T3WK4 - Ergonomics (Product Description and Idea Trigger)

Picture of the product
i) Describe the product. (Appearance, Color, Function, etc)
The product is easily scale removal plane. It is convenient to remove the scales of  a fish. Its texture is smooth and comes in orange and white colours. One can put two fingers in the holes and use to clean the scales of a fish.

ii) What are the design considerations when designing this product?


It must be waterproof and must be sharp enough to get rid of the scales of fish.

iii) Would an elderly faced difficulty using this product? If yes, what are the difficulties that the elderly would face?
An elderly would face difficulty in using this product. The elderly might not be able to stuff his fingers into the holes.


My improved version:

Ergonomics 2

1. What is Ergonomics?


Ergonomics is the science of designing the job, equipment, and workplace to fit the worker.

2. What are the 5 aspects of Ergonomics?


The 5 aspects of Ergonomics are safety, comfort, ease of use, productivity/performance and aesthetics. 


3. For each aspects of Ergonomics, explain with an example of a product that is designed for the elderly, how the product meet that particular aspect of Ergonomics.


Safety- Sign boards, especially in car parks. The sign boards must be clear and big so that the elderly will understand the directions and will not need to risk getting knocked down by a car.


Comfort- The grip of the medicine bottles should be design in a way that the elderly can grip it easily and firmly so that the elderly will not spill the contents or pills in the bottle. 


Ease of use-Grab bars in the toilets must be to the ease of the elderly to use so that they will not slip in the toilet.


Productivity/Performance-The trolley that the elderly always use whenever they go to the market. It must not require a lot of effort for the elderly to push the trolley.


Aesthetics-For aesthetics would be the adjustable back,arm and head rest to suit and adapt to the sitting posture of the elderly so that will not hurt the back of the elderly.

Ergonomics 1- Question 4

4. Why do you think that Ergonomics is important when designing?


We need to accommodate to the user's comfort and needs and benefit the company and the worker. Increase productivity of the work.

Ergonomics I

1. Compare the 2 different workplaces, state your observations.


The person at the 1st workplace have difficulties in adjusting the height of the chair to suit himself at the table. He also had some difficulties finding a comfortable distance from the chair to the table as he is fidgeting. The person at the 2nd workplace is comfortable with his chair as he can lean back on the chair when he is typing. It seems to be a comfortable distance from the chair to the table. The metal part of the chair allow the person to lean back easily.

The person at the 1st workplace also had trouble reading the monitor's screen. He could not move the monitor on the table nearer to him. The person at the 2nd workplace could make use the monitor's arm to adjust the distance of the monitor nearer to him. It allows comfort for the 2nd person as he does not need to scrunch his eyes just to read off the monitor.

The 1st person could not find the perfect lighting for him. It is either too glaring or too dim. The design of the lights focused the lights onto the person's face while the lights at the 2nd person's workplace focused the lights at the object. Hence, the 2nd person would not have to endure the glaring light while still have sufficient light to see. 

The chair at the 1st person's workplace does not allow the person to move freely. He almost spilled his drink onto himself. The chair at the 2nd person's workplace has a adjustable armrest so that the person can move the armrest down when he is not using it. He will not have to worry that he will knock into the armrest. When he needs a support for his arms, then he will lift the armrest up. The design of the armrest allows the user to use armrest when needed without the armrest being a nuisance when it is not needed.