HUMAN FACTORS
Human
factors information refers to the variables that affect human performance in
the built environment, such as human physiology and human psychology.
Data
accumulated from the fields of engineering, biology, psychology, and anthropology
are integrated in this multidisciplinary field.
Fit describes a design that uses human factors information to create a
stimulating but non-stressful environment for human use. Some areas of fit are
physiological, psychological, sensual, and cultural.
ANTHROPOMETRICS AND ERGONOMICS
The
field of anthropometrics provides information about the dimension and
functional capacity of the human body. Static anthropometrics measures the body
at rest; dynamic anthropometrics measures the body while performing activities
defined as "work.” Dimensional variation occurs in anthropometric data
because of the large range of diversity in the human population. To utilize
anthropometric charts effectively, a designer must identify where a subject
user group falls in relationship to these variables. The factors that cause
human variations are gender, age, ethnicity, and race. Patterns
of growth affected by human culture cause variation in human measure as well.
Percentiles that refer to the frequency of occurrence describe dimensional
variation on anthropometric charts: that is, the mean percentile
)(50%), the small extreme percentile (2.5%), and the large extreme
percentile (97.5%).
Ergonomics
is the application of human factors data to design. This term was coined by the
HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Human
behavior is motivated by innate attributes such is the five senses and by
learned cultural attributes. Each human
has a unique innate capacity to gather sensual information. How that
information is understood is determined by personal and cultural experience.
Proxemics is the study of human
behavior as it relates to learned cultural behavior. Human behavior is motivated
by the innate nature of the animal, and this behavior is expressed and modified
by each person's learned culture and traditions.
Innate Human Attributes
The
five senses determine human comfort levels in the environment and are a part of
human factors studies.
Sight. Behavioral scientists agree
that, for human beings, seeing is the most engaged sense for gathering
information. Physical form is perceived when visual data is organized into
patterns, and that data is integrated with memories and emotions. Visual form
is perceived as having a context with boundaries. Visual form can be understood
to be a dynamic system of directional lines of forces that are innate, kinetic,
and independent of the representational content of a form. Once a form's attributes
have been perceived, humans tend to give the perceived form symbolic meaning.
This meaning is cultural and personal, resulting from associations and past
experiences.
Touch. Touch is essential to human
development and growth. Texture is learned most completely through skin
contact. Human skin is sensitive to temperature, pain, and pressure. Vision and
touch are interwoven in sighted humans. Memory of tactile experiences allows
humans to understand their environment through visual scanning.
Hearing. Humans can use hearing to
determine distances. Sound moves in concentric circles and in horizontal and
vertical planes. The ear transmits these airborne vibrations to the brain where
it is processed and assigned meaning. The ability to focus hearing is called
sensory gating. The ability to gate sound varies, and diminishes with aging.
Smell
and Taste. Research about smell is difficult to conduct because human
sensitivity to smell is highly variable over time and from person to person. A
person's sense of smell to an odor can fatigue quickly during exposure. Smell
is defined in terms of commonly perceived odors such as flowery, putrid,
burned, resinous, and spice. Taste and smell are closely related in human
experience.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN
Good design
that works with respect to human factors issues can result in universal design.
Principles of universal design are:
.
Equitable use
.
Perceptible information
.
Flexibility
.
Tolerance of error
.
Simple and intuitive use
. Low
physical effort
Universal
design differs from accessible design.
Universal design functions equally well for as inclusive a group of
users as is possible; accessible design addresses the requirements of only one
user group, people with disabilities. By limiting the user group description,
accessible design can be exclusive and can segregate people with disabilities
from others.
DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS
Some
aspects of human behavior related to territoriality are cultural. The space
between objects has form but the space between people is kinetic. The dimension
of human territoriality varies in dimension due to cultural forces.
Defensible
space occurs when designed form reinforces meaning for the user and where
boundary and ownership are visible in public space.
.
Intimate space is where lovers, family, small children, and close friends are
allowed to enter.
.
Personal space is a protected area where strangers are not welcome.
.
Social space is a range of space in which most public interactions occur.
Speech and expression are clear and communications are efficient and accurate.
.
Public distance is the range of space where it is not considered rude to ignore
someone; and it does not allow interaction.
Faith