Including Preference in Anthropometry-Driven Models for Design
In Publications
Garneau, C. J. and Parkinson, M. B. (2009). ASME Journal of Mechanical Design 131(10).
In the design of artifacts that interact with people, the spatial dimensions of the target user population are often used to determine requirements of the engineered artifact. The expected variability in body dimensions (called “anthropometry”) is used to indicate how much adjustability or how many sizes are required to accommodate the intended user population. However, the quantification of anthropometric variability alone is not sufficient to make these kinds of assessments in many situations. For example, two vehicle drivers with similar body dimensions might have different preferred locations for the seat. In these situations, preference can be broken into two components: that explained by body size and the variability that remains. By quantifying the magnitude of both sources, preference can be included in modeling strategies and design decision-making. Continue reading…