• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1998.04a
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• pp.19.1-24
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• 1998

Designers often hesitate to decide the shape, size, and layout of a product. Though ergonomic principles and data are absolutely needed in this process, they don't have enough guidelines to refer. For the refrigerator designers, they also are not convinced of their decision: the vertical position of the freezing and refrigerating rooms, the height of shelves, the shape of door-handle, and etc. To support the refrigerator design, we applied several ergonomic methods to the evaluation of a refrigerator. EMG measurement was used to evaluate the load of user's lumbar muscle. Based upon the experimental EMG data, we developed a model to predict the relative load according to the height of refrigerator shelves. Two different layouts of a refrigerator, R/F and F/R style, were compared with the model. A three-dimenaional motion analysis method was used to evaluate the user's motion of using a refrigerator. Ten door-handles with the different shapes and positions were evaluated by tracking the rotations of the user's arm. Video protocol analysis was used to evaluate the user interface of a control panel in a refrigerator. Finally, we made several ergonomic design guidelines based on the facts found in this research and the anthropometric data of the Korean adults. The results of this study can be applied to the ergonomic design of a refrigerator.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.105-120
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• 1992

An expert system was developed as a framework of integrating diverse and multifactored ergonomic knowledge to investigate its effectiveness in ergonomic workplace design and evolution. Although numerous computer-assisted approaches have been made to overcome the lack of integrated design principles, those models being used require very specific information of various design activities that may not be available in the design stage. On the other hand, an expert system would be an effective design aid that is capable of guiding the designer to solve a problem. However, most expert systems lack detailed evaluation capabilities due to a qualitative nature of inference mechanisms. Furthermore, those approaches were independently developed, focusing mostly on a single aspect such as biomechanics, physiology, etc. In this paper, a design framework was developed which takes advantage of expert system metholologies, a relational data base and existing ergonomic models. The pattern-directed, rule-based expert system allows the designer to gradually formulate and subsequently evaluate workplace design. A comprehensive and modularized knowledge base was built incorporating biomechanics, physiology and psychophysics, which is, in turn, capable of accessing not only qualitative knowledge but complex analytic evaluation models and massive information in the data base through an interface. A conflict resolution strategy using multiple criteria decision-making schemes was also employed to reconcile multiple design alternatives.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of trunk-forearm supported sitting on trunk flexion angle, trunk extensor fatigue and seat contact pressure. Background: The relationship between sitting posture and musculoskeletal disorders of the trunk extensor fatigue and seat contact pressure has been documented. The trunk-forearm support type ergonomic chair was devised from the fact that trunk-forearm support has been reported to reduce trunk extensor activity and discomfort. Method: Using three different sitting postures, upright ($P_1$), trunk-forearm supported ($P_2$) and normal sitting ($P_3$), six healthy subjects participated in the study. Motion capture system was used to collect head and trunk flexion angle, and surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to collect myoelectric signal of upper trapezius, lower trapezius, erector spinae, multifidus, and pressure mat system was used to measure seat contact pressure. Results: When trunk and forearm were supported by the ergonomic chair, higher head flexion angle showed upright > trunk-forearm supported > normal in order, and muscle fatigue showed less than upright and normal sitting. Mean seat contact pressure decreased 19% than upright sitting. But muscle fatigue was not affected by each condition. Conclusion: Trunk-forearm supported sitting of the ergonomic chair showed positive effect in respect of trunk and head flexion angle, trunk extensor fatigue, seat contact pressure. To acquire comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of the ergonomic chair, further studies such as anatomical effects from measurement of external applied loading effect to the body from interface pressure analysis are required. Application: The results of the publishing trend analysis might help physiological effects of trunk-forearm support type chair.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.415-416
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• 2006

In this paper, we propose the ergonomics design method in shape design applicable which considers the user interface for railroad. This study focuses on ergonomics design and sensibility engineering design, user interface, which should be considered from the conceptual design stage of the rolling. Human's sensitivity and User Interface of railroad investigated ergonomics studies of several type. The sensibility engineering design made approach of user center design in railroad design. New design railroad to satisfaction passenger's various desire, to safety and convenient through high technology, to sufficient passenger's aesthetic sense. Therefore, we have application to properly of ergonomics design element in railroad design. we expert visual design and user interface help greatly in excellent railroad design.

• Archives of design research
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• v.19 no.3 s.65
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• pp.195-206
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• 2006

Design for improved usability is to understand products from the user's point of view so eventually to enhance the pleasantness users by reflecting it into the design. The philosophy of user-oriented design is an essence of human-centered product planning, and its application is more important for railway vehicle design, which is closely connected with everyday life. This study focused to define basic elements of train interior design concept, which considers convenience and comfort for passengers, by extracting and interpreting ergonomic requirements, as usability factors, of train toilet design. The study on user-oriented design of trains consists of the practice of sensibility engineering for the management of customers' emotions and its harmonious use on design, and aims on the embodiment of new ergonomic design. In the center, it has analyzed the criteria and characteristics of the user-oriented design and has concluded the design direction and components to a concrete idea and proposed prototypes, which may become a good example for train interior design later on. In addition, it proposes a direction, which may become a guideline of ergonomic design, to secure competition capacity. Moreover this study is concentrated on the physical environment and human behavior of train toilet users, on the analysis of factors necessary for adequate toilet design, and on the understanding of interface between its users. What is more, it proposes a module of development process and methods of approaching the interface. The study presents a design standard, under which the concrete data of the characteristics and practicable range and the convergent demands accelerate to the module could be confirmed and criticized. The study on the usability is going to contribute to more pleasant and comfortable train environments and consequently, it's going to create new values of increased railway competitiveness by design.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.40-48
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• 2007

This study investigated the optimum positions and warning foreperiod for auditory signals with an experiment on spatial stimulus-response (S-R) compatibility effects. The auditory signals were presented at the front-right, front-left, rear-right, and rear-left positions from the subjects, whose reaction times and accuracies at different spatial mapping conditions were examined. The results showed a significant spatial stimulus-response compatibility effect in which faster and more accurate responses were obtained in the transversely and longitudinally compatible condition while the worst performance was found when spatial stimulus-response compatibility did not exist in either orientation. It was also shown that the transverse compatibility effect was found significantly stronger than the longitudinal compatibility effect. The effect of signal position was found significant and post hoc test suggested that the emergent warning alarm should be placed on the front-right position for right-handed users. The warning foreperiod prior to the signal presentation was shown to influence reaction time and a warning foreperiod of 3 s is found optimal for the 2-choice auditory reaction task.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.42-49
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• 2018

Pilot Aptitude Research Equipment (PARE) is a simulator developed to measure or research pilot aptitude and train for student pilots. Design of an ergonomic PARE operation console is required to operate the equipment effectively. This study carried out five steps : (S1) operator questionnaire survey, (S2) anthropometric design formula development, (S3) usability evaluation, (S4) improvement design, and (S5) validation considering both Physical User Interface (PUI) and Graphic User Interface (GUI) of PARE operation console. The operator questionnaire surveyed needs for each PUI and GUI part of the console from two PARE actual operators. In terms of PUI, the anthropometric design formula was developed by using design variables, body dimensions, target population characteristics, and reference posture related to the PARE console. In terms of GUI, the usability evaluation was conducted by three usability testing experts with a 7-point scale (1 : very low, 4 : neutral, 7 : very high) on GUI of the PARE operation console by seven usability criteria. The improved PARE operation console was designed to reflect the optimal values of design variables calculated from design formula, the results from usability testing, and the operator's needs. The improvement effect was observed by 20 people who had experience with the PARE operation console. As a result of the validation, monitor visibility and cockpit visibility for the improved PUI design and visibility and efficiency for the improved GUI design were significantly increased by more than 90% respectively. The improved design of the PARE operation console in this study can contribute to enhance operation performance of the PARE.

• Archives of design research
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• v.21
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• pp.123-136
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• 1997

The work of design needs not only a lot of scientific information, but also a artistic sensitivity. Designers require abundant imagination to translate the information of the design, into the Gestaltung. Particularly, the translation of ergonomic information into the elements and grammar of the Gestaltung needs an interface. In order to consider the theoretical possibility for this, a view of fundamental notions, the function of design semantics and ergonomic problems in the design process were analyzed. The purpose of this study is the exploration and relevance of the theoretical model for human factors and design semantics, to see if they could be harmonized as a system of a new design method.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.531-540
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• 2015

Objective: The objective of this research is to investigate the fundamentals of human computer interaction for wearable computers and derive technology requirements. Background: A wearable computer can be worn anytime with the support of unrestricted communications and a variety of services which provide maximum capability of information use. Key challenges in developing such wearable computers are the level of comfort that users do not feel what they wear, and easy and intuitive user interface. The research presented in this paper examines user interfaces for wearable computers. Method: In this research, we have classified the wearable user interface technologies and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages from the user's point of view. Based on this analysis, we issued a user interface technology to conduct research and development for commercialization. Results: Technology requirements are drawn to make wearable computers commercialized. Conclusion: The user interface technology for wearable system must start from the understanding of the ergonomic aspects of the end user, because users wear the system on their body. Developers do not try to develop a state-of-the-art technology without the requirement analysis of the end users. If people do not use the technology, it can't survive in the market. Currently, there is no dominant wearable user interface in the world. So, this area might try a new challenge for the technology beyond the traditional interface paradigm through various approaches and attempts. Application: The findings in this study are expected to be used for designing user interface for wearable systems, such as digital clothes and fashion apparel.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of work environment on health problems of nurses. Methods: The subjects of the study were 395 nurses who were wage workers among KWCS (Korean Working Conditions Survey) respondents in 2014. The work environments were measured by the KWCS questionnaire. Results: 48.5% of the 395 nurses had health problems. The prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases (34.7%) was the highest among all health problems. The ergonomic work environment was significantly related to musculoskeletal disorders, headache and eye strain, and fatigue. In addition, the increase in work-individual interface area was significantly related to fatigue. Conclusion: The work environment of nurses affects health problems. It is therefore important to develop strategies that improve the health problems of nurses by reducing ergonomic and psycho-social risk factors.