Ergonomics Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

2025, International journal of applied research

To maintain good health of the sales person and to improve their work efficiency, this study will be helpful to check the work related musculoskeletal disorder in sales person of departmental store. 100 sales person with mean age of female 29± and male 27±. Sales person were assessed individually by the therapist by REBA Scale. The result showed that salesperson were categorized according to what stores they were working (i.e Cosmetic Department, Clothes department and Shoe Department). Salesperson of Cosmetic department with sample size 50 had areas which were at a risk to develop into musculoskeletal disorder was Neck (55%) Trunk (30%), Arm (10%), Legs (5%). Salesperson of Clothes department with sample size 40 had areas which were at a risk to develop a musculoskeletal disorder were Trunk (60%), Arm (20%), Legs (20%), Neck (5%). Salesperson of Shoe department with sample size of 10 had areas which were at a risk to develop a musculoskeletal disorder at Trunk (50%), Leg (30%), Arm (15%), Neck (5%).

2025, International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health

Background: Handloom is one of the oldest industries in India, particularly in West Bengal, where a considerable number of rural people are engaged in weaving. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of low back pain among the handloom weavers in India. Methods: A modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire along with a body part discomfort scale were administered to handloom weavers (n5175). Working posture of the participants was assessed using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS). Results: Sixty eight per cent of the participants reported suffering from low back pain, making it the most prevalent disorder in our sample. Analysis of the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire data revealed that among those with low back pain (n5119), 2% had severe disabilities, 46% had moderate disabilities, and 52% had minimal disabilities. Statistical analyses revealed a positive significant association between the intensity of pain in the lower back and an increased number of years of work experience (P,0.05). The study underlines the need for further research regarding the postural strain of weavers and also suggests the implementation of ergonomic design into weaver workstations to minimize the adverse effect of their current working postures. Improving upon the weaver's work-posture could improve their quality of life.

2025

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether if a specific threshold value exists in each lifting load, the accumulation above which best predicts lumbar disk protrusion, or on the other hand, all lifting load should be accumulated. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Subjects with various lifetime lifting exposures were recruited. Disk protrusion was determined by magnetic resonance imaging. Lifetime cumulative lifting load was the sum of time-weighed lumbar load for each job using a biomechanical software system. For accumulation above different thresholds, predictive capabilities for disk protrusion were compared using four statistical methods. Results: A total of 252 men and 301 women were included in the final analysis. For men, 3000 Newton for each lifting task was the optimal threshold value for predicting L4-S1 disk protrusion, whereas for women, 2800 Newton was optimal. Our findings suggested that when considering lifetime exposure, including all li...

2025

Background: Anthropometric scales express the physical potential of football players and can be used to compare them with other sports. Anthropometric proportions play a key role in cricket. Aims and Objectives: To comparison of various anthropometric parameters in cricket and football players. Material and Methods: The present research was carried out in the Sports Physiology Laboratory of the Department of Physiology. The period of the study from December 2012 to November 2014 and the form of study is not followed up. Test analysis is conducted to conduct a comparative study of anthropometric parameters in cricket and football players. Results: We did a test sample with 60 subjects (30 cricket players and 30 football players). The average value of the height of football players is more than that of cricketers. The average weight value of cricket players is higher than that of football players. BMI, percent body fat, percent lean body weight, mid-upper arm circumference, mid-upper ...

2025, … Command and Control …

This paper details a taxonomy generated for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) missions. Specifically, we examine the primary functions that a human operator would perform for a particular UAV mission within this taxonomy, including mission... more

2025, Journal of a sustainable global south

Dental treatments generally need length of time period. The dental care consist of several steps and these steps should be performed in the cramped space which is patient's mouth (oral cavity). Thus, dentists have potential on suffering for musculoskeletal injuries which may affect their quality of work. This is a descriptive study (observation and interviews) with cross-sectional approach. This study conducted observation on several ergonomic aspects include task, organizational, and environment; following with interviews on how were dental students performing scaling procedures The mean time of dental students in performing scaling was 28,38 ± 1,03 minutes, this period of time also cover all the time needed for several adjusting working positions taken by dental students on purpose to cover scaling on all of the teeth surfaces and regions. Dentists have risk for potential injuries resulted from non-ergonomic working attitude and static position. This indicated from increasing of Nordic Body Map scores after performing scaling with mean scores 13,87 ± 1,56, increasing eyes train scores up to 2,2 ± 0,27, and increasing work load which was calculated from hearth rate 23,45 ± 2,70 beats/menit. This study also assesses organizational and working environment which may affect dental students on performing scaling. The total ergonomic approach may be employed to solve the identified problems from ergonomic assessment on the scaling procedures performed by dental students at Dentistry Udayana University. Thus, it is expected that the approach can be solve the problems complained by dental students while performing scaling procedure, as well as assistant operators, patients, and others related parties without creating unnecessary side effects causing by the purposed adjustment.

2025, Heliyon

Metal casting industry including is an industry which produce high dust pollution (fly ash). Improvements in the form of ergonomic interventions have been carried out by many companies, but do not guarantee all parameters run well. The total indoor suspended dust (TSP) measurement results are not enough to guarantee healthy working conditions. Additional assessment of workers' inhaled dust is needed to change pollution control and work improvement to ergonomics. The design of this study is Cross Sectional Study. Research subjects numbered 84 people. All samples met the inclusion criteria. Measurement results of Characteristic of research subject, Working Environment Conditions, Exposition of dust inhaled by workers, Total Indoor Suspended Dust of the Company (p > 0.05). Found critical hours of workers exposed to dust (fly ash), starting from 4 h after working (Department of Process Cement, Department of Black Sand) and 2 h after working for the Department of Loam. Critical hours exposed to dust (fly ash) used as the basis for company management and regulators to take new policies in controlling fly ash pollution and ergonomic interventions. Ergonomic interventions can be carried out by activating the dust collector at critical hours, applying active resting hours at critical hours and conditioning workers to breathe fresh air. The impact of this ergonomic intervention is a decrease in musculoskeletal complaints by 25.27%, reduction in boredom 25.01%, and an increase in job satisfaction 38.46%.

2025, Journal of a sustainable global south

The ergonomics workshop on Cancer Related Fatigue (CRF) management is a method for designing an ergonomic approach to meet the physical and psychological needs of breast cancer patients who experience CRF and return to work. Through workshops, improvement of work procedures can be carried out in a comprehensively because it involves the participation of all components involved in the approach to be carried out. The purpose of this research is to get the best working procedures for CRF management and to analyze the knowledge of the respondents before and after the workshop. This is a quantitative study with a pre and post-test approach. Focus Group Discussions are conducted to collect data. Workshops for handling CRF in breast cancer patients who return to work are carried out by involving oncology nurses, oncologists, ergonomic experts, nutritionists, health sciences students and breast cancer patients who return to work and heads of work units. Respondents were divided into 3 groups and 12 stages of the workshop were carried out. The results show that work comfort, programs that facilitate physical activity and being able to meet cancer sufferers, work attitudes, physical activity, social support are expected components of work procedures. Respondents' knowledge before and after the workshop differed significantly with p=0.0001. This workshop can help increase patient and healthcare workers' knowledge about CRF and help find the best therapy and work procedures for CRF management.

2025, Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting

Measuring trust in technology is a mainstay in Human Factors research. While trust may not perfectly predict reliance on technology or compliance with alarm signals, it is routinely used as a design consideration and assessment goalpost. Several methods of measuring trust have been employed in the past decades, but one self-report measure stands out due to its popular use, the Trust in Automated Systems Survey (Jian, Bisantz, & Drury, 2000). We conducted a study to assess whether the survey could create biased responses, and found evidence the original scale is in fact skewed toward positive ratings. Assessing the literature revealed the survey has been used in unaltered form across at least 100 different reports and remains frequently administered – therefore, the potential impact of this bias may be widespread. Future directions, considerations, and caveats for our assessment, and for using this scale, are discussed.

2025, Experimental Brain Research

Studies of chronically deafferented participants have illuminated how regaining some motor control after adult-onset loss of proprioceptive and touch input depends heavily on cognitive control. In this study we contrasted the performance of one such man, IW, with KS, a woman born without any somatosensory fibres. We postulated that her life-long absence of proprioception and touch might have allowed her to automate some simple visually-guided actions, something IW appears unable to achieve. We tested these two, and two age-matched control groups, on writing and drawing tasks performed with and without an audio-verbal echoing task that added a cognitive demand. In common with other studies of skilled action, the dual task was shown to affect visuo-motor performance in controls, with less well-controlled drawing and writing, evident as increases in path speed and reduction in curvature and trial duration. We found little evidence that IW was able to automate even the simplest drawing tasks and no evidence for automaticity in his writing. In contrast, KS showed a selective increase in speed of signature writing under the dual-task conditions, suggesting some ability to automate her most familiar writing. We also tested tracing of templates under mirror-reversed conditions, a task that imposes a powerful cognitive planning challenge. Both IW and KS showed evidence of a visuo-motor planning conflict, as did the controls, for shapes with sharp corners. Overall, IW was much faster than his controls to complete tracing shapes, consistent with an absence of visuo-proprioceptive conflict, whereas KS was slower than her controls, especially as the corners became sharper. She dramatically improved after a short period of practice while IW did not. We conclude that KS, who developed from birth without proprioception, may have some visually derived control of movement not under cognitive control, something not seen in IW. This allowed her to automate some writing and drawing actions, but impaired her initial attempts at mirror-tracing. In contrast, IW, who lost somatosensation as an adult, cannot automate these visually guided actions.

2025, Ergonomics

We report results from a 1-year field study (N=80) on user interactions with regenerative braking in electric vehicles (EVs). Designed to recapture energy in vehicles with electric powertrains, regenerative braking has an important influence on both, the task of driving and energy consumption. Results from user assessments and data from onboard data loggers indicate that most drivers quickly learned to interact with the system, which was triggered via accelerator. Further, conventional braking manoeuvres decreased significantly as the majority of deceleration episodes could only be executed through regenerative braking. Still, some drivers reported difficulties when adapting to the system. These difficulties could be addressed by offering different levels of regeneration so the intensity of the deceleration could be individually modified. In general, the system is trusted and regarded as a valuable tool for prolonging range.

2025, Collegium antropologicum

The dimensions of the living and working space and buildings, the types of material and different riggings should be designed to conform to the users' anthropometric measures. The first requirement to design on ergonomic system is to measure the human being who will work and live in that system. Because of this, anthropometric measures are the most frequently used ergonomic data during the design process. In this research paper, we attempt to organize a new data base of anthropometric data to use in the design of children's equipment and furniture used in crèches. A starting point for research on the proper dimensions of creche furniture is to investigate how the dimensions of furniture reflect the body dimensions and the functional needs of the children using furniture. The anthropometric data of 3, 4 and 5 year-old-children in crèches was used. We report the results of the measurements of 18 anthropometric characteristics of children which constitute a set of basic data fo...

2025, Collegium antropologicum

This paper presents the results of an anthropometrical survey conducted on male and female children aged 3, 4 and 5 years in Turkey. A set of 18 body dimensions was taken from 154 males and 132 females. It is considered that the 18 parameters are necessary for the design of school furniture, fittings and equipment in order to minimize musculoskeletal, visual and circulatory problems resulting from badly designed elements. This study identified significant gender differences in a set of 18 anthropometrical measures in this subject group.

2025, akademikpersonel.duzce.edu.tr

In this paper, the results of an anthropometrical study conducted on male and female children in Trabzon province/Turkey are presented. The children have an average age of 6 years. During the first phase of the investigation, 18 body... more

2025, Lecture Notes in Computer Science

The design of interfaces for automotive information systems is a critical task. In fact, such design must take into account that user is busy in the primary driving task, and any visual distraction determined by telematics systems can cause serious safety problems. To limit such distraction and enhance safety, in this paper we propose a novel multimodal user interface. The key element of the proposal is a new interaction device, named Handy, conceived to exploit the driver's tactile channel to minimize the workload of visual channel. Moreover Handy is suitably integrated with the graphical user interface, which is characterized by a reduced number of choices for each state and has been designed in agreement with the self-revealing approach.

2025, Psychology and Aging

The detrimental influence of distraction on memory and attention is well established, yet it is not as clear whether irrelevant information impacts categorization abilities and whether this impact changes in aging. We examined categorization with morphed prototype stimuli in both younger and older adults, using an adaptive staircase approach to assess participants' performance in conditions with and without visual distractors. Results showed that distraction did not affect younger adults, but produced a negative impact on older adults' categorization such that there was an interaction of age and distraction. These results suggest a relationship between the increased susceptibility to visual distraction in normal aging and impairment in categorization.

2025

The design and computation of crack width in circular Ground Supported Tanks (GST) wall is a time consuming task, which requires a great deal of expertise. It is essential to know crack width of a tank of required capacity and geometry, before its detailed design. In GST, reinforced concrete wall built using high strength deformed bars and designed using Limit State design method were found to have larger crack widths. To enhance durability in reinforced and fibre reinforced concrete wall, these crack widths need to be controlled (limited). It is important to design reinforced concrete structures for parameters like thickness of section, area of steel required, spacing of steel, concrete cover etc., while laying stress on minimal (limited) crack width. Main criteria for limiting the crack width in concrete walls are corrosion and water tightness. A neural network has been considered in the present solution of the analysis problem using a Neuro Solution for excel toolbox, to develop ...

2025, Journal of Voice

To analyze the phonatory and laryngopharyngeal symptoms reported by call center operators; and quantify the impact of these symptoms on quality of life, and the association between these issues and professional performance, number of monthly calls, and number of missed workdays. Methods. Call center operators (n ¼ 157) from a billing call center completed the Vocal Signs and Symptoms Questionnaire and the Brazilian version of the Voice Activity and Participation Profile (VAPP). The company provided data regarding professional performance, average number of monthly calls, and number of missed workdays for each employee. Results. The mean number of current symptoms (6.8) was greater in the operators than data for the general population (1.7). On average, 4.2 symptoms were attributed to occupational factors. The average number of symptoms did not correlate with professional performance (P ¼ 0.571). However, fewer symptoms correlated with decreased missed workdays and higher mean monthly call figures. The VAPP scores were relatively low, suggesting little impact of voice difficulties on call center operator's quality of life. However, subjects with elevated VAPP scores also had poorer professional performance. Conclusions. The presence of vocal symptoms does not necessarily relate to decreased professional performance. However, an association between higher vocal activity limitation and participation scores and poorer professional performance was observed.

2025, Ergonomics

Previous research has found that introverts' performance on complex cognitive tasks is more negatively aVected by distracters, e.g. music and background television, than by extraverts' performance. This study extended previous research by examining whether background noise would be as distracting as music. In the presence of silence, background garage music and o ce noise, 38 introverts and 38 extraverts carried out a reading comprehension task, a prose recall task and a mental arithmetic task. It was predicted that there would be an interaction between personality and background sound on all three tasks: introverts would do less well on all of the tasks than extraverts in the presence of music and noise but in silence performance would be the same. A signi®cant interaction was found on the reading comprehension task only, although a trend for this eVect was clearly present on the other two tasks. It was also predicted that there would be a main eVect for background sound: performance would be worse in the presence of music and noise than silence. Results con®rmed this prediction. These ®ndings support the Eysenckian hypothesis of the diVerence in optimum cortical arousal in introverts and extraverts.

2025, International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering Research and Development

the recognized regions.

2025, The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology

Using a real hardware setup, the precise effect of control knob position, indicator type and scale side on strength of stereotype, index of reversibility (IR) and response time for a horizontal display/rotary control arrangement was studied. The main effects of the three main factors and the control position•scale side interaction were found to be highly significant for human response time, while the direction of instruction influenced stereotype strength. With analysis performed separately for top and bottom controls, for which different conditions of compatibility between clockwisefor-right, counterclockwise-for-left and the Warrick's principle exist, two different relationships were established between response time and stereotype strength. A further precise analysis of counterclockwise-for-left and clockwise-for-right stereotype showed that response time decreases not only with the clockwise-for-right stereotype strength, but also with the counterclockwisefor-left stereotype strength at bottom positions on which the counterclockwise-for-left stereotype agrees with the Warrick's principle. Finally, based on a consideration of response time, stereotype strength and stereotype reversibility, some practical implications for the design of horizontal linear display and rotary control configurations were given. The results of this study provide recommendations for interface design for control consoles commonly used in many different manufacturing systems.

2025, PubMed

Drilling overhead into concrete is a strenuous task that is associated with shoulder, arm, neck and back musculoskeletal disorders due to the forceful and awkward aspects of the work. This common task is done to hang pipes, ducts and trays and is performed by construction workers in the electrical, pipe fitting, sheet metal, ironwork and carpentry trades. In this project, alternative devices for overhead drilling were developed in order to reduce the high shoulder loads. The design premise for the alternative devices was adopted from interventions developed on construction sites. These devices were evaluated for usability, productivity, and fatigue in two rounds of testing by 30 construction workers performing their usual overhead drilling. After each round of testing the device designs were modified based on feedback. The final design was associated with much less arm fatigue but similar productivity compared to the usual method for overhead drilling. The feedback, design suggestions and field testing by experienced construction workers was vital to the successful development of these devices. Field testing were done with real tasks, in diverse field settings, with subjects familiar with the task. Multiple rounds of field testing and redesign can significantly improve the safety and usability of new tools. Having experienced workers accessing the new tools can help with determining if and how a new tool is compatible and beneficial to current work practices.

2025, Occupational and Environmental Medicine

The burden of disabling musculoskeletal pain and injuries (musculoskeletal disorders, MSDs) arising from work-related causes in many workplaces remains substantial. There is little consensus on the most appropriate interventions for MSDs. Our objective was to update a systematic review of workplace-based interventions for preventing and managing upper extremity MSD (UEMSD). We followed a systematic review process developed by the Institute for Work & Health and an adapted best evidence synthesis. 6 electronic databases were searched ( January 2008 until April 2013 inclusive) yielding 9909 non-duplicate references. 26 high-quality and medium-quality studies relevant to our research question were combined with 35 from the original review to synthesise the evidence on 30 different intervention categories. There was strong evidence for one intervention category, resistance training, leading to the recommendation: Implementing a workplace-based resistance training exercise programme can help prevent and manage UEMSD and symptoms. The synthesis also revealed moderate evidence for stretching programmes, mouse use feedback and forearm supports in preventing UEMSD or symptoms. There was also moderate evidence for no benefit for EMG biofeedback, job stress management training, and office workstation adjustment for UEMSD and symptoms. Messages are proposed for both these and other intervention categories.

2025, International journal of human-computer studies

The design and selection of 3D modeled hand gestures for human-computer interaction should follow principles of natural language combined with the need to optimize gesture contrast and recognition. The selection should also consider the discomfort and fatigue associated with distinct hand postures and motions, especially for common commands. Sign language interpreters have extensive and unique experience forming hand gestures and many suffer from hand pain while gesturing. Professional sign language interpreters (N=24) rated discomfort for hand gestures associated with 47 characters and words and 33 hand postures. Clear associations of discomfort with hand postures were identified. In a nominal logistic regression model, high discomfort was associated with gestures requiring a flexed wrist, discordant adjacent fingers, or extended fingers. These and other findings should be considered in the design of hand gestures to optimize the relationship between human cognitive and physical processes and computer gesture recognition systems for human-computer input.

2025, Applied Ergonomics

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a method for evaluating accessibility of medical equipment for patients with disabilities. Methods: The researchers reviewed videotapes of patient-participants with various physical and sensory disabilities using different types of medical equipment. For each of 11 videotapes, four observers independently identified and documented access and safety barriers, such as physical, sensory, cognitive, and environmental barriers. Inter-observer variability for identifying barrier presence was assessed with kappa statistics for pairs of observers. Results: A list of 10 access and safety barriers was developed through an iterative consensus process, which identified design features of medical equipment that presented difficulties for participants with disabilities. The list is useful for identifying and categorizing accessibility problems found in equipment. While reliability of barrier identification was substantial or moderate for some barriers, reconciliation of barrier events identified by multiple video observers is recommended for optimal results.

2025, Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting

As with all scientific disciplines involving research (laboratory or field), the design of an experiment, and the statistical methods used, are critical factors in research rigor, thus in our ability to compare, evaluate and communicate research findings. Courses in experimental design and statistics are required for the pursuit of advanced training in ergonomics. Across various scientific fields, there has been renewed interest in, and scrutiny of, statistical methods in establishing the validity and “truthfulness” of data, opinions, interpretations and projections of outcomes. Ergonomics researchers use distinct research methods (e.g., laboratory vs field; cross-sectional v. experimental, etc.) and must contend with a variety of constraints based on resources, availability of participants and access to the workplace. The variety of study designs chosen will challenge researchers as well as practitioners when comparing their results across published studies and attempting to genera...

2025, Lighting Research & Technology

A flickering light can be seen during a saccadic eye movement as a pattern of contours known as a phantom array. On repeated pairs of trials, observers made saccades across a narrow (1 arc minutes), bright (10−4 cd/m2) source of flickering light and were required to detect the phantom array. On one of each pair of trials, chosen at random, the light flickered at 60 kHz and on the other at a frequency chosen in the range 1–11 kHz. In two such studies, a few observers were reliably able to discriminate 11 kHz from 60 kHz on the basis of the visibility of the phantom array. The average threshold at which the array was visible was about 6 kHz and therefore double that previously obtained with larger targets. Those observers who were able to see the phantom array tended reliably to report more symptoms of visual discomfort in everyday life.

2025

Automotive industry is the main industrial that leading in Malaysia development towards achieving Industrial Revolution 4.0. Safety will be their very first priority while manufacturing a car. During manufacturing process, external and internal components should be comply with the standard that have been set up by the authority. The most important components for the driver will be their seat. Upon driving for a long journey, drivers tend to feel weak and fatigue as time pass by. As a result, this could lead to accidents. Therefore, aim of the study is to develop mathematical modeling based on the psychophysical and biomechanical factors that contribute to the driver fatigue of Proton Saga. The discomfort area will be investigate through online survey and validate using Minitab software. Meanwhile, as for the relationship of the psychophysical and biomechanical will be analyze by simulator and real road conditions also determine the hardness of the seat foam. Based on obtain parameters, the regression analysis will develop and validate the mathematical model for Proton Saga driver seat as the benefits of mathematical modelling able to simplify complex situations and helps our understanding the real world as certain variables can readily be changed.

2025, Physiotherapy Research International

Background and Purpose. Characteristically, sciatica involves radiating leg pain that follows a dermatomal pattern along the distribution of the sciatic nerve. To our knowledge, there are no studies that have investigated risk factors associated with first time incidence sciatica. The purpose of the systematic review was to identify the longitudinal risk factors associated with first time incidence sciatica and to report incidence rates for the condition. For the purposes of this review, first time incidence sciatica was defined as either of the following: 1) no prior history of sciatica or 2) transition from a pain-free state to sciatica. Studies included subjects of any age from longitudinal, observational, cohort designs. Methods. The study was a systematic review. Eight of the 239 articles identified by electronic search strategies met the inclusion criteria. Results. Risk factors and their respective effect estimates were reported using descriptive analysis and the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. Modifiable risk factors included smoking, obesity, occupational factors and health status. Non-modifiable factors included age, gender and social class. Incidence rates varied among the included studies, in part reflecting the variability in the operationalized definition of sciatica but ranged from <1% to 37%. Discussion. A majority of the identified risk factors associated with first time sciatica are modifiable, suggesting the potential benefits of primary prevention. In addition, those risk factors are also associated with unhealthy lifestyles, which may function concomitantly toward the development of sciatica. Sciatica as a diagnosis is inconsistently defined among studies.

2025

The road system has seen a recent influx in Intelligent Road Information Systems (IRIS) in terms of Intelligent Infrastructure and Intelligent Vehicles. Although these devices are intended for the safe and efficient operation of the road system, there is increased concern that they may lead to high driver workloads and driving errors. Road safety practitioners have been striving to develop a driver interface, which could schedule information from the various devices for presentation to the driver so that driver capacity is not exceeded. This requires knowledge about the driver's workload limit, and the level of workload from all sources. Generally, the assessment of workload has been a problem in many workload applications, mainly as a result of the multifaceted nature of the workload concept. Using a driver workload model that combines road complexity with operating speed, this research proposes a driver interface that is more in line with the way the driver adapts the driving task with speed management strategies. With knowledge about driver workload determinants, the proposed interface gives speed management instructions to the driver in order the keep workload within the driver's limit. Vital operational and safety information no longer have to be postponed as it is normally done in interface design. The driver can be instructed to reduce speed to receive vital information from one of the sources (e.g., a cell phone) of the system. The proposal is theoretical. The process needs further experimentation and verification.

2025, 2005 Annual Conference of the Transportation …

2025, International Journal of Advance Research and Innovative Ideas in Education

On road emergency, i.e. tire gets punctured, is a common problem observed in automobile and also it is big headache to driver. Scissor or toggle jacks are one of the best option to overcome this headache. Scissor jack is used to lift the heavy loads in which rotary motion is converted into linear motion. In this Paper, a unique design of scissor jack is compile to lift low as well as heavy load with different conditions. The main purpose and significance of this paper is to design, optimize and standardize the current toggle jack to make the task easier and reliable. Catia is used to develop and analyzed the scissor jack. Mathematical model of design procedure is also made which will suppose to help in standardization of scissor jack design by using MATLAB. The design calculation includes design of Power Screw, Link design, Design of Nut, Pin Design etc. All products from engineering should be versatile with application by maintaining its aesthetics and ergonomics. This paper mainly...

2025, 2016 IEEE 3rd World Forum on Internet of Things (WF-IoT)

The population of older adults will continuously increase over the coming decades. As they get older, people will require assistance and regular monitoring, with higher costs for welfare system and families. Two vital aspects of a healthy lifestyle, are domestic autonomy and maintenance of relationships within the neighborhood. This leads to an interesting research issue: "Could houses and appliances have the potential to improve autonomy and quality of life of citizens? Which methods and tools could enhance wellbeing and healthy conditions? The house has the potential to be a safe, adaptive environment, integrated with technologies for life support. This work seeks to investigate the key implications of architectural accessibility, interior Design features and interactive technologies, related to User Experience Design. The proposed Design approach called "Environment Design to Sustain Users" is based on a scenario composed of two empirical strategies. The reported research aims to support the creation of a new standard of houses in which people can live in a healthy way, enjoying the opportunities of ICT, which shall be "enabling" and integrated in an unobtrusive way so as to be accepted by the user.

2025, The Design Journal

Dysphagia -the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowingcan lead to serious health problems and psychosocial issues. Swallowing disorders impact the health and quality of life of millions of people around the world, which results in significant management and labour costs for the welfare sector. In this paper, we describe the concept for a new hardware/software mobile system to monitor patients' swallowing. The system, designed by a user-centred approach and an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, industrial designers, and engineers, will help patients with dysphagia deal with their rehabilitation at home, safely and autonomously. The intent is to provide an application and a device for healthcare professionals to aid them in managing the care of dysphagic patients, as well as providing support for both caregivers, and patients themselves. Through this interactive system, patient and doctor are in constant contact and the application informs the doctor, or therapist, etc., about the imminent risk factors, in order to be able to act immediately in risky situations. This paper presents the study and the realisation of a suitable and ergonomic design, able to integrate technological features useful to the detection of salient parameters, taking into consideration the psychological repercussions on users and how easily they would accept the solutions offered. This research tries to define, through the form and the functions of hardware and software, a new category of wearable devices, that are easy to use and useful for all involved with this pathology.

2025

A repeated measures, 2 by 2 factorial study, using |4 aviators (17 test iterations) evaluated the effects of the four combinations of unencumbered MOPP0 aviator battle dress uniform (ABDU) and encumbered MOPP4 over ABDU flight ensembles in cool (70°F, 50 percent relative humidity [RH]) and hot (100°F, 50 percent RH) UH-60 cockpit conditions. This report describes the physiological and psychological responses. The most striking, operationally relevant result was that none of the crews in the encumbered MOPP4-hot condition were able to complete the first two 2-hour sorties. The current encumbered MOPP4 aviator uniform in hot conditions decreased average mission endurance from the fully completed mission time of 309 minutes (range: 347-288) to 107 minutes (range: 154-40). The reduced endurance was due to rapid increases in core temperature (0.73°F/hour compared to 0.27°F/hour for the MOPPO-cool condition), progressive physical discomfort and psychological stress, and adversely affected mood. Calculated total body heat storage for the encumbered MOPP4-hot condition was 1445 watts compared to 627 watts for the MOPP0-hot condition. In the encumbered MOPP4-hot condition, heart rate rapidly increased to an average maximum of 142 (range: 170-119) beats per minute (bpm) during the (continued) 20. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY OF ABSTRACT ^ UNCLASSIFIED/UNLIMITED D SAMEASRPT. D DTIC USERS

2025, Archives of gerontology and geriatrics

The Activities specific Balance Confidence (ABC) is a questionnaire which was developed to assess falls-associated self-efficacy. The aim of this study was to evaluate reliability and validity of the German abbreviated 6-item version of the ABC scores in community-dwelling older people. The study sample included 384 subjects (age 71.1 ± 9.7). In order to determine the psychometric properties, reliability and validity were assessed through administration of the German adaptation of the ABC-D16 to participants twice, 10 days apart, and comparison of the ABC-D16 and the ABC-D6 with functional measures of balance and mobility (one-leg stance; 10 m walk; TUG; Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale (FAB)), physical activity (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE)), physical fitness (30s arm curl, 30s chair stand, 6 min walk), cognition (Trail-Making-Test (TMT)), falls status, and quality of life (SF36). Factor analyses suggested a 1-factor solution for the ABC-D6 scale (explained varian...

2025, DS 48: Proceedings DESIGN 2008, the 10th International Design Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia

2025, Electronic physician

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the neck and shoulder are the most common and most influential factors causing disorder in the performance and absenteeism of work in administrative personnel. Aim: To identify risk factors which affect musculoskeletal disorders of neck and shoulder areas in headquarters staff of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 on 282 headquarters personnel of Kerman

2025, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies

2025, American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Stigma against sexual minorities is well documented, but its long-term consequences for health-related quality of life (HRQL) are unknown. This study examined stigmarelated predictors of sexual orientation disparities in HRQL and their contribution to young adult HRQL disparities. In 2013, participants (N=7,304, aged 18-31 years) reported sexual orientation (completely heterosexual [CH], mostly heterosexual, bisexual, and lesbian/gay). The EQ5D-5L, preference weighted for the U.S. population, was used to assess HRQL (range, -0.109 [worse than dead] to 1 [full health]). In prior waves conducted during adolescence, participants reported pastyear bullying victimization (range, 1 [never] to 5 [several times/week]) and subjective social status (SSS) in their school (range, 1 [top] to 10 [bottom]). Analyses conducted in 2016 used longitudinal, multivariable linear and logistic regression to assess the contribution of bullying victimization and SSS in adolescence to sexual orientation disparities in HRQL in young adulthood, controlling for confounders and stratified by gender. Results: Compared with CHs, both female and male sexual minorities reported more bullying victimization and lower SSS in adolescence and lower HRQL in young adulthood (HRQL score among women: mostly heterosexual, 0.878; bisexual, 0.839; lesbian, 0.848; CH, 0.913; HRQL score among men: mostly heterosexual, 0.877; bisexual, 0.882; gay, 0.890; CH, 0.925; all p-values <0.05). When bullying and SSS were added into multivariable models, orientation group effect estimates were attenuated substantially, suggesting bullying and lower SSS in adolescence partly explained HRQL disparities in young adulthood. Conclusions: Stigma-related experiences in adolescence may have lasting adverse effects on sexual minority health in adulthood.

2025, Aging Clinical and Experimental Research

2025, Menopause (New York, N.Y.)

This study aims to identify possible risk factors for falls among Saudi postmenopausal women in a population-based study. Seven hundred seven postmenopausal women aged 50 years or older were followed in a prospective cohort study. Participant demographic characteristics, medical history, lifestyle factors, past-year history of falls, and physical activity (PA) scores were assessed. We recorded single and multiple falls, anthropometric parameters, five special physical performance tests, hormone levels, and bone mineral density measurements. Data on knee osteoarthritis (OA), lumbar spondylosis, and osteopenia were collected. Knee and lower back pain were assessed by interview, and cognition was assessed with Mini-Mental State Examination. During the mean (SD) follow-up of 5.2 (1.3) years, 164 women (23.2%) reported at least one fall, of whom 73 women (10.3%) reported multiple falls. Six independent predictors of all falls were identified: PA score of 12.61 or lower (lowest quartile; ...

2025, International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology

In this paper, a systematic and quantitative view is presented for the application of time study in woodworking furniture industry. The study is done in panel conversion plant on five CNC machines for various operations. For the calculation of cycle time, machining time calculator is developed and the operation research technique of mathematical programming is used for the capacity calculation of product mix. This makes manager to make faster decision in outsourcing problem and to improve the financial performance of the company.

2025, Ergonomics international journal

Several researches have been reported in the last decade to improve comfort (reduce discomfort) of cars interior, especially car seats. Designing a comfortable car seat was and still is the problem of designers and ergonomists. Despite the huge number of researches conducted to reduce discomfort and to improve comfort feeling during driving task, hardly any solution was given to reduce discomfort of the Prolonged Static Posture (PSP) while driving. In this study, a questionnaire was completed by drivers working intensively on vehicles and spending several hours per day driving, to investigate discomfort caused by the driving activities and to get their opinion about aspects that need to be improved in order to design more comfortable car seat. The results show that almost every driver complains of the PSP symptoms after a long driving. In order to find the best possible solution for this problem, participatory and axiomatic design methodologies were employed in this study. Relevance to Industry: This paper may assist the improvement of design aspect of the car seat that consequently leads to reduction of the musculoskeletal injuries caused by the Prolonged Static Posture during driving task.

2025, Disability and Rehabilitation

Background: Human movement, rehabilitation, and allied sciences have embraced their ambitions within the cycle of "RehabMove" congresses over the past 30 years. This combination of disciplines and collaborations in the Netherlands has tried to provide answers to questions in the fields of rehabilitation and adapted sports, while simultaneously generating new questions and challenges. These research questions help us to further deepen our understanding of (impaired) human movement and functioning, with and without supportive technologies, and stress the importance of continued multidisciplinary (inter)national collaboration. Methods: This position stand provides answers that were conceived by the authors in a creative process underlining the preparation of the 6th RehabMove Congress. Results: The take-home message of the RehabMove2018 Congress is a plea for continued multidisciplinary research in the fields of rehabilitation and adapted sports. This should be aimed at more individualized notions of human functioning, practice, and training, but also of performance, improved supportive technology, and appropriate "human and technology asset management" at both individual and organization levels and over the lifespan. Conclusions: With this, we anticipate to support the development of rehabilitation sciences and technology and to stimulate the use of rehabilitation notions in general health care. We also hope to help ensure a stronger embodiment of preventive and lifestyle medicine in rehabilitation practice. Indeed, general health care and rehabilitation practice require a healthy and active lifestyle management and research agenda in the context of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. ä IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Continued multidisciplinary (international) collaboration will stimulate the development of rehabilitation and human movement sciences. Notions from "human and technology asset management and ergonomics" are fundamental to rehabilitation practice and research. The rehabilitation concept will further merge into general health care and the quality there-off.

2025, Work & Stress

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether psychological stress causes increased muscle activity, especially static muscle activity, in the trapezius muscles of the neck and shoulder. A pilot and a main study were carried out with 10 males and 20 females, respectively. The subjects performed a VDU data entry task under psychologically stressful and non-stressful conditions. Stress reactions were measured by different methods : heart rate and heart rate variability, hormonal excretion, and subjective ratings of mood and body symptoms. The stress condition caused an increase in heart rate. The low-frequency variability increased and the high-frequency variability decreased. Ratings of motivation and relaxation decreased, and subjects felt more activated. Pain and discomfort from the stomach increased. Adrenaline and noradrenaline in urine were unaffected. The majority of the subjects showed moderately increased static and median EMG levels during the stress condition. The interindividual variation in muscular reactions was large. Statistically significant increases were obtained for the myoelectric activity of the left (resting) trapezius muscle when pooling the two groups. It appears that the increase in muscle activity due to this type of mental stress is small, and factors other than ' attention-related ' load may be more important. The results indicate that some individuals may be more prone to general muscle tension, making them more likely to develop symptoms and musculoskeletal pain.

2025, Ergonomics

In recent decades, comprehensive rationalisations have been implemented in public dentistry in Sweden. How rationalisations affect working conditions, health and production from a long-term perspective has been poorly investigated. The present study aims to analyse changes and associations in dentists´ working conditions, health and productivity during a 5year period. In 2003 and 2008, sixty-five dentists responded to questionnaires measuring work conditions and health. Treatment times for patients and productivity were tracked in electronic registers. Paired t-tests showed that the number of treated adult patients per dentist increased and perceived physical working conditions improved while perceived work control and leadership deteriorated. Structural equation modelling showed that physical factors were important for health and productivity. Conclusions: When assessing risks in the work environment, there is a need to understand the interaction of effects on working conditions and health due to rationalisations so as to increase the sustainability of production systems. Dentistry in Sweden has undergone considerable change. Questionnaire surveys with dentists, undertaken in 2003 and 2008, found that the present rationalisations resulted in improved perceived physical working conditions. Aspects of the psychosocial working environment had deteriorated, however. This is a concern as health and workability are important for workplace efficiency.

2025, Social Science Research Network

Dans les organisations actuelles, la formation revêt une importance cruciale. Deux grands courants semblent dominer ce champ : le courant psychosociologique et le courant ergonomique. Cette contribution propose une mise en perspective comparative et critique des deux courants. L'enjeu est double : développer les pratiques des formateurs -qu'il s'agisse de professionnels de la formation ou de personnes appelées à jouer ce rôle ponctuellement dans leur carrière -, et aider les commanditaires et bénéficiaires de formation à mieux orienter leurs choix de formation grâce à une meilleure compréhension des deux approches. De cette mise en perspective réalisée à partir tant des travaux historiques que des recherches les plus récentes, il ressort tant des points communs que des divergences. Ceux-ci fondent la nécessité de mobiliser conjointement ces deux courants pour développer les ressources humaines en organisations. moTs-CLés : compétences, développement des ressources humaines, dynamique des groupes, formation, ergonomie, psychosociologie © département des relations industrielles, université laval -issn 0034-379X -ri/ir, 65-3, 2010, 447 -469 447 Daniel Faulx est chargé de cours, post-doctorant à l'

2025, Survey of Ophthalmology

The widespread use of visual display units (VDU) in the workplace has engendered visual complaints and concern for workers' health and safety. The detectable levels of radiation emitted from VDUs have been well below safety levels and exposure to VDUs does not appear to cause any organic damage to the eye. However, visual disturbance and eye discomfort affects many workers using VDUs, and these symptoms may be alleviated by a number of measures, including proper diagnosis of pre-existing ocular problems, use of special eyeglasses, and correct arrangement of lighting and furniture in the work area. (Sure Ophthalmol33:515-522, 1989) Key words. cataract l ergonomics l eyestrain l occupational ophthalmology l radiation l video display terminal l visual display unit