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The effect of confined space on the maximum acceptable weight of lift
ABSTRACTS future research issues' in Visions. Proc Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting. San Francisco, California, 2-6 September 1991. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, California, Vol 1 (1991) pp 167-171 (2 refs) A major shift is occurring in the population age distribution resulting in a growing number of older persons with an increasing demand for mobility. For a variety of reasons, meeting the present and future mobility needs of older persons will depend primarily on the automobile. This paper discusses key issues related to ongoing and planned research sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to improve the mobility and safety of older drivers and pedestrians. The scope of FHWA research activities concerns aspects of highway design and operations that involve direct user interface. For example, geometric design and traffic control device standards explicitly consider quantifiable driver characteristics such as perception-reaction time or visual acuity. Ongoing research is addressing the extent to which existing traffic control device elements accommodate drivers with age-related diminished performance capabilities. Current work is testing older driver responses to brighter and larger signs with varying legend spacing and font characteristics in order to make recommended changes to existing highway signing standards. Older driver perception-reaction time is being evaluated in a variety of intersection, stopping, and decision sight distance situations. Studies are also under way to improve pavement markings and delineation systems to enhance their utility for older drivers. Driving simulation and field methods are being used to investigate vehicle manoeuvres which cause difficulties for older drivers so that improvements can be made to highway design and operations. Future studies will determine the capabilities and limitations of older pedestrians, address the visibility problems of symbol signs and changeable message signs, and investigate all aspects of intersection design and operations in light of older driver and pedestrian capabilities.
Workplace and equipment design 23.6.35 (126776) Coblentz, A, Mollard, R and Renaud, C ' E R G O M A N : 3-D representation of human operator and man-machine systems' Int J Hum Factors Manuf Vol 1 No 2 (1991) pp 167-178 (13 refs) Human factors must be taken into account during the early stages of the
Vol 23 No 6 D e c e m b e r 1992
design process to ensure the efficient and safe operation of man-machine systems. The fact that computer-aided design (CAD) is now widely used in industry emphasizes the need for human modelling tools in these environments. Since 1983 the authors' laboratory has developed a human body modelling application called E R G O M A N running with EUCLID-IS C A D software. This application creates geometrical models of various sizes making it possible to carry out ergonomic studies of workplaces. The E R G O M A N model is based on a 20links architecture with 22 joints and 46 degrees of freedom. Model dimensions were calculated from a set of 22 anthropometric measurements and many represent different operator populations. The interactive manipulation and motion capabilities of the models make it possible to assess working posture, research capabilities, fit of operator in confined workplaces, visibility, and control layouts. j' 23.6.36 (126777) Diaz, M F and Jensen, D G 'Task-analytic evaluations of space station Freedom workstations' in Visions. Proc Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting. San Francisco, California, 2-6 September 1991. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, California, Vol 1 (1991) pp 160-163 (0 refs). Space Station Freedom will be a permanently manned multipurpose facility in low earth orbit by the late 1990s. Integral to Space Station Freedom will be data management system workstations. These workstations will provide the human-machine interface for controlling such systems as guidance, navigation and control, propulsion, and environmental control and life support. In addition, they will be used by crew members in the space station's pressurized shirtsleeve environment to control remote manipulator systems and free-flyer devices. This paper presents an overview of proposed workstations and current task-analytic evaluations being used to assess their adequacy in supporting Space Station Freedom operations. Particular emphasis is placed on the results and conclusions of the analysis. 23.6.37 (126783) Karwowski, W and Alasbi, H 'The effect of confined space on the maximum acceptable weight of lift.' in Visions. Proc Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting. San Francisco, California, 2-6 September 1991. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica,
California, Vol 1 (1991) pp 804-808 (9 refs) The main objectives of this study were to analyse the effect of space confinement on the maximum acceptable weight of lift, and determine the minimum acceptable space for lifting. Two different laboratory experiments were conducted. The first experiment was aimed to determine the effect of floor space confinement with adequate headroom, if any, on the maximum acceptable weight of lift, while the second experiment was designed to determine the minimum space that would be considered by the subjects as acceptable for lifting tasks. The results showed that although within the space restriction imposed in the first experiment the effect of space confinement on the selected maximum acceptable weight of lift was not statistically significant, subjects lifted on average about 9% more weight as the width and length of the working space were increased by 10 and 20 cm, respectively. Subjects also reported significantly higher levels of special comfort under increased floor space conditions. On average, subjects selected a floor area of 66 × 90 cm as the minimum acceptable space they would prefer for lifting a compact load between the floor and two tables on the sides. 23.6.38 (126792) Lee, M W, Yun, M H, Park, D, Chun, Y H, Jung, E S and Freivalds, A 'EYES - ergonomics in a conceptual design process for consumer electronic products' in Visions. Proc Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting San Francisco, California, 2-6 September 1991. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, California, Vol 1 (1991) pp 466-470 (3 refs) The purpose of the study was to develop an expert system for the conceptual design of high-touch consumer electronic products. 'High-touch' refers to a high level of ergonomic design in a product as opposed to merely 'high-tech' gadgetry in the product. Two major tasks were undertaken as part of this development: (1) the development of a conceptual design process for potential consumer electronic products using an expert systems concept; and (2) the specific evaluation of ten Daewoo prototypes (TV, VCR, audio system, microwave, vacuum cleaner, ergonomic keyboard, universal remote controller, intelligent telephone, and microcomputer for pre-schooi children) based on the above system. The expert system being developed incorporates the production model of conceptual design theory and the ergonomic principles used in the electronics products design.
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Workplace and equipment design 23.6.35 (126776) Coblentz, A, Mollard, R and Renaud, C ' E R G O M A N : 3-D representation of human operator and man-machine systems' Int J Hum Factors Manuf Vol 1 No 2 (1991) pp 167-178 (13 refs) Human factors must be taken into account during the early stages of the
Vol 23 No 6 D e c e m b e r 1992
design process to ensure the efficient and safe operation of man-machine systems. The fact that computer-aided design (CAD) is now widely used in industry emphasizes the need for human modelling tools in these environments. Since 1983 the authors' laboratory has developed a human body modelling application called E R G O M A N running with EUCLID-IS C A D software. This application creates geometrical models of various sizes making it possible to carry out ergonomic studies of workplaces. The E R G O M A N model is based on a 20links architecture with 22 joints and 46 degrees of freedom. Model dimensions were calculated from a set of 22 anthropometric measurements and many represent different operator populations. The interactive manipulation and motion capabilities of the models make it possible to assess working posture, research capabilities, fit of operator in confined workplaces, visibility, and control layouts. j' 23.6.36 (126777) Diaz, M F and Jensen, D G 'Task-analytic evaluations of space station Freedom workstations' in Visions. Proc Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting. San Francisco, California, 2-6 September 1991. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, California, Vol 1 (1991) pp 160-163 (0 refs). Space Station Freedom will be a permanently manned multipurpose facility in low earth orbit by the late 1990s. Integral to Space Station Freedom will be data management system workstations. These workstations will provide the human-machine interface for controlling such systems as guidance, navigation and control, propulsion, and environmental control and life support. In addition, they will be used by crew members in the space station's pressurized shirtsleeve environment to control remote manipulator systems and free-flyer devices. This paper presents an overview of proposed workstations and current task-analytic evaluations being used to assess their adequacy in supporting Space Station Freedom operations. Particular emphasis is placed on the results and conclusions of the analysis. 23.6.37 (126783) Karwowski, W and Alasbi, H 'The effect of confined space on the maximum acceptable weight of lift.' in Visions. Proc Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting. San Francisco, California, 2-6 September 1991. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica,
California, Vol 1 (1991) pp 804-808 (9 refs) The main objectives of this study were to analyse the effect of space confinement on the maximum acceptable weight of lift, and determine the minimum acceptable space for lifting. Two different laboratory experiments were conducted. The first experiment was aimed to determine the effect of floor space confinement with adequate headroom, if any, on the maximum acceptable weight of lift, while the second experiment was designed to determine the minimum space that would be considered by the subjects as acceptable for lifting tasks. The results showed that although within the space restriction imposed in the first experiment the effect of space confinement on the selected maximum acceptable weight of lift was not statistically significant, subjects lifted on average about 9% more weight as the width and length of the working space were increased by 10 and 20 cm, respectively. Subjects also reported significantly higher levels of special comfort under increased floor space conditions. On average, subjects selected a floor area of 66 × 90 cm as the minimum acceptable space they would prefer for lifting a compact load between the floor and two tables on the sides. 23.6.38 (126792) Lee, M W, Yun, M H, Park, D, Chun, Y H, Jung, E S and Freivalds, A 'EYES - ergonomics in a conceptual design process for consumer electronic products' in Visions. Proc Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting San Francisco, California, 2-6 September 1991. The Human Factors Society, Santa Monica, California, Vol 1 (1991) pp 466-470 (3 refs) The purpose of the study was to develop an expert system for the conceptual design of high-touch consumer electronic products. 'High-touch' refers to a high level of ergonomic design in a product as opposed to merely 'high-tech' gadgetry in the product. Two major tasks were undertaken as part of this development: (1) the development of a conceptual design process for potential consumer electronic products using an expert systems concept; and (2) the specific evaluation of ten Daewoo prototypes (TV, VCR, audio system, microwave, vacuum cleaner, ergonomic keyboard, universal remote controller, intelligent telephone, and microcomputer for pre-schooi children) based on the above system. The expert system being developed incorporates the production model of conceptual design theory and the ergonomic principles used in the electronics products design.
431