Anthropometric perspectives

Anthropometrics (human measurements) are an important consideration when designing a system or analysing a workflow. Is your design a one-size-fits-all, or do you tailor it to a particular size? Anthropometric data can help you to understand human measurements that can give you informed understanding the size of the objects you design.

Example applications

The need to understand anthropometrics crosses many technology interfaces. Take a seat on public transport, for example. How heigh should it be to service the general population? How much adjustment should you allow? How high should a child’s seat be? What sort of leg-room is required? All of these questions can be answered using anthropometric data for your target population.

Tips

• understand the characteristics of the target population, and whether or not the population anthropometrics are relevant. If needed, separate out the populations to get a better sense of the requirements, such as distinguishing between male and female populations

• investigate the ratios of body measurements. For example, knowing a population’s average height should also allow you to extrapolate other measurement dimensions

• understand the cm range of the potential solution by considering the upper and lower bounds of the average data - two standard deviations is an adequate measure

Key concepts

• an explanation of what anthropometrics are, and where they could be used
• an example that walks through calculating the size of something based on available anthropometric data
• advice to the student engineer on how to incorporate anthropometrics in design

Core resources

• NASA Man-systems integration standards (see Anthropometric and Biomechanics)

• CDC, Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2007–2010

• Anthropometric data and Australian populations - do they fit? this is a critique of how generic anthropometric data fits Australians

• Jain, A et al, 1996, Introduction to Biometrics, in Biometrics p1-41

Similar tools…

An ergonomic design will not only make your users happier, but can make big differences to the bottom line of any enterprise. Better ergonomics can lead to fewer chronic workplace injuries and a happier user.

• ANU, Ergonomic computer workstation design
• Apple Computer’s Human Interface Principles
• ABS’s Work-Related Injuries survey - details the cost of work-related injuries on industry