• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.469-474
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors of MSDs for the types of office work. Background: Physical risk factors of VDT(Video Display Terminal) associated with shoulder and neck musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) include static work postures and workstation status. Method: In this study, office work was divided into data search, data entry and design work(drawings, etc.), and then we were surveyed 7 major work places which was included these works. We recorded working postures and obtained still images, depending on the types of office work. Then, RULA(Rapid Upper Limb Assessment) and ROSA(Rapid Office Strain Assessment) were used to analysis the risk factors. Results: The results of RULA showed that design work was under risk levels and required change, but ROSA showed that data entry and design work were high risk. The RULA is to evaluate the level of risk factors based on the working posture; on the other hand, the ROSA is to consider the use of peripheral, same as chair, keyboard/mouse, monitor and computer workstations. Conclusion: Conclusions of this study, the office work is necessary to identify the risk factors caused by the use of peripheral, as well as working posture.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.9-12
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• 1984

The effort made today by the man to adapt himself to Computer technology is considerable. On the other hand, one may expect that, by the way it is conceived, he also adapts the machine to the man. The choice and installation of a Computer not only requires a thorough analysis regarding its efficiency, but also a study of the office environment in order to achieve optimal and tactile comfort for the user. This report deals with aspects for the integration of ergonomics into the process of keyboard design topics.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 1994

Many different types of computer user interfaces are used to perform office tasks. Although some guidelines are proposed for selecting user interfaces appropriate to perform differnet tasks, they have not been supported by empirical studies. This study examined five user interface styles and their combinations which were used to perform representative office tasks. A variety of analysis techniques such as brainstorming, analytic hierarchy process, prototyping, and expert opinions were employed to evaluate the usability of the interfaces. Also, a human factors experiment was conducted to validate empirically the analysis results. The analysis procedures and results are described along with guidelines for selecting user interfaces in terms of subjective preferences and performance measures.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1993.10a
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• pp.252-262
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• 1993

The subject on office automation is gradually gaining more improtance due to the fact that the efficiency of office systems contribute to the increase of productivity as much as manufactoring systems themselves. For successful implementation of office automation, one must carefully plan and execute various steps such as the analysis of office tasks, personnel training, workplace design, equipment design, and so on. The previous studies related to the subject has not been concrete enough to be practically helpful for the actual realization of office automation. In this paper, a new analysis method of the office task is proposed. This analysis method is based on the Rasmussen's and Bennette's methods. The Rasmussen's method describes a way of quantifying mental workload while the Bennette's method provides a tool for the analysis of the office task. The posner's and Rouse's methods are also employed for the detailed division of tasks. The method proposed in this paper is believed to be easier for use and expected to be more helpful for us to cope with the clear definition of office tasks that is vital to successful implementation of office automation.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.179-190
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• 2015

Objective and Background: Due to increase in Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) relating to computer use, a number of ergonomics recommendations have been proposed in order to tackle this problem. However, some of these recommendations have been conflicting. Method: This study was to survey the VDT (Visual Display Terminal) use of office workers. The subjects were 452 workers at 13 places of business and the data were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Results: As a result, prevalence of self-reported MSDs of all VDT workers was 90.2% and shoulder took up 57.0% and neck 38.3% by symptom part of body. The population of computer use of more than 6h/day was 84.5%, and 33.8% also reported using the VDT 2~3h/day without the rest time. Desktop computer users were 95.6%, and a 17-inch monitor accounted for 42.0% among the desktop users. As a result of satisfaction survey on overall computer work, 21.1% of the total respondents said satisfied, desk complaint was about 24.6%, and chair complaint was 33.4%. Despite the importance of computer environment, satisfaction was from fair to uncomfortable. Conclusion and Application: In conclusion, office workers are prone to the MSDs due to their work environment. Additionally, this study found that task was a significant effect for the majority of dependent variables, and therefore, the improvement of computer workstations work environment is urgent, and the improvement of desk height adjustment, chair seat size (length, width), backrest condition, location of keyboard (mouse) and arm rest is required.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.145-152
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• 2013

Objective: The aim of this study is to develop an ergonomic office chair that has an alarm function for the unbalanced sitting postures. Background: Contrary to expectation, it is reported that office workers sit on their chairs much more in unbalanced postures during daily work. Even though an office worker uses an ergonomically good-designed chair and begins their work in a good sitting posture, his/her posture is likely to shift to the unbalanced bad posture. Therefore, a posture alarm system would be very helpful in keeping office workers' good postures. Method: We developed a prototype chair with four load cells under a seat pan and one load cell beneath a backrest. Through some experiments, we set the criteria for unbalanced bad postures then implemented the criteria into the alarm system of the prototype chair. The chair called e-BASE chair could detect unbalance postures and show alarms for chair users. We also enhanced back support by developing a step-wised folding backrest. Results: The e-BASE chair showed better performance in interface pressure distributions and balanced posture ratio in VDT work. Conclusion: The ergonomic chair with posture alarm function(e-BASE chair) was developed. It showed better performance in seat pressure distribution and in keeping good posture during office work. Application: The posture alarm system and folding backrest can be applied to the new models of office chair.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.86-101
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• 1994

The primary objectives of this research are to survey actual condition and propose the improved standard size for office chairs. In order to accomplish this objectives, questionnaire method was used. The subjects for investigation are 271 office sedentary workers from 19 office workplaces. The survey of a actual condition showed that the office chairs included many contr- oversial points which cause occupational health problems. The main causes of office sedentary worker's health problems are insufficient adjustabilities and inappropriate design specifications. Expecially, insufficient adjustabilities led harmful sitting postures. To improve the existing Korean standard size for office chairs, anthropometric procedure was developed. In this approach, six design factors were determined, that is, seat pan height, seat pan width, seat pan depth, seat pan inclination, armrest height and width. The study found that improved Korean staneard size was strikingly different from existing standard.

• Proceedings of the ESK Conference
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.7-18
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• 1994

Many office tasks have been automated by using computers to increase task productivity. The productivity of performing office tasks is dependent not only upon automating the task procedures, but also upon the usability of user interfaces. However, the literature lacks human factors research on evaluating the usability of user interface styles when they are used for performing different office tasks. This study evalu- ated the usability of user interfaces styles when performing various office tasks. User interface styles considered include menu-selection, command language, form fill-in, iconic styles, etc. A task analysis was conducted toclassify representative office tasks. A variety of analysis techniques such as brainstorming, analytic hierarchy process, prototyping, and expert opinions were used to evaluate the usability of the interfaces. The analysis procedures and results are described along with guidelines for selecting user interfaces in terms of subjective preferences and performance measures.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2015

Objective: As a cue for desired mood, we attempted to identify types of sitting postures when people are involved in various tasks during their working hours. Background: Physical behaviors in reaction to user contexts were studied, such as automated posture analysis for detecting a subject's emotion. Sitting postures have high feasibility and can be detected robustly with a sensing chair, especially when it comes to an office. Method: First, we attached seven sensors, including six pressure sensors and one distance sensor, to an office chair. In Part 1, we recorded participants' postures while they took part in four different tasks. From the seven sensors, we gathered five sets of data related to the head, the lumbar, the hip, thigh pressure and the distance between the backrest and the body. We classified them into four postures: leaning forward, upright, upright with the lumbar supporting, and leaning backward. In part 2, we requested the subjects to take suitable poses for the each of the four task types. In this way, we compared the matches between postures and tasks in a natural setting to those in a controlled situation. Results: We derived four types of sitting postures that were mapped onto the different tasks. The comparison yielded no statistical significance between Parts 1 and 2. In addition, there was a significant association between the task types and the posture types. Conclusion: The users' sitting postures were related to different types of tasks. This study demonstrates how human emotion can interact with lighting, as mediated through physical behavior. Application: We developed a posture-based lighting system that manipulates the quality of office lighting and is operated by changes in one's posture. Facilitated by this system, color temperatures ranging between 3,000K and 7,000K and illuminations ranging between 300lx and 700lx were modulated.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1999.07e
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• pp.2423-2425
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• 1999

During the last years demands for higher visual comfort, flexibility of the lighting system in new type of office structures, especially intelligent building, and compatibility with work at VDU place increased. At the same time better lighting conditions should be realized by energy-effective system leading to less consumption of energy. In the intelligent building need the now type of lighting control system, also it should be included for a human-sensibility. It is shown that when designing lighting for intelligent building, greater importances should be attached to the creation of a well-balanced luminance distribution in the field and research for the people by the Ergonomics Planning.