• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.23-36
• /
• 2000

In conventional ergonomics, consumer product can be made based on anthropometric data and specific design guideline. However, the product may not satisfy consumers because their emotional preference have not been properly considered in design phase. Therefore, in this study a new chair design process was introduced by which both consumer's emotional need and traditional ergonomic requirement can be satisfied. As a part of the process, the traditional Kansei engineering technique was modified to collect quantitative information of consumer's visual appreciation and physical feedback of various types of chairs. Furthermore, we developed an interface, so called, KADAS(Kamsung Analysis and Design Assistance System), for designers to use the technique in chair design. This software can help designers to understand what should be the most suitable shape in designing items such as seat, back and arm rest, etc. to meet the emotional need of consumers. This software displays the result of modified quantification theory I, and explains how to use the statistics. This study suggested a new approach for ergonomic design incorporated with Kansei Engineering technique. This technique can be also applied to other products by extending the database of KADAS.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.439-447
• /
• 2016

Objective: The purpose of this study is to design a snow-removing tool using an ergonomic approach. Background: It is necessary to remove snow on the garden of a house or side street to prevent a fall hazard. When a user removes snow using a snow-removing tool, he or she experiences lots of physical discomfort. Therefore it is necessary to design a snow-removing tool to reduce a user's physical discomfort. Method: In this study, a new design for a snow-removing tool was developed considering user needs. The design prototype was compared with an existing tool through electromyography and subjective evaluation. Results: From the comparison evaluation, significant differences between the new design and the existing tool were identified in both muscle fatigue and subjective rating of discomfort. Conclusion: The result showed that the new design is better from the aspect of easing physical discomfort. Application: A new snow-removing tool can be developed using the design so that it can reduce a user's physical discomfort.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.451-458
• /
• 2011

Objective: This study is to develop a design and evaluation guide to the ergonomic design of the farm working convenient equipments in order for the elderly to use them easily and safely. Background: The aging population has already increased in farm villages. But due to the usage of the farm working equipments that did not reflect the characteristics and functional changes of aging, accidents and patients with disease are increasing. Method: The study investigated the functional changes and physical, cognitive, and sensuous characteristics of the aged. By determining the criteria for classification of the convenient equipments by crop, and by finding out the items necessary for the ergonomic design, a guide to this study is proposed. Results: It is obvious that the physical, cognitive and sensuous functions change as the aging process continues. Therefore, for the design and evaluation of Control Panel, Control Lever, Frame Size, Shape, and Equipment Weight that are the necessary items for the ergonomic approach for the farm working equipments, such characteristics have to be reflected. Conclusion: Through this study, a guide to the design and evaluation of convenient equipments for the farm works that reflected the aging characteristics and functional changes has been proposed. Application: The result of this study is to expect not only designers but also related specialists to make the best use of it.

• Bulletin of the Korean Institute for Industrial Safety
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2003

In recent years, work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are one of major issues in occupational safety and health in Korea, since the number of injured workers has rapidly increased and the related regulation was amended to improve the work conditions. Main risk factors of WMSDs in Korean industries include manual handling of heavy weight loads, awkward postures, repetitive tasks, prolonged static muscle contraction, and so on. in this article, some ergonomics case studies for identifying the risk factors of WMSDs and far their prevention were introduced. They include a biomechanical analysis for the heavy-weight handling task in a machine-repair shop, physiological evaluation of backpack-carrying tasks in a beverage delivery job, and a set of psychophysical studies to evaluate static-postural load. These studies showed that there are several different ergonomic approaches to identifying and evaluating risk factors of WMSDs and to eliminating them or reducing their levels, and that it is important to select proper methods and apply them in improving the work conditions according to the characteristics of the task. In addition, it needs to develop practical and effective ergonomic tools to prevent WMSDs and to provide these tools to the safety managers in the field so that they can improve the tasks by themselves.

• Archives of design research
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.253-260
• /
• 2000

Writing instruments or pens have many features not commonly found in other products in terms of their structure and characteristics of use. That is, different pens are usually composed of almost identical parts and/or structure. The fact they work always grabbed in hands considered, the ergonomic design of pens is essential. Reports indicate consumers evaluate pens in writing comfort above all other factors when they select pens. Among various factors related to writing comfort, it shouldspecifically be the ergonomic improvements that design can effectively contribute to. Studies on the pen-grabbing comfort or on approaches based on the understanding of human-work relationships generally lack when compared with fashion-conscious aesthetic approaches to pen design. This paper, therefore, aims to reestablish the ergonomic design criteria including the necessities of specifications required to provide indispensable data for the pen design processes. Consequently, it should produce basic set of information for systematic approach to pen design and development, which is commonly called'concurrent engineering'. Also a cost-effective solution for product diversification strategy could be attributed to a modular system database based on the result of this attempt.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.437-444
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to suggest appropriate human model for ergonomic evaluation considering working postures on 3D space. Background: Traditionally extreme design rules have been widely utilized at the stage of designing products. Body size of 5th percentile and 95th percentile in stature has been generally selected for controllability and clearance evaluation, respectively. However, these rules had limitations in reflecting working posture in ergonomic evaluation. Method: In order to define working posture on 3D space, not only sagittal plane but also lateral plane was considered. Kinematic linkage body model was utilized for representation of working posture. By utilizing the anthropometric data of 2,836 South Korean male populations, the point cloud for end points of linkage models was derived. The individuals who were lacking in certain controllability were selected as human models for the evaluation. Result: In case of standing posture it was found that conventional approach is proper for all controllability evaluations. Contrary to standing posture, tall people had less controllability on control location below shoulder point in sitting posture. Conclusion: From the derived proper range on controllability, ergonomic evaluation rule was suggested according to working posture especially in standing and sitting. Application: The results of the study are expected to aid in selection of appropriate human model for ergonomic evaluation and to improve the usability of products and work space.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.51-62
• /
• 2006

The concept of universal design has recently emerged as an important aspect of product design. Universal design is considerably analogous to ergonomic design in a way that it takes the capabilities and limitations of users into consideration during the product development process. However, relatively few studies have been devoted to reflect the practical use of ergonomic principles on universal design. This research attempts to develop a universal design index for mobile phone design to quantify how well a product complies with principles of universal design. The research also emphasizes on ergonomic principles as a basis of evaluation. A generation of the evaluation items was done by cross-checking among the personal, activity and product components. Personal components consist of human characteristics including age, physique, perceptual capacity, life-style, etc. Activity components were derived from those scenarios of mobile phone use while product components were composed of the parts to which a user interacts. Further analysis systematically generated a universal index from relationship matrices among the three components. The index was then used to test its suitability by applying to the evaluation of mobile phones currently on the market. This study demonstrates a development process through which evaluations can be made possible for universal design. The research suggests an improved approach to the appraisal of how well mobile phones are universally designed based on ergonomic principles.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
• /
• 1995.10a
• /
• pp.240-248
• /
• 1995

In Korea, it is not satisfactory in the product design since Kansei engineering or Ergnomics is not very active and well considered. When designing a mini-component, the user's emotion was not considered well. It is typical to have a rectangular shape, dark- colored outside in a mini-component design. Therefore, the users have to select with available choice from the manufacture's traditional designs. In this study, a new smin- component was designed to be suitable for a new generation's (10 to mid-20) sensation. First of all, an ergonomic problems were investigated. And then, the survey was per- formed to consider the emotion of the new generation. After that, the new design was made to reflect the new generation's trend and preference. In addition, the high-touch (human-centered design) and human touch (the product to give a sensible satisfaction for human) concepts were added.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.13-27
• /
• 2006

The goal of this study is to propose the effective way of finding injurious factors and making improved plan that prevents the workers against musculoskeletal disorders at a semi-finished medical product fabricating company A questionnaire and an ergonomic assessment method were adopted to analyze the symptoms of workers' musculoskeletal disorders, and an analysis of working postures and a quantitative assessment on various processes were performed to find out harmful factors of workplace. Based on the result of the evaluation, to enhance the working environment, improvement of worktable, working space, tools, and outfit was suggested, and induction of mechanical system was also suggested. It can be concluded that the method and process described in this paper could be helpful for diagnosing the musculoskeletal disorders and making improvement plans to the company with similar working conditions and process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 1998

The objective of this study was to evaluate quantitatively the effects of handle types of garden tools on the ergonomic effectiveness, user satisfaction in terms of work performance, and subjective judgment of tactile feel and control. The approach was to compare garden tools with conventional wood handle and newly developed fiberglass handle, and to utilize three different tools: shovel, rake, and hoe. The hollow fiberglass handle was 12% more efficient than either the wood or solid fiberglass handle. The next important measure was the subjective ratings of the perceived exertion averaged across three different tools. The average ratings for the hollow fiberglass handle were the smallest. In conclusion, the hollow fiberglass handle showed better efficiency and better subjective acceptability for comfort, tactile feel, and especially decreased slipperiness.