Ergonomic design: The hidden persuader

Abstract

Ergonomics in the creation of a product is about designing for the people who use it, what they want to achieve with it, and where it is used. People come in many shapes and sizes, they have different mental and physical capacities; they will use the product in any way that suits them, whether or not it was the way in which the designer intended; they will use it under various conditions such as in the cold, at night, in the wet. The product must work for them whoever they are, however and wherever they use it and must encourage effective use. That is good ergonomics. Good ergonomics can also ensure that people cannot use the product wrongly and cause harm to themselves or others. There are many examples of products being designed without taking the characteristics and requirements of the users into account. Sometimes this can lead to problems in the long term, a classic example of which is the musculoskeletal problems in the shoulders and neck experienced by many dentists. In other circumstances it can lead to accidents and injury such as the appalling hand injuries reported by users of rotary lawnmowers before ergonomics intervened in the design standards. Good ergonomic design should ensure that the product is used effectively and that such negative consequences are much less likely to occur. Ergonomic design is the hidden persuader - persuading people, by design, to use the product in the best way for them.