is noticed the elevation of the number of acquired diseases related to the work in that section. As methodological procedures, interviews were accomplished with workers of the Section of Assembly of the industry, looking for to make the measurement of the work conditions starting from the application of the methodologies Situation, Problem and Improvement (SPI) and of the methods Occupational Repetitive Action (OCRA), Gravity, Urgency and Tendency (GUT) and the diagram of painful areas of Corlett and Manenica (1980). As result, improvements of the work conditions were evidenced with the elimination of non ergonomic conditions in the activity, besides making possible larger motivation and better life quality to the employees of the studied section.

Francisco Soares Másculo* PhD, Geraldo Alves Colaço MSc, Ithyara Machado

Conference Proceedings

Ergonomic Evaluation as a Holistic Evaluation in Company Assembly Hydrometers

The manual assembly equipment has been cited as one exposed to several ergonomic constraints, such fractionation is associated with the task of occupation, facilitating the monotony and high number of repetitive movements that may cause occupational diseases of physical and psychological harm. Seeking to adapt the work to the characteristics and skills of professionals in the assembly of the sector totals, ergonomic intervention System Human-Machine Task was performed in an industry located in Recife-PE assembly of water meters, comprising the steps of Ergonomic Assessment, Ergonomic Diagnose and Ergonomic Projects. To meet the objectives of the first stage, unsystematic observations, documentary analysis of records and PPRA PCMSO Company, open interviews and structured questionnaires with workers in the sector were applied. In the second stage, the deepening of the problems found in the first study were from task analysis, systematic observations for analysis of postures assumed, according Worksheet RULA (Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) analysis of the physical costs from the implementation of the diagram discomfort/pain, and anthropometric studies by two-dimensional anthropometric dummies. In the third step, were proposed suggestions for improvements to the problems encountered and prioritized. The results indicated order problems and physical environmental, organizational, job, biomechanical and psychosocial. The high levels of discomfort/pain are justified by inadequate occupational postures combined with repeatability of movements in accomplishing the task. Therefore, are necessary changes and adjustments in working conditions of workers in the sector under study, to provide them better quality of life.

Charles Ricardo Leite da Silva a, Gabriela Sousa Ribeiro b

Conference Proceedings

The Evaluation of Work Systems and Products: Considerations from the Cultural Ergonomics

This paper presents a conceptual model that combines Ergonomics and Design. The authors combine the expertise of both disciplines to begin the construction of an investigation. The argument of the article is that the integration of the evaluation of systems of work and Cultural Ergonomics considering product can raise the optimization of human performance in work systems and integrate the products to its users. A conceptual model is presented, and its components and interactions are explained. The interaction between system – client’s work - products is an important feature in this model. Aspects of the Macroergonomics as an intervention tool considered are: participation, commitment and action investigation. The expected results are: improved productivity, quality of work and the suitability of the product to the user at higher levels than those achieved previously. The model is then applied to case studies in Recife, Brazil and Villa Clara, Cuba.

Sandra Mejias, Marcelo Soares

Conference Proceedings

Hyperbaric Chambers: A Human-Environment-Machine Approach

Hyperbaric chambers are pressure vessels capable of accommodating one or more persons with the purpose of providing medical treatment. Therapeutic hyperbaric chambers have been in use from the mid-20th century, yet apparently their design has not reached its full potential and they are not compatible with current healthcare facilities design. This paper will investigate therapeutic hyperbaric chambers from a human-environment-machine perspective in order to highlight their specific problems and requirements, and suggest design concepts that may improve the function of the staff, the quality of treatment provided and patient satisfaction. Data were collected from personal observations, a literature review and a market survey. Main design solutions include personal space and privacy, ease and comfort of walking into the chamber, mobility, stress- and anxiety-reducing environment, re-arrangement of seating and equipment locations, personalized (user-tailored) entertainment systems, and more. It is suggested that adopting a user-centered design rather than an engineering focus will improve workload and functionality of the staff, alleviate psychological issues, and increase satisfaction and the overall "user experience" of the patients. This study could be applicable and easily adapted to other confined environments.

Noemi Bitterman, Ariel Bonen

Conference Proceedings

Analyzing the Difference Between Experts and Non-experts in Ikebana

Ikebana flower arrangement is a traditional cultural activity in Japan. It originates from the Buddhist tradition of flowers for the deceased and possesses a 1,500-year history. Ikebana skill has been handed down in the oral tradition from the master to the disciple, not in a systematic educational system. Also, the process of arranging flowers has not been evaluated quantitatively. Therefore, the object of the present study was to evaluate the process in Ikebana flower arrangement by extracting and examining the various operations, or steps. First, we divided four participants according to the number of years they have been practicing Ikebana, dividing them into expert and non-expert camps. The seated participants arranged three flowers and four materials using free-style Ikebana methods. The process was recorded by two video cameras (60fps). Using the obtained video images, we measured the frequency and time by classifying the operations involved in arranging flowers. We found that the process of flower arranging could be broken down into six operations; ‘Observing’, ‘Cutting’, ‘Bending’, ‘Coordinating’, ‘Inserting’, and ‘Modifying’. There were differences in the number of ‘Coordinating’ and ‘Modifying’ steps between experts and non-experts. The number of ‘Modifying’ steps for experts (15 times) was significantly less than that for non-experts (33 times). Also, there were differences in the time spent ‘Bending’, ‘Coordinating’, and ‘Modifying’ between experts and non-experts. The time spent ‘Bending’ for experts (93 seconds) was significantly shorter than that for non-experts (106 seconds). Second, we analyzed a Japanese high school contest for Ikebana flower arrangement. Seven teams of three students set to participate, and the process of Ikebana was recorded by two video cameras (60fps). As a result, it was possible to quantify the characteristics of the winning team. These results suggest the importance of the skill of ‘Bending’ and ‘Coordinating’ in the process of Ikebana flower arrangement.

Yuki Ikenobo a, Noriyuki Kidab, Noriaki Kuwaharaa

Conference Proceedings

Numerical Analysis on The way of Tea Between Expert and Non-Expert

In this paper, the processes of Japanese ‘the way of tea’ making by expert and non-expert were investigated. The bubble form and distribution states after 100% and 50% of tea making finishing time were recorded and analyzed through numerical processing. In order to verify the relationship between the bubble distribution and the tea making motion, the whole tea making processes by expert and non-expert were record and compared by high-speed camera. Consequently, it can be concluded that expert can efficient way to make a perfect Japanese tea.

Wang Zelonga, Eriko Aibab, Soutatsu Kanazawac, Tomoko Otad

Conference Proceedings

Use of Adaptive Controlling Torques with the Aim to Transfer Information by the Haptic Perception Channel

The investigations show that the haptic perception channel can systematically be applied for information transfer. As the results show special haptic feedbacks like amplitude changes, rotary changes or blocks at the end of the torque function are recognized very well. The results also show that haptic feedbacks can be used in combination with visual displays to transmit information. The transmission of information through the haptic and visual perception channel is even better than the purely visual transmission. But this statement must be backed up by further studies in order to show that the haptic transmission of information to the user via a central control element leads to a reduction of operating time, visual distraction and cognitive stress in difficult tasks.All in all, this approach allows innovative interfaces so that the usability of products can be improved and the operational safety can be increased.

Johann Winterholler, Krzysztof Chmara, Christian Schulz, Thomas Maier

Conference Proceedings

Applications of Haptic Devices & Virtual Reality in Consumer Products Usability Evaluation

Usability has come to play an important role in interface design. Product usability focus on product ease of use first and foremost with consideration to users demographics, experience level and user requirements to serve the population efficiently. Virtual reality technologies provide novel and enhanced modes of human computer interaction that can be used as a potential tool to support product usability testing in far more efficient way starting from early project stage. The interaction component of this high-end user interface involves multiple sensory channels, such as the visual, auditory, haptic, olfactory, and taste inputs. Significant research has been done in this area but researchers have not yet provided an assessment on the relative impacts on VR systems development. Haptic devices allow users to touch, feel and manipulate three-dimensional objects in virtual environments and this technology started to get worldwide recognition and use in manipulation-intensive applications. Although the applications of haptic devices have several advantages over other methods for the development of consumer products, the VR systems also have some limitations; this is partly due to the complexity of interaction devices and haptic feedback processing. This paper presents a conceptual approach to haptic feedback for product design and consumer products usability evaluation.

Christianne Falcão, Marcelo M. Soares

Conference Proceedings

Intercultural Aspects: Color Usability Perception

This article presents an exploratory study involving the perception of color within a computer task in two different contexts, Brazil and Germany. In this study, we propose a comparison between possible elements of usability in typing task and color. A total of 62 individuals (31 Brazilian and 31 German) participated in the study. We developed a questionnaire in the language of each country. The questionnaire was sent, via email, to persons who had previously agreed to participate in the survey. Alongside each question, we provided a palette of 48 colors to correlate colors with usability elements. Participants were requested to correlate past experiences of a typing task. We found significant differences for color perception in positive and negative emotions (success and failures in accomplishing the task). We observe that the color ratings obtained from the German group are more homogeneous than those of the Brazilian group. And in the Brazilian group, we found more preference for many colors for that same task, and we suggest further studies.

Maria Lúcia L. R. Okimoto a, Klaus Benglerb, Cristina Olaverri Monreal b

Conference Proceedings

Inspædia, Inspiring a Collaborative Intelligence Network: Designing the User Experience

The main objective of this paper is to present the interface design concept of Inspædia focused on the user experience, to create knowledge in innovation and design and to facilitate collaborative intelligence. We consider innovation in the disciplinary context of the design to inspire new design processes and to expand and diversify the frame of references in order to stimulate ideation in design, as well as to offer to the inspædiers a stimulating interaction and knowledge experience. Whereas Inspædia is malleable enough to inspire and operating a network of collaborative intelligence in the areas of innovation and design - the results achieved are a significant contribution to knowledge in design and (hopefully) to the science of design (since not all knowledge is science).

Paulo Maldonadoabcd, Fernando Moreira da Silvab, Fábio Teixeirae

Conference Proceedings

Examining Hazard-Related Perceptions of Virtual Household Package Prototypes

Many household products have “hidden hazards”. Also, because of package similarity, people may have difficulty distinguishing chemicals from consumable goods. The incorrect identification of a hazard can result in injuries. Many efforts have been done to improve package warnings, but little is known about the extent that the package’s shape can be used to communicate, in an implicit manner, safety-related messages. This study examined the effect of package’s shape on hazard-related perceptions (i.e., hazardousness and awareness of consequences). Participants observed eight virtual package prototypes of household products grouped into four sets according to their original content’s hazard (i.e., nonhazardous vs. hazardous) and familiarity (i.e., familiar vs. unfamiliar). An uncluttered virtual environment was used to display and interact with the prototypes. Results for familiar and unfamiliar packages differed. For familiar cases, hazardous packages were rated as significantly more hazardous and attained higher awareness of consequence than the nonhazardous ones. For unfamiliar cases, no statistically significant differences were found between hazardous and nonhazardous packages. The implications are two-fold. First, the results suggest people can perceive hazard from the package’ shape, but their perceptions are affected by familiarity. Second, the results suggest the simulator based methodology is feasible for this type of study.

Hande Ayanoğlua, Emília Duarte c, Paulo Noriega ab, Júlia Teles de, Francisco Rebeloab

Conference Proceedings

The Influence of the Scenario on Intention to Comply with Warnings

The aim of this pilot study was to compare the influence of scenarios in the perceptions of participants. Were manipulated factors such as the danger and risk that led to the obtention of two scenarios called selfish and unselfish. The importance of using scenarios for doing this research on behavior consonant with warnings is very large, especially when you need to model/select virtual involvements. Such scenarios can support reasoning about situations of use, even before these situations are created. In this pilot study, the scenarios were developed to assess behavioral intentions to comply with security warnings, as well as the perception of risk and danger. The aim was to find a scenario that is sufficiently negative to dynamic warning technology-based, ie, they tend to produce low rates of behavioral intentions. For this, we measured behavioral intentions through a questionnaire. The sample consisted of 60 volunteer college students. The main results showed no significant differences between the two scenarios and both can be used.

Reginaldo Schiavini

Conference Proceedings

Establishing Threshold for Visual Discrimination of Height in

Human height is usually determined by objective measures. Taking into account that body height can have perceptual dimensions, it seems interesting to investigate this personal attribute by a more subjective approach. However, for this it would be former necessary to establish the capability to discriminate difference between figures depicturing body heights. Thus, the objective of this study was to establish the smallest perceptible difference whilst judging the similarity between different human figures representing body heights. Methods: 140 pairs of human figures were presented to 37 participants. The differences between human figures varied from 0 (equal) to 6 cm proportionally to the real height. Each participant judged whether the figures were similar or different. Results: The percentage of correct answers increased when the difference between figures increased. This percentage was higher than 70% for differences corresponding to 4 cm or higher of the real height for both genders. Conclusion: Relative difference (sensory threshold) of 4 cm was consistently established for visual discrimination of height in pictorial human body. This sensory threshold can be considered when studies on perceptual body height are conducted in the future.

Pictorial Human Body

Conference Proceedings

Use of Virtual Reality in Neurorehabilitation: How the Effects of Immersion and Presence May Contribute to Motor and Cognitive Recovery

This paper discusses the effects of virtual reality immersion in the functional recovery of neurological patients. To do so, we conducted a review of the literature after identifying relevant articles published between 2000 and 2013. The results of this review show that high levels of immersion can cause a greater sensation of presence, which can make some applications more effective. The most important level is the realistic experience that immersive VR prompts the user to have. By requiring to have a high level of sensory, visual, auditory and haptic fidelity, the immersive virtual environment enables the experience in the virtual world to correspond, as far as possible, to experiencing the real world being simulated.

Helda Oliveira Barros a, Marcelo M. Soares a, Epitácio Leite Rolim Filho b

Conference Proceedings

The State of the Art in Virtual Reality Applied to Digital Games: A Literature Review

The term Virtual Reality (VR) was coined by the artist and computer scientist Jaron Lanier, by which he succeeded in expressing the search for the merger between what is real and what is virtual in the 80s. Based on movies such as Tron, by Steven Lisberger, the concept became known worldwide as a technology for digital games the aim of which was to prompt the user into greater interaction with, immersion in and engagement with the environment and the projected narrative. This study sets out a review the state of the art on the concept of VR used in the universe of digital games, whether in the context of research or entertainment, starting with a re-reading of scientific articles, books and online publications on the subject. In the context of digital games, in the past there was a major difficulty about using equipment such as a helmet with goggles, for ergonomic reasons. Currently, new devices are being enhanced to make their usability better for the user, and there are new applications such as using serious games in support of the fields of education and health and in the future, there will be nanotechnology projects applied to virtualizing reality and overcoming the limitations of the human body within the virtual world.

Breno Carvalho, Marcelo Soares, Andre Neves, Gabriel Soares, Anthony Lins

Conference Proceedings

Fixation Height in Way-finding while Peripheral Visual Fields are Restricted with Synchronously Moving Virtual Holes

An experiment was conducted to examine the function of the peripheral visual field (PVF) by using a virtual reality system consisted with a head-mounted-display and an eye-tracker. The system could modify the display in concert with real-time fixation pattern. Subjects walked through four types of virtual maze under different condition in which their PVF was restricted artificially with the system. The results indicated: 1) Under the condition in which over 30 degrees of PVF was restricted, the fixation duration on middle part of walls while walking throughout the entire maze was longer than that under the non-restricted condition and the condition in which over 15 degrees of PVF was restricted. 2) Under the condition in which over 15 degrees of PVF was restricted, the fixation duration on the lower part of walls while walking throughout was longer than that under the non-restricted condition and the condition in which over 30 degrees of PVF was restricted. 3) Under the condition in which over 15 degrees of PVF was restricted, the fixation height while walking through the area with two dead ends was lower than that under the non-restricted condition and the condition in which over 30 degrees of the PVF restricted.

Yohsuke Yoshioka

Conference Proceedings

Ergonomic Evaluation of Cab Design Employing Digital and Physical Mock-Ups

This paper introduces the advantages and disadvantages of the use of digital and physical mock-ups (DMUs, PMUs) in the evaluation of human factors/ergonomics (HFE) in machine cab design. In order to gather information, participatory design, contextual inquiry, observation and interviews were applied in the studies. The main result of the studies was that there is a need for both types of mock-ups when evaluating HFE and validating user requirements. The context of the use is better delivered in DMUs due to the visualisation of the environment and ability to perform the real task. However, depending of the technical set up of the DMU, some deficiency of sensor feedback (etc. haptic) can negatively affect the user’s behaviour. Advantages in PMUs are that they are typically more realistic and provide a better immediate understanding of the cab space. One disadvantage is that often the physical environment around the PMU is not natural enough. It is important to know when, why and how to use different type of mock-ups so as to gain faster time-to-market and better HFE.

Susanna Aromaa, Juhani Viitaniemi, Kaj Helin, Arto Vento

Conference Proceedings

Application of 3D Full Body Scanners in Ergonomics

The submitted study deals with the optimization of a work system with consideration of generic processes in work environments. For the purpose of identifying the resulting quality of a workplace, the structure of an ergonomic program was created on the basis of a digital factory, and a knowledge database was created for the criteria and parameters of ergonomic evaluation of work systems influencing their quality. On the basis of an analysis of the present state of the application of ergonomics, an ergonomic workplace was implemented for the purpose of increasing the quality of the work environment. The application of a work environment design was used in a selected workplace dealing with courier services. With use of the Tecnomatix program the workplace took on a digital form, which consisted of a 3D scanning of the work environment, a 3D whole-body scanning of the workers, the modelling of the work environment in the Plant SIMULATION module and the application of the obtained data itself in the Tecnomatix Jack program. It is possible to anticipate or to limit many problems by observing work regulations. One of the possibilities is the creation of an electronic database of employees which offers input data for the simulation of a specific work position.

Michal Hovaneca, Teodor Tóthb, Viktória Rajťúkováb, Hana Pačaiováa, Jozef Živčákb

Conference Proceedings

Analysis of a Spectacle-Type Device for Rapid Visual Referencing

This study investigates a reference form through which the user shifts his main eyesight view to the ancillary information presented by a monocular see-through head-mounted display (HMD) within a short time. The system requires only “glance” at ancillary information. Assuming that the HMD is applied for short-time referencing at any time, we hypothesize that the optimal position of the presented auxiliary information is the equilibrium point, where the referencing efficiency is traded against the complexity of the visual field. Besides presenting our proposed design, we experimentally verify this hypothesis in the current study. In the experiment, the optimal position of information presentation is evaluated from the time required to glance at HMD-presented information and from task performance, which relates to the complexity of the visual field. The optimal position was neither the periphery nor the center of the visual field but was shifted by 15° in the horizontal direction (external angle) from the center of the visual field.

Daigoro Yokoyama a, Takahiro Uchiyama a, Yusuke Fukuda b, Miyuki Yagi b, Miwa Nakanishia

Conference Proceedings

Does Spectacle-Type Wearable Display Improve Efficiency and Safety? : An Experimental Evaluation of Practical Use

In this study, we experimentally evaluated the effectiveness of using a spectacle-type wearable display (SWD) to enhance safety and efficiency. Particularly, we aimed to understand whether the use of SWDs instead of small monitors in medicine or aviation will improve task accuracy and efficiency and to what extent. Specifically, we applied an SWD for operating an object while watching an image displayed on the monitor, and we investigated the effect of using SWDs as an alternative to small monitors via simulation experiments. We focused on efficiency and safety, and found that safety improved by 24% and efficiency by 8%–29%. The effectiveness of the SWD is larger in case where the position of the small monitor makes operating the object difficult.

Takahiro Uchiyama a, Daigoro Yokoyamaa, Yusuke Fukuda b, Miyuki Yagi b, Miwa Nakanishi a

Conference Proceedings

Experimental Study on Display of Energy-Related Information in Smart Homes and Electric Vehicles

Environmental pollution and electrical power shortages are serious worldwide issues. Since private households clearly constitute a main energy consumer, the environment can be positively affected if home energy consumption is reduced. We are developing a prototype smart home that offers a smart quality of life (QOL) to its residents and reduces both CO2 emissions and energy consumption. An important issue toward achieving this aim is how to show energy-related information to residents. Last year, we focused on QOL and experimentally clarified where and how to display such information in a smart home. In this article, we describe our new experiment that clarifies how to display energy-related information and controls for home appliances in smart homes and electric vehicles (EVs).

Kodai Ito, Michiko Ohkura

Conference Proceedings

Designing for Elderly People-Ergonomics of Vision

When designers need to develop communication, interior, signage or urban environment design projects for elderly people, their skills are enhanced with studies about normal aging process and anatomic changes. The same way, knowledge about vision, colour vision, vision loss and deficient colour perception of older people, must be taken into account, in order to improve design practice. These aspects of projectual practice are the key aspects to be addressed in this paper. In order to prevent dependency and exclusion, designers have to understand and account for the reduced functional capabilities of older adults in their designs. Achieving project goals for this target group will ensure better solutions for all users. We hope that this work will support design professionals in their goal for 'design for all'. Bringing knowledge about colour vision deficits, and applying principles of visual ergonomics to projectual practice, will help people moving safely in urban environments, living comfortably in interior spaces, and reading all the visual printed information with minimum effort, which will improve their quality of life.

Cristina Pinheiro ab, Fernando Moreira da Silva a

Conference Proceedings

Colour in Recycled Crystal

Colour is what allows us to distinguish the world around us, through vision and light our eyes capture the colour of the objects. According to Daniel Beresniak, "colour is the effect produced by a reaction of these three variable elements: the object, the lighting and the eyes. Colour is the light reflected by a body. It depends on the incoming light (intensity and colour of the light) and the body own characteristics" (2000, p.15). The colour only exists if there is light. This paper aims to show the colour in crystal. Crystal is glass with the presence of lead that makes this glass the purest one produced by the technosphere. The common glass denominated by Sodic -lime glasses are glasses used in plan glass manufacture, container glass (bottles and jars), articles for civil construction ( bricks, blocks, tiles and shingles), articles for housing and public lighting (globes , lamps, etc. .). These don’t contain lead oxide or other more expensive materials: they are glasses that typically have green coloration (transversely more visible) due to the presence of iron oxide. Glass is by definition every mineral substance that at ordinary temperature is a nonsolid and a nonliquid. According to Navarro " even at room temperature they have the appearance of a solid body that provides mechanical rigidity , however it cannot be considered as such since it lacks of a crystal structure that characterizes it and defines the solid state . If by its stability the glass could be compared to solid, from the point of view of its structural disorder, its similarities are much more evident with liquids". Glass is more or less transparent and sometimes translucent, it has a special brightness , insoluble in almost all known substances at a normal temperature; it is amorphous (as opposed to crystalline ), it is solid-coloured or colourless, odourless; it can be smooth or it can have a texture and become one of the brightest surfaces obtained by technosphere processes. It results from the mixture of different silicates obtained by fusion in which alkali metal silicate and calcium are predominant. Crystal by its commercial demands is a glass that has a large volume of waste during its production: about 30% to 40 % of its daily production is transformed in cullet and at least 50% of this is wasteful. On average, in the only Portuguese factory that produces crystal there is a daily production of 700Kg of crystal cullet waste. As this waste contains lead, they can’t be recycled along with the ordinary glass. This is the starting point of this research project: the reuse of the crystal cullet waste, analyzing its behaviour accordingly to the colour.

Fernando Miguel Marquesa, Pedro Oliveirab

Conference Proceedings

Costume Design: Ergonomics in Performance Art

The human body, in contemporary art, is used as a means, as it also is in fashion design practices applied to the art field, that explore the alteration of the anatomic perimeter in its impact on the user’s self-image, expression and transformation. Costumes that defy gesture bear a reflection on dress over body and we question how functionality (or the lack of it) can influence cognition – mostly when we expect a performer to feel and express the same way a character does and when the audience aims to feel the same way the character feels. Does the performer become a more reactive user towards dress under the realm of the action field of performance art, if interacting with a «non-user-friendly» costume? Since costume and body cannot be separated in performance art, we explore ergonomics, regarding both physical and psychological discomfort in improving the acting of a performer, namely when improvising or moving and in the contribution to a more proficient involvement with the audience. A noninterventionist methodology of qualitative basis is used, based on literary research and observation on the impact of different garments on a performer’s work, so as to obtain new indicators for costume design methodology.

Alexandra Cabral, Carlos Manuel Figueiredo

Conference Proceedings

Beyond Ergonomics: Visions of the Body in Product Design

The human body, as the source for the project but also its addressee (that is, as the place of departure and arrival), has been understood in a variety of ways. Following one possible line of thought, the body has been – and continues to be – a metric, geometric-mathematical, anatomical, physiological, biomechanical, bionic, psychic, sensory and social place. Products have clear links to the human body: they are designed for its use and enjoyment, they complement or complete it, they help create ties with the physical world, they aid its social and cultural participation, and they join the body in its sphere of action. In this article, we will revise visions of the body in Design Theory and Criticism literature, but also using literature in Philosophy, Anthropology and Sociology of the Body, that is, literature relating to cultural and social considerations of the body that are less often considered in the practice of Product Design and which we believe to be essential. We intend, then, to present and discuss a multiple (malleable) model of the body to be useful for product designers.

Rui Dias a, Leonor Ferrão b

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Aspects of Ergonomics and Sustainability Design Applied to the Utilities Board for Café Tokyo’s in Recife, Pernambuco/Brazil

This paper presents the design method applied for the development of the product line created to meet the demand for utilities Café Tokyo’s table, headed by Matsumoto family, dedicated to oriental cuisine in Recife, since the '70s. The methodology strategies used for the project were organized in the following steps of research: analysis, synthesis and monitoring the production process. As a result, the Origami line utilities table has good usability, given the design of irregular geometry. Was produced with ceramic residue donated by a factory of sanitary wares and glazed with lead-free ceramic glaze composition which, besides ensuring good mechanical resistance of the pieces still provides environmental and economic sustainability of the group of artisans of Cabo de Santo Agostinho – Pernambuco, supported by The Imaginário Laboratory since 2003.

Germannya D. A. Silva, Tibério C. M. Tabosa, Ana Maria Q. Andrade, Virginia P. Cavalcanti

Conference Proceedings

Evaluation of an Experimental Virtual Environment Prototype for Older Population Warning Studies

Over the years, different types of Virtual Environment (VE) systems have become commercially available, thereby giving rise to several types of human performance studies. However, in the field of safety communications, VE usability knowledge regarding older populations is scarce. In this context, this paper discusses the main findings gathered regarding a pilot study which aimed to assess usability issues associated to an experimental VE prototype. Such a VE was designed for conducting ergonomic studies with older populations (50-70 years old) and safety warnings. The nature of both this study, and its sample, is justified by the fact that, as one grows older, the ability to interact and comply with warnings, as well as technology, is adversely affected by several perceptual and/or cognitive deficits. Based on such facts, the present study sought to understand if the VE prototype’s system set-up could be successfully used by older populations. In order to undergo such an evaluation, such a study composed of two key moments: to examine if older users could perform certain interactions inside the VE; and to analyze whether they could perceive the VE´s graphical information. The study’s results provide important insights that may enhance VE interaction and warnings design research.

Lara Reisab, Emília Duartec, Francisco Rebeloab

Conference Proceedings

Human-Social Interaction Model for E-Health Interfaces

Living with chronic diseases has an enormous impact in patient’s daily life. Those who feel that impact on their day-to-day especially regarding with the management of the disease itself, often end up getting solutions to overcome the difficulties becoming both "User Innovator" and "User Patient". If we associate to this detail, the professional experience as a "User Designer" then, we can probably reduce the step's number during the iterative Design Process that is used to develop a digital system, as the research we are covering. We intend to analyze these problems concerning the model "Human-Social Interaction model for e-health interfaces" presented on this paper. We include three axes and their specifications. “User Innovator” with personal experience (Own needs, motivation and recognize news sets of designs); “User Designer” with Interaction Design skills (Interaction design, usability tests and wireframe); “User Patient” with Cronic Disease (Experience, patient perspective and social integration).

Cláudia Pernencar

Conference Proceedings

Contribution of Design in the Developmental Process of External Prosthetic Medical Devices

Aware of the importance of systemic and multidisciplinary approaches to the development of a new product but also of the synergy of variables and dimensions such as formal-aesthetic, emotional, and usability for its success and for the decision of buying, an active research based on user-centered design methods was carried out. We are seeking to find and validate, through methods such as literary review, direct observation, surveys, interviews and by designing and prototyping a new product, the variables and their relations so that issues such as user needs, as a whole, and organizational expectations, among others, be considered in the design phase. The project chosen to validate this research aims to optimize endoskeleton prosthesis for lower limb and therefore the quality of life for amputees. In the first methodological moment, i.e. analysis, several variables related to shortcomings of the current products and possible improvements were identified through interaction with users. With these data it is hoped to surpass the kind of devices limited to reproduce a walking cycle and obtain effective solutions both for the initial phase of rehabilitation as for the further active life of the patient.

Demétrio Matos.., António Marques Pinho, Ana Margarida Ferreira, João Paulo Martins

Conference Proceedings

Sustainability, Interior Design, and Comfort in Youth Travel Accommodations

There are numerous claims for sustainability in design, design research, environmental ergonomics, and other areas about human-environment interaction. However high specificity of each area, fragmented research, and various approaches to sustainability have induced the need to discuss the relationship between sustainability, design, and human interaction with involving environment, especially in built environment. New trend of growing number of independent hostels in Lisbon calls for deep analysis of this system. The study of publications, both scientific and public, was made to understand the characteristics of it. This article emphasizes the relations among sustainability, interior design, comfort, and well-being, necessary to understand the end-user of these travel accommodations. The findings are contributing for development of survey to be carried out in second phase of research.

Santa Klavinaab, Ana Margarida Ferreiraa, Manuel Duarte Pinheiroc

Conference Proceedings

Creating an Ergonomic Solution for Avoiding Errors in Blood Transfusion

The Centre for Patient Safety of the Tuscany Region designs solutions for preventing adverse events in the 39 hospitals and 14 local trusts of the regional healthcare system. One of the most important risks in terms of consequences is the error in blood transfusion. The Centre for Patient Safety adopted an ergonomic approach centered on human factor in order to define the best solutions for clinicians. Thus, the definition of a patient safety practice on blood transfusion has been realized starting from: the analysis of the adverse events happened in the Tuscany healthcare system in the last year about this topic; the analysis of the main phases of the process and of the related potential risks, the analysis of the interaction among the clinicians and their working context. According to this analysis we produced some tools for supporting the promotion of a safer blood transfusion process: a check list with a design that can facilitate the support to the decision making process related to the transfusion; an algorithm that visualizes the most important actions to take to avoid errors during the transfusion; a poster to remind the key controls at the bedside; a patient's identification procedure based on wristbands which layout help an active identification of the patient;. All the tools have been designed with the final users and tested.The authors will present the tools and results about their application in one of the most complex teaching hospital of the Region.

Sara Albolino a, Francesco Ranzani a, Rossana Casini b, Bassam Dannaoui b

Conference Proceedings

Evaluation of an Optimal Width of a Rear Seat of Sedans

A relatively large number of papers have been published on the topic of designing and evaluation of ergonomic convenience of the driver's seat of passenger cars. However, in the scientific and technical literature, it is extremely difficult to find an article that relates to the anthropometric determination of the width of the rear seats of sedans. The primary objective of this article is to consider the possibilities of positioning of passengers with different anthropometric dimensions on the rear seat of sedans. To make this possible, the research was necessary to start with the analysis of the current situation in the global auto industry from the aforementioned aspect. Analytical procedure was initiated by specifying the identical maximal percentiles of persons that can be accommodated on the rear seat of selected models of sedans. An additional, more complex analysis has included different combinations of accommodation of adults and children. Different combinations of 55 human dimensions and the possibilities of their positioning in various types of sedans were considered. This analysis was the basis that enabled the creation of diagrams of comfortable accommodation of passengers, depending on the width of the available space on the rear seat of a sedan.

Aleksandar Zunjic a, Vladimir Lesnikov b

Conference Proceedings

Using Anthropometric Criteria to Evaluate the Design of School Furniture for Benghazi Primary Schools

The objective of this study is to evaluate the existing designs of school furniture used in the basic education stage in public schools in the city of Benghazi. Anthropometric data were gathered for a total of 360 students (183 females and 177 males) for the first three grades in the basic education stage (children of age 6 to 10 years old) from eight schools. Several body dimensions were measured for each student (popliteal height, popliteal-buttock length, shoulder height sitting, knee height, elbow height sitting, shoulder to elbow length, and hip breadth sitting). Dimensions of the existing design of the classroom desk were also obtained. The evaluation procedure involves the utilization of several equations relating body dimensions to furniture dimensions. Each equation computes an acceptable range for each desk dimension based on the associated body dimension. Each desk dimension is compared to the range computed for the related body dimension for each student and percentages of matches/mismatches are determined accordingly. Results of the evaluation revealed substantial percentages of mismatches between the desk dimensions and students anthropometry; all the evaluated desk dimensions are larger than the related students’ dimensions.

Ahamed Altaboli, Raja Ahmida, Mustafa Elmgrab, Heba Immraga, Rabheen Othman

Conference Proceedings

Anthropometric Analysis of Human Head to Identification of Height in Proper Use of Ballistic Helmets

Studies of the physical characteristics of man and their dimensional variations have interested researchers since antiquity. In relating to the human head, the measures that are analyzed to make your sizing artifacts that protect her from possible accidents, are tied just as its circumference. In the military area, studies report that approximately half of the deaths in the battle fields is due to projectiles triggered in the soldier's head. However, other studies show that this artifact after a few minutes in continuous use, it becomes heavy and unstable for many users. Ie, proves itself that some soldiers do not wear a helmet when necessary is because it bothers them. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to research the height of the human head, in area the ballistic helmet, to verify whether this is significant or not height variation. Thus, it can be highlighted the need for a new ballistic helmet design to serve this dimensional variation of the height of the human head. For it is made a pilot survey and analyzed the anthropometric measurements of the human head using conventional instruments. Next analyzed the values and found that the means are different, proving that if the artifact of study is not adequate for use on the battlefield for all users.

Márcio F. Catapan ab, Maria Lucia Okimoto b, Mateus Villas Boas c, Roberto Waldhauer c

Conference Proceedings

Fundamentals of Patch Design For Body Perspiration: An Approach In Health Promotion

Nowadays, the significance of personal hygiene considering is inevitable for all. Axilla perspiration is the factor that causes some problems in terms of hygiene. The study's effort is the implicit film could lie on the body directly and invisibly. Data gathering was developed based on sampling, in depth observation, interviews, questioning and experimental studies. The anthropometic variables of samples` armpits were measured. Undoubtedly in this case the selection of related material has a critical role. Our findings were categorized into three parts of anthropometrics, questionings, and experimental. The related percentages were calculated on the anthropometry dimensions. A significant relationship was acquired between samples' feelings and perspiration level, also between peoples' inconveniences and the amount of sweating. Among the exiting materials, the hydrogels have high water absorption. Hydrogels based on partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide were used in this case because of several advantages. Sodium Alginate is also used as a substrate for our gel,, which can link to it and have appropriate mechanical properties to hold it during usage. On the basis of the outcomes, the use of antiperspirant films in a way which doesn’t have effects on naturally sweating of body could help control the inconveniences.

Venus Jalali, Hassan Naeni, Sara Dindar, Newsha Kooshki, Azadeh Jahanbakhsh

Conference Proceedings

Tridimensional Study by Scanning the Variability Anthropometric Head Human Use of Ballistic Helmets

In the development of new products and improvements adequacy of the artifacts have been a concern for ergonomics, with a focus on the preservation of physical, mental and social integrity of the human being. The high competitiveness and the search for new technologies that distinguish industrial products indicate conducive to the use of new technology as an innovation factor environment. In the military arena, it is known that on the battlefield many soldiers did not consistently use the ballistic helmet due to his discomfort. Currently studies report that approximately half of the deaths in the battle fields is due to projectiles triggered in the soldier's head. However, other studies show that this artifact after a few minutes in continuous use, it becomes heavy and unstable for some users. In other words, it was proved that some soldiers do not wear a helmet when necessary is because even bothers. It is at this point that is the purpose of this paper. Through Scanner Tridimensional with computational analysis tools such as CAD, is seeking to capture images and data of the human head to a previously defined group of people. It is intended to verify the measures are consistent with ballistic helmets currently used in the military and also examine whether there are differences of these measures. With the process of Tridimensional Scanning are obtained with precision details of surfaces that traditional methods Caliper and anthropometric tape, which is not observed because their analysis is one-dimensional. Thus the technique proposed in this paper is presented as a tool capable of providing a differential for the design of ballistic helmets, creating new possibilities in their sizing.

Márcio F. Catapan ab, Maria Lucia Okimoto b, Mateus Villas Boas c, Roberto Waldhauer c

Conference Proceedings

Recommendations for User Centered Design of Interfaces for Seniors in the Context of Health Care

The aim of the research presented in this paper is to identify behavior and generic expectations of elderly people (mean=65 years) relevant to Human-Machine Interface (HMI) in the context of health. Our work is based on two industrial cases of health care services. In one case, we conducted user tests on HMI coupled with an eye-tracker to identify one behavior pattern (16 subjects). And in both industrial cases, we realized interviews that reveal generic expectations in terms of information from seniors (16+8 subjects). Then, this double-case approach has enabled us to emphasize the explorer behavior of seniors and expectations “in the periphery of health” with a need for both social and reassuring projection. Based on our results, we propose recommendations for HMI design in our context and which levers (action parameters) for design in other fields.

Audrey Abi Akle ab, Katarzyna Borgieł ac, Stéphanie Minel a, Christophe Merlo ac

Conference Proceedings

SoKeyTo: A Tool to Design Universal Accessible Interfaces

Many activities of daily living, such as picking up glasses, controlling the house environment, typing text … can become insurmountable for people who have upper extremity disabilities. The alternative to ask for human help is to use some assistive technologies (AT) to compensate for their motor impairment. There are a lot of available AT responding to these needs. However, there are two limitations. The current devices force the handicapped person to use different ATone for each activity and to acquire another AT if his/her impairment changes. The SoKeyTo platform is an environment which offers functions to design virtual interfaces (robotic arm, home control and virtual keyboard for text input). We analyzed and compared SoKeyTo and other toolkits. The SoKeyTo platform offers configuration options for the interaction techniques, the design of buttons according to the needs and the abilities of the user and the multimodal feedback linked to these buttons. We describe the characteristics of two interactive interfaces designed with SoKeyTo. We report results from a utility and usability questionnaire from trials conducted with two representative end users. The questionnaire also showed a strong interest of the SoKeyTo tool.

Damien Sauzin, Frédéric Vella, Nadine Vigouroux

Conference Proceedings

Universal Design Concepts Applied to a Semi-automated Loft for the Third Age with Accessibility

With the growth of the elderly population in Brazil, there is increasing concern about appropriate dwellings for the elderly and to make these environments fit for this age group. For this important task of design, greater use must be made of information and computing tools so as to draw up more innovative designs. Adapting environments from the point of view of the dimensions, of computerization, of the physical space and of furniture in order make homes comfortable, safe and suitable for the elderly, as become of great importance today, because recent studies reveal that every year in our cities, the number of elderly people has been increasing. The object of this paper is to present a proposal for a dwelling with multiple functions, all of them concentrated on computer systems that meet the needs and assist this age group in coping with their limitations. Under the rules of Living with Gerontology arising from old age, adapting a new space for an accessible Loft is, according to the latest trends, a new concept of housing that aims to offer the elderly, an ever-growing and more active segment of society, a setting that is more appropriate and a safer life which has quality and dignity.

Amilton Arruda, Edna Sant’Anna Moura, Rosmarina Hoppe

Conference Proceedings