Human-Centred Design Methods: Biomechanics and Ergonomics in Industrial Design
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Industrial Technologies".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2023) | Viewed by 35117
Special Issue Editors
Interests: industrial design methods; computer-aided design; virtual prototyping; human factors and ergonomics; comfort assessment; design for ergonomics; biomechanics; human-centred design; digital human modelling; computer aided surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: industrial design methods; computer-aided design; virtual prototyping; human factors and ergonomics; comfort assessment; design for ergonomics; biomechanics; human-centred design; digital human modelling; computer aided surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Since the first appearance of hand tools, artisans and engineers have attempted to make handwork as comfortable as possible. In the second half of the twentieth century, awareness-raising activities by industrialists about ergonomics and safety made the preventive evaluation of workplace ergonomics/comfort an essential element of product/process design. Nowadays, designers and engineers know that a comfortable and ergonomic workplace can improve overall operator performance, as well as reducing the risk of musculoskeletal diseases and subsequent absence periods and insurance issues. Nevertheless, this knowledge is not always easily applied, due to its economic cost and the resultant time to market (TTM) increase.
“Ergonomics” is a Greek term (ἔργον, meaning “work”, and νόμος, meaning “natural law”) whose original meaning is “the natural law of work”. The first time that this term was used to describe work-related activity was in an 1857 article by the Polish scientist Wojciech Jastrzębowski. Its first English usage is generally attributed to British psychologist Hywel Murrell at the 1949 meeting at the UK Admiralty, which led to the foundation of The Ergonomics Society; with his famous phrase Ergonomics is “to fit the job to workers”.
After the Second World War, the concept of “fitting something to humans” (not only to workers) became a central component of user-centred design (UCD) and human-centred design (HCD).
UCD defines humans as “users” while HCD takes the term “human” to include all the elements that can interact with humans, even independently of their will, e.g., the environment or emotions.
UCD is both a broad philosophy and a method. It is concentrated not only on human characteristics and perception in general but also specific traits and features of target users to make the problem-solving potential of the designed product as high as possible from the perspective of its users.
The natural landing point of this design issue was therefore the human-centred approach. HCD techniques place humans (and their wellbeing) at the centre of the design process. Their main aim is to improve products, processes, and the environment to give users a better interactive experience. Both in the fields of health and human rights, HCD helps companies and industries to support the development of product/process strategies that improve wellbeing.
Biomechanics played a fundamental role in studying human-related activities and ergonomics under a biofidelity point of view and applied studies in this field allow us to define and individuate those factors that affect human performance during a task.
The principles of ergonomics and studies about comfort can be applied both in product and process design, and doing that in an early phase of product development allows us to reduce costs and improve the wellness of users and workers.
This Special Issue aims to share the latest knowledge and innovative application of theories and principles of ergonomics in industrial engineering.
The industry aims for comfortable products: those that can ensure the user of a comfortable experience to stay ahead of the competition. Furthermore, the workplace, with its relevant role in environmental and process design, needs to be improved for workers' health and wellness. Generally, this is true for all products with which human beings interact.
This Special Issue welcomes all papers dealing with new methods, new technologies, new developments, and new findings in the field of applied ergonomics and applied biomechanics, with a special focus on subjective and objective analysis through computerized simulation, experimental design, in-field experiments, and statistical analyses.
Results need to be supported by relevant statistical samples or by numerical–experimental correlated models.
Regarding product design, research fields can include body support systems, such as seats and bedding, vehicle and aircraft seats and interiors, consumer products, and more.
In process and workplace design, research fields can cover ergonomics for manufacturing, human–robot cooperative systems, human in the loop, cognitive ergonomics, and workplace safety.
Topics can cover biomechanics, physiological and psychological human–product interaction, among them, product usability, fit and hold analysis, visual comfort, thermo-physiology, and perceived product quality are all of interest.
Prof. Dr. Alessandro Naddeo
Dr. Rosaria Califano
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- comfort
- industrial design
- human factors
- design for ergonomics
- biomechanics
- human-centred design
- digital human modelling
- discomfort
- product design
- interior design
- cabin design
- seat comfort
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