Systems Ergonomic Design
Objectives
This course aims to teach students methodologies focused on improving Human-System compatibility. Considering human capabilities and limitations, work systems must be designed to reduce operator error, stress, and fatigue and improve ease of use, effectiveness, and productivity.
At the end of this course, the student will have acquired knowledge, skills and capacities to:
- identify synergies between ergonomics and other domains of Industrial Engineering
- prevent human error
- prevent occupational stress
- design interactive interfaces
- evaluate the usability of a system or digital interface
- produce work system models, identify human interaction problems with the work system, and explore the design of solutions in a virtual environment using digital tools.
General characterization
Code
10615
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Ana Teresa Martins Videira Gabriel, Isabel Maria Nascimento Lopes Nunes
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 91
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
None are compulsory. However, it is highly recommended that students have already attended the curricular units of Ergonomics and Occupational Safety and Health since the topics are in continuity. In addition, it is highly recommended that students have previous knowledge of Python programming language.
Bibliography
Norman D. A. The Design of Everyday Things, The MIT Press, 1998
Nielsen J. Usability Engineering, Acad Press, 1993
Tullis T.&Albert B. Measuring the user experience, Elsevier, 2008
Nielsen J.&Budiu R. Mobile Usability, New Riders, 2013
Kompier M. &Levi L.O stress no trabalho: causas, efeitos e prevenção. Guia para PME. FEMCVT, Dublin, 1995
Park K.S. Human Error in Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics. G. Salvendy (ed). J.Wiley & Sons, 1997
Teaching method
Teaching methods are based on theoretical and practical sessions.
The theoretical lectures (2 hours per week), in which the main concepts and theory are explained, are supported by data show.
The practical sessions occur in the lab (2 hours per week), in which students participate in the following activities:
• development of a paper prototype for an application;
• development of a digital prototype application: design of interfaces and respective interactions;
• programming a digital application: design of interfaces and respective interactions;
• usability evaluation of a human-system interface;
• problem-solving exercises based on practical cases - for example, analysis and classification of human errors.
Evaluation method
The evaluation process has the following components:
- (50%) 2 individual tests (T1 and T2)
- (50%) 2 practical project-assignments (TP1 and TP2) in groups of 3 students. The first assignment requires a written report in a "conference paper" format. The second assignment requires developing a digital application following the main guidelines of User-Centred Design.
Admission to the individual test (or final exam) depends on "positive" evaluation in the TP component (average grade >=10 points). Students must attend 2/3 of the practical classes.
The final grade is given by:
- Final Grade = 50% T + 50% TP (distributed 15% TP1 + 35% TP2)
Approval requires mín. grades of 10 pts on both components T and TP (the latter based on the average of the 2 TP).
Exam (compulsory for the students without approval in the individual test). The exam replaces the tests on the same proportion (60%).
Subject matter
1. Design of Work systems with computers: Ergonomic requirements. Legislation. Workstation components and layout. Occupational health problems. New HCI.
2. Ergonomics and Lean Six Sigma in the design of work systems: objectives and advantages, synergies and antagonisms, the role of Ergonomics within Industry 5.0, and its relationship with digital interfaces.
3. Human Error and Cognitive Ergonomics: Definitions and classification of human error. Human Reliability Assessment (HRA): Prevention of human error in interface design.
4. Interfaces design. Human-system interaction. User-centred development of interfaces. Usability Principles. Prototyping. Methods for evaluating usability. Cognitive Walkthrough and Nielsen heuristics. Examples of Prototyping Software packages. Programming digital interfaces with Phython.
5. Work-related stress. Concepts. Health effects. Assessment methods and prevention of stress.