The origin of ergonomics
The word ‘ergonomics’ is a portmanteu of Greek and English origin, consisting of two parts: ‘ergon’ – to work; and ‘nomics’ – stretching loosely to the term ‘economics’.
It is an interdisciplinary science, used in many fields such as philosophy, psychology, medicine, hygiene, anthropology, and the technical sciences.
The goal of ergonomics
The main goal of ergonomics is to adapt and purpose the possibility of human psychophysical tools, machinery, working environment and conditions. The appropriate relationship between all of these industries provides an answer to the mismatch between biological parameters of a working person and the efficiency of the machine.
The author of the term ‘ergonomics’ is attributed to Wojciech Jastrzębowski Milosz, who writing in the Nature and Industry Journal in 1857, published an article entitled Figure Ergonomics, or the ‘science of work’, based on truths drawn from the Science of Nature. Its ideas differ somewhat with today’s definition, which can be considered a precursor to Jastrzębowski ergonomics.’
It was established much earlier (when people sought to improve their tools) to prove their shape and dimensions to match the size of his hand. To observe this, we can take a look at simple tools used for millennia by our ancestors, such as the hammer, chisel or saw, which retain an unchanged shape due to their practicality and convenience of use.
Wartime Ergonomics
The period of wartime production/development of supplies were essential in keeping fighting-fit and increase the productivity of human labour. With the passing of years, the means of production grew complicated and required professional service.
Alphonse Chapanis analysed the mistakes made in human-machine relationships, and determined that they are variable in nature and result in human failutre. The activities of ergonomics is to adapt the working environment to the user. However, there are cases in which the technique has a limited impact on the work environment and that it must adapt to existing conditions eg at sea or in mines.
The only solution is to distance and mitigate the relationship between people and the environment, using funds available, if at all possible. To implement ergonomics, it is important to accrue considerable knowledge about human interaction. Observation alone is not enough. There needs also to be technical knowledge or intuition -failing to notice this fact usually leads to failure.
Incompatibility between the user and the product/machine will slow down work, and increase the risk of human injury or discomfort. The public can achieve incredible benefits by accepting the demands of ergonomics as the growth of productivity without increased human effort.
Everyday objects appear on the market that advertise their product as friendly to both humans and ergonomically ‘correct’. This means that it works in harmony with people and risk of injury is minimized. Designers have also turned and began to perceive designs in different stages of development (a child, middle age and older). It is noted that anthropometric characteristics and physical abilities of us change with age.
The diversity of the human body – its height, sex has also been tested. Designers also examined people with disabilities, pregnant women and different body proportions of other races. Designers have surrendered projects for different audiences and their changing expectations. Noticing and meeting these desirable (often unconscious) by the user provide solutions in the interest of every creator and manufacturer.