L0 Module Intro web

Ergonomics 6PS025: 

Ergonomics 6PS025 Module Leader: Miles Richardson

Aim of Lecture: 

Aim of Lecture To introduce the module. To start thinking about ergonomics. To start thinking about the coursework. To do some simple ergonomics.

Module Introduction: 

Module Introduction Typically - lecture & activities before Easter to allow time on coursework Need to engage with activities Module web pages: http://ibs.derby.ac.uk/ergonomics/campus/ergonomics.html

Resources: 

Resources Texts on restricted loan. Recommended text - Human performance : cognition, stress and individual differences by Matthews Some prefer – Wickens - Engineering Psychology and Human Performance.

Resources: 

Resources Digital Resources under Miles Richardson & Andrew Baird ulib.derby.ac.uk/ecdu/ECDUDigitalResources.html Best journals: Human Factors & Ergonomics in Design. Also Ergonomics, Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics, Applied Ergonomics See module web page.

Schedule: 

Schedule Deadline Noon Friday 2nd May

What is Ergonomics?: 

What is Ergonomics? Scope Approach Systems

Cognitive Characteristics: 

Cognitive Characteristics Cognitive characteristics Information processing Activities

Psychosocial Issues (AB): 

Psychosocial Issues (AB) Psychosocial factors and health Social psychology Individual differences Motivation And task performance.

Methods: 

Methods Information about people Information about tasks Workload Task Analysis Activity – HTA of Ticket Machine

Psychology of Everyday Things: 

Psychology of Everyday Things the psychology of how people interact with things affordances causality visible constraints mapping transfer effects population stereotypes conceptual models individual differences why design is hard

Usability: 

Usability Principles of usability Measuring usability Activity – Ticket Machine Analysis C/W

The rest: 

The rest Coursework Workshop Human Behaviour & Health (AB) Case Study Quiz & Coursework Q&A

Coursework: 

Coursework Coursework – 2 parts – see web pages. Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate an understanding of ergonomics methods and design for human use. Position task performance in a psychological context and critically evaluate the main psychological factors and their possible inter-relations. Deadline – Noon 2nd May 2008

Ticket Machine – 1000 words - 25%: 

Ticket Machine – 1000 words - 25% Question based upon exercises during lectures. Perform a Hierarchical Task Analysis of the car park Ticket Machine. Using the HTA as a framework, identify pertinent psychological issues related to using the ticket machine. Using the usability heuristics in the learning materials conduct a usability analysis of the Ticket Machine. Consider the usability analysis, psychological issues and the HTA and sketch out an improved ticket machine design. Consider the methods you would use to evaluate your ticket machine design if it was actually destined for public use. Produce a short report that contains your HTA, lists the psychological issues and usability problems identified and presents an improved ticket machine design with brief justification and details of your proposed evaluation methodology.

Module Report – 2500 words - 75%: 

Module Report – 2500 words - 75% Position the performance of a task of your choosing in a psychological context. Critically evaluate the main psychological issues and their possible inter-relations. Identify problem areas and propose solutions based on an ergonomics approach. Introduce possible evaluation methodologies to evaluate the task further.

Report further info: 

Report further info For more information see: http://ibs.derby.ac.uk/ergonomics/online/report_further_information.pdf This document provides further guidance and examples. You should not choose a task that is the same as the examples given. Similarly you cannot choose object assembly as it is used as a case study example.

Ticket Machine: 

Ticket Machine

Ticket Machine: 

Ticket Machine Going to see a picture of a car park ticket machine. When you see it write down the steps you would take to get a ticket.

Press Clippings: 

Press Clippings CONTROVERSIAL new ticket machines have led to chaos in Burton town centre's biggest car park. A new parking system caused jams in the town's Central Area car park over the weekend as bemused motorists attempted to figure it out. ... the new system, led to lengthy queues and heated scenes at the ticket machines.

Slide22: 

A man with engineering degree was fined £40 for being unable to use a machine. He said: "There were many people who did not understand what was going on.”

Slide23: 

THE COUNCIL boss in charge of new car park ticket machines said: "You can’t legislate for thick. Some people are just so stupid. You type in the numbers of your registration, put your money in and press the green button. I can’t see how simpler it could be, other than having somebody standing there to help.” The replacement programme is costing £20,000.

Questions: 

Questions So what's wrong with the ticket machine? Who's fault is it?

What is Ergonomics?: 

What is Ergonomics? Ergonomics (Human Factors in the United States) has many definitions – FTTTTH. Aims to study the ‘fit’ between people and ‘the things they do’ in order to improve performance, well-being, safety and health. Prevents bad things (errors, stress etc.), creates good things (performance, satisfaction) Typically applied at work, but can be leisure, home or in public areas (e.g. sport). Can be applied to many aspects of our lives.

Layout Design Workshop: 

Layout Design Workshop We are going to consider the 4 principles of layout design. These 4 principles can be applied to Ticket Machine coursework. There are 3 activities: 1st Remote Control Exercise Introduction of Principles 2nd Car Dashboard Exercise 3rd Evaluate Car Dashboard

Layout Design: 

Layout Design Used in interface design in order to match machine (controls & displays) to people. Interface should mirror user’s conceptual model of the task and task characteristics. Based on 4 grouping principles.

Principles 1: 

Principles 1 •Importance principle - Important controls should be placed in convenient locations. 'Importance' is determined by how critical a piece of controls is in terms of achieving the task or goals of the system. Emergency controls should be placed in readily accessible positions, but not necessarily in the optimum workspace. Aids reach, perception and identification in a panic. •Frequency of use principle - Frequently used controls should be placed in convenient locations, close to or preferably, in front of you. Less physical movement & workload, visual search.

Principles 2: 

Principles 2 •Sequence of use principle - controls should be arranged to take advantage of any sequences or patterns of use that occur during a task. If a number of controls are normally operated in a particular sequence, then they and their corresponding displays should be arranged on the panel in that order, from left to right, or from top to bottom. Less load on memory, there’s a cue. •Functional principle - controls should be grouped according to its function. This grouping can be highlighted by the use of colour, labelling, and demarcation lines or simply by placing groups of items in rows. Matches conceptual model, aids LTM, visual search.

Suggested Procedure A: 

Suggested Procedure A Arrange items into functional groups Arrange functional groups by importance. Arrange functional groups by sequence of use. Arrange functional groups by frequency of use. Also consider importance, sequence and frequency within each functional group. Add to layout design until all functional groups used.

Suggested Procedure B: 

Suggested Procedure B Apply in order: Importance Frequency of use Sequence of use Function

Evaluation: 

Evaluation Advantages: Quick, easy and low cost to apply. Good for prototypes. Disadvantages: Poor reliability and validity. Limited to layout only - ignores errors, mental workload.