Ergonomics in Design

Methods and Techniques

Marcelo M. Soares, Francisco Rebelo, Marcelo M. Soares, Francisco Rebelo

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781315350677
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Ciencia de la computación
• Subtopic: Interacción persona-computadora

Currently people deal with various entities (such as hardware, software, buildings, spaces, communities and other people), to meet specific goals while going about their everyday activities in work and leisure environments. These entities have become more and more complex and incorporate functions that hitherto had never been allocated such as automation, use in virtual environments, connectivity, personalization, mobility and friendliness. This book contributes to the analysis of human-system interactions from the perspective of ergonomics, regardless of how simple or complex they are, while incorporating the needs of users and workers in a healthy safe, efficient and enjoyable manner.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the state of the art of current ergonomic in design methods and techniques that are being applied to products, machinery, equipment, workstations and systems while taking new technologies and their applications into consideration.

Ergonomics in Design: Methods and Techniques is organized into four sections and 30 chapters covering topics such as conceptual aspects of ergonomics in design, the knowledge of human characteristics applied to design, and the methodological aspects of design. Examples are shown in several areas of design including, but not limited to, consumer products, games, transport, education, architecture, fashion, sustainability, biomechanics, intelligent systems, virtual reality, and neurodesign.

This book will:

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• Introduces the newest developments in social-cultural approaches

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• Shows different ergonomics in design methodological approaches

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• Divulges the ways that ergonomics can contribute to a successful design

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• Applies different subjects to support the design including –ergonomics, engineering, architecture, urbanism, neuro, and product designs.

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• Presents recent technologies in ergonomic design, as applied to product design.

With the contributions from a team of 75 researchers from 11 countries, the book covers the state-of-the-art of ergonomics in a way to produce better design.

Section IV

Design Development

21	Human Body–Sleep System Interaction in Young Adult Residence
	A Methodology and Tool for Measure and Evaluation of Interaction Patterns Using a Software iSEE with Observation of Postural Behaviors during Sleep
	Gustavo Desouzart, Ernesto Filgueiras, Rui Matos, and Filipe Melo

CONTENTS

21.1Introduction

21.2Methodology

21.2.1Study Site and Residence Bedrooms' Properties

21.2.2Subjects and Night Activities

21.2.3Recording Procedure and Features

21.2.4Data Collection and Analysis Method

21.2.4.1Level 1: Observation Categories Refer to Activities

21.2.4.2Observation Categories Related to Postures

21.3Results

21.4Conclusion

Acknowledgments

References

21.1INTRODUCTION

Sleep disruption is a growing problem that may have serious health effects (Wright et al., 2007). In many Western societies, decreased time available for sleep and/or increased sleep disturbance is often associated with a demanding life style and is a growing problem (Rajaratman and Arendt, 2001; National Sleep Foundation, 2005; Soares, 2005; Wright et al., 2007).

Sleep and circadian rhythms, one of several biological rhythms found in humans, are produced jointly by the action of various structures of the nervous system and are influenced by various environmental factors. The importance of sleep as a restorative and homeostatic agent has evident influence on the waking state of the individual. Sleep disorders can bring various effects to humans, causing loss of quality of life, autonomic dysfunction, and decreased professional or academic performance (Danda et al., 2005).

Many young adults have occasional sleep disorders and pain may be one of the factors that cause them. However, in some cases, these problems can become chronic, causing serious consequences in their behavior and their quality of life (Pter, 1990).

Humans spend approximately one-third of their lives in bed, while a synergy of psychological, physiological, and physical conditions affects the quality of sleep. An insufficiently adapted sleep system (i.e., mattress + support structure + head cushion) or an incorrect sleeping posture may cause back pain (BP) or sleep disorders in general (Haex, 2005). The comfort and support of the sleep surface are related to problems of sleep quality and efficiency. Certain sleep surfaces have resulted in complaints of lower back discomfort, pain, or stiffness (Addison et al., 1986; Jacobson et al., 2009). The risk of BP has a multi-factorial nature and is one of the most compelling problems in the industrialized world, being that poor posture is one of these factors (Vieira and Kumar, 2004; Haex, 2005; Geldhof et al., 2007; Silva et al., 2009). Posture, according to Silva et al. (2009), is considered to be the biomechanical alignment and the spatial arrangement of body parts in relation to their segments.

BP is a leading cause of disability. It occurs in similar proportions in all cultures, interferes with quality of life and daily performance, and is the most common reason for medical consultations. Few cases of BP are due to specific causes; most cases are nonspecific. Acute BP is the most common presentation and is usually self-limiting, lasting less than 3 months regardless of treatment. Chronic BP is a more difficult problem, which often has a strong psychological overlay (Ehrlich, 2003).

BP is one of the most common forms of chronic pain and is a significant cause of disability and cost in society (Andersson et al., 1993; Mantyselka et al., 2001; Walker et al., 2004). Chronic BP substantially influences the capacity to work and has been associated with the inability to obtain or maintain employment and productivity lost (Stang et al., 1998; Stewart et al., 2003). About 80% of the population have experienced BP at some time in their lives (Schmidt and Kohlmann, 2005).

For example, musculoskeletal BP is the most common reason for medical evacuation in the military with return to occupation being uncertain. BP is also a common reason for long-term disability (Lincoln et al., 2002; Cohen et al., 2009, 2010).

Despite continuous research and development of new interventions, BP remains a clinical challenge because it is a condition with high incidence and prevalence (Koes et al., 2010; Mayer et al., 2010) and a condition that has a considerable cost in health care, with negative socioeconomic impact in industrialized societies (Apeldoorn et al., 2010; Van Middelkoop et al., 2011).

Pain results from either exacerbated noxious impulses, or lack of them. In addition, pain cannot be conditioned by peripheral nociceptive stimuli, and psychogenic pain a good example of these exacerbated impulses (World Health Organization, 2001).

Maintaining an ideal posture and exercise are essential for a healthy body, free of pain, especially the spine.

Gross et al. (2000), often claim that the occurrence of BP precedes or is concomitant with changes in body posture. This association can be explained by the fact that many body postures adopted in day to day are inadequate to the anatomical structures, increasing the total stress on the body elements, especially on the spine, which may cause discomfort, pain, or functional disability.

Current research and international clinical guidelines recommend people with BP to take a more active role in their recovery, to prevent pain chronicity (Moffett, 2002; van Tulder et al., 2005; Liddle et al., 2007). A postural intervention program is often used for people with complaints of BP, predominantly based on postural recommendation approaches, which enables a more active participation of this population in their rehabilitation process (Moffett, 2002; Casserley-Feeney et al., 2008; Liddle et al., 2009; Hurley et al., 2010).

However, little or nothing is referenced in the literature on the effectiveness of the physical therapy approach using postural recommendations for aspects such as pain in the region of the spine or related disorders in the sleep period (Hurley et al., 2010). According to the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society, one of the recommendations made to patients with complaints of BP is postural intervention, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (recommendations of postural behavior) (Chou et al., 2008).

Sleep and rest are as essential for the musculoskeletal system as they are for the central nervous system. It would be illogical for the musculoskeletal system to remain fully operational during the body's rest periods (Gracovetsky, 1987). The behavioral and postural habits and sleep rhythm can be changed depending on the type of daily activity (work or academic activities) or other types of events, but this has rarely been reported in the literature, which would allow an analysis and evaluation of this behavior through sleep disorders. The decreased time available for sleep and/ or increased sleep disturbance is often associated with a demanding life style and other challenges imposed by modern society. Perhaps, this is related to the fact that the evaluation of this behavior is complex and the observation of these postural behaviors in the environmental context is needed.

Curcio et al. (2006) reported that many young adults of different educational levels and different type of work suffer from sleep disorders. It was found that higher cognitive functions such as attention, memory, or performance of complex tasks are compromised when there are changes in sleep patterns. On the same theme, Ban and Lee (2001) reported that the deficiency or sleep disorders are known to have serious consequences in various ways, particularly causing problems such as decreased concentration, memory, decreased ability to perform daily tasks, decreased willingness, and decreased interpersonal relationships.

Young adults are recognized as having insufficient sleep on weekdays and sleeping long hours during the weekends. For example, two-thirds of young adult university students reported occasional sleep disturbances, and about a third of these reported suffering regularly from severe sleep difficulties. These disorders are marked by gradual late waking up or more absences from classes, leading to poor academic performance and excessive sleepiness durin...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle
• Human Factors and Ergonomics Series
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Editors
• Contributors
• Section I Theoretical Issues
• Section II Human Characteristics in Design
• Section III Methodological Issues
• Section IV Design Development
• index