From DAVID J. PULLINGER
Malcolm Holmes has believed the ads (Forum, 18 May). They are common
enough in claiming ‘ergonomic’ features for equipment. One cannot blame
him for thinking that ergonomics is concerned about the average person.
This view however is a parody.
Ergonomics is concerned about designing the equipment to a person for
a task which is being done within the environment experienced. Thus you
cannot have an ergonomic tool or seat without specification of the three
other factors.
In actuality, ergonomists have been responsible for encouraging the
design and development of much left-handed equipment as well as dealing
with other leftedness in the human body, such as left-eyedness. They have
argued for flexible kitchen surface heights rather than preset, noting in
general the need for doors of greater than average height!
No, ergonomists do not design for an average person. By the time they
have included physical, physiological and psychological aspects and then
preferences, there are few average people. If you then include the task
and the environment there are few average situations.
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David J. Pullinger Sociery Religion and Technology Project Edinburgh
