Space Station Human Factors Research Review. Volume 4: Inhouse Advanced Development and Research

A variety of human factors studies related to space station design are presented. Subjects include proximity operations and window design, spatial perceptual issues regarding displays, image management, workload research, spatial cognition, virtual interface, fault diagnosis in orbital refueling, and error tolerance and procedure aids

Ergonomic Evaluation on Chicken Feeder Tool at Egg-Laying Chicken Farm SME

This research aims to evaluate the egg-laying chicken feeder that was designed at egg-laying chicken farm small and medium enterprise (SME). The main reason of this tool design was due to the worker’s complain of feeling pain during the feeding process. Evaluation was performed based on Nordic Body Map questionnaire result, physiological workload, and NIOSH lifting equation calculation. The observed work ranged from the feed filling in the basket until all feeds were distributed. The results showed that the %CVL was in the range of 18%-30% and the energy consumption of workers was in the range of 1.24-3.00 Kcal/minute. Thus, physiologically, the work activities carried out by the feed workers were categorized as very light workload. Meanwhile, evaluation using Lifting Index (LI) methods in the process of feeding showed the LI value ranged from 0.9-1, therefore this activity is safe to perform manually. Based on the prototype evaluation on the feeding aid, the process of feeding activities was more effective 1.5 times faster than the old tools. In addition, with the use of this new tool, the feeding process was easier to adjust the dose each time

How to Measure Stress in Smart and Intelligent Manufacturing Systems: A Systematic Review

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has introduced innovative technologies to manufacturing, resulting in digital production systems with consequences on workers’ roles and well-being. From the literature emerges the necessity to delve into the work-related stress phenomenon since it affects workers’ health status and performance and companies’ productivity. This review summarises the stress indicators and other influential factors in order to contribute to a stress assessment of human workers in smart and intelligent manufacturing systems. The PRISMA methodology is adopted to select studies consistent with the aim of the study. The analysis reviews objective measurements, such as physical, physiological, and subjective measurements, usually driven by a psychological perspective. In addition, experimental protocols and environmental and demographic variables that influence stress are illustrated. However, the investigation of stress indicators combined with other factors leads to more reliable and effective results. Finally, it is discovered that standards regarding stress indicators and research variables investigated by experimental studies are lacking. In addition, it is revealed that environmental and demographic variables, which may reveal significant suggestions for stress investigation, are rather neglected. This review provides a theorical summary of stress indicators for advanced manufacturing systems and highlights gaps to inspire future studies. Moreover, it provides practical guidelines to analyse other factors that may influence stress evaluation

Aerospace medicine and biology: A continuing bibliography with indexes, supplement 218, April 1981

This bibliography lists 161 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in March 1981

Mapping ergonomics application to improve SMEs working condition in industrially developing countries: a critical review

In industrially developing countries (IDC), small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for the highest proprotion of employment. Unfortunately, the working conditions in SMEs are often very poor and expose employees to a potentially wide range of health and safety risks. This paper presents a comprehensive review of 161 articles related to ergonomics application in SMEs, using Indonesia as a case study. The aim of this paper is to investigate the extent of ergonomics application and identify areas that can be improved to promote effective ergonomics for SMEs in IDC. The most urgent issue found is the need for adopting participatory approach in contrast to the commonly implemented top-down approach. Some good practices in ergonomics application were also revealed from the review, e.g. a multidisciplinary approach, unsophisticated and low-cost solutions, and recognising the importance of productivity. The review also found that more work is still required to achieve appropriate cross-cultural adaptation of ergonomics application. Practitioner Summary: Despite continuous efforts in addressing ergonomics issues in SMEs of IDC, workers are still exposed to poor work conditions. We reviewed factual-based evidence of current ergonomics application to inform future strategies of ergonomics in IDC, using Indonesia as a case study

Mental and physical workload in laparoscopic surgery

Imperial Users onl

Aerospace Medicine and Biology. A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 225)

This bibliography lists 140 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in October 1981

An Assessment of Unmanned Aircraft System Pilot Discomfort and Fatigue

The rapid growth of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) use in both the military and civil sectors has uncovered an array of challenges within the field. In terms of human factors and ergonomics, the influence of the unique physical design of the control stations used to pilot the unmanned aircraft on local muscular fatigue and discomfort are of great concern. This study was conducted to assess the influence of two display configurations, Side-by-Side (SS) and Stacked (ST), and two chairs, Ergonomic (EC) and Captain’s (CC), on mean and median power frequencies, root mean square amplitude, posture, discomfort, workload, and seat pressure. Sixteen participants [age: 24.75 ± 2.96 years; gender: 4 female/ 12 male; height: 177.56 ± 9.09 cm; weight: 81.37 ± 16.43 kg] completed four, 2-hour simulated UAS flights for all chair/display combinations. Eight participants piloted one, 6-hour simulated UAS flight in the display/chair combination which best minimized discomfort and fatigue in the two-hour flights, EC/SS. During the two-hour flights, muscle activity, discomfort, posture, workload, and seat pressure findings indicated increased muscular fatigue and discomfort over time. Generally, the EC/SS condition appeared to best mitigate muscular fatigue and postures associated with increased risk for the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Six-hour flight data failed to provide additional insights on the influence of extended duration flights on the dependent variables of this study. Finally, linear regression analysis revealed muscle activity can likely be predicted during UAS piloting tasks using the dependent variables in this study; however, the study failed to provide evidence that models built from two-hour data can accurately predict muscle activity out to six hours

Nomadic input on mobile devices: the influence of touch input technique and walking speed on performance and offset modeling

In everyday life people use their mobile phones on-the-go with different walking speeds and with different touch input techniques. Unfortunately, much of the published research in mobile interaction does not quantify the influence of these variables. In this paper, we analyze the influence of walking speed, gait pattern and input techniques on commonly used performance parameters like error rate, accuracy and tapping speed, and we compare the results to the static condition. We examine the influence of these factors on the machine learned offset model used to correct user input and we make design recommendations. The results show that all performance parameters degraded when the subject started to move, for all input techniques. Index finger pointing techniques demonstrated overall better performance compared to thumb-pointing techniques. The influence of gait phase on tap event likelihood and accuracy was demonstrated for all input techniques and all walking speeds. Finally, it was shown that the offset model built on static data did not perform as well as models inferred from dynamic data, which indicates the speed-specific nature of the models. Also, models identified using specific input techniques did not perform well when tested in other conditions, demonstrating the limited validity of offset models to a particular input technique. The model was therefore calibrated using data recorded with the appropriate input technique, at 75% of preferred walking speed, which is the speed to which users spontaneously slow down when they use a mobile device and which presents a tradeoff between accuracy and usability. This led to an increase in accuracy compared to models built on static data. The error rate was reduced between 0.05% and 5.3% for landscape-based methods and between 5.3% and 11.9% for portrait-based methods

Applications of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire: A Review

Sustainability seeks to provide economically viable products in an environmentally friendly way while respecting worker rights. Physical wellbeing forms part of these rights. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) diminish productivity, cause absence from work, impose costs on the public health system and can cast doubt on the sustainability of a company or a product. The objective of the present work is to review the literature on the application of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) on a worldwide level. In this work, the use of the NMQ has been classified by categories of knowledge, countries and years. The search was made using “Web of Science-Core Collection”. In total, 259 articles were chosen from scientific journals and conferences related, according to the title and or abstract, to the practical application of the questionnaire. In conclusion, the NMQ has been applied mainly in three sectors: “activities related to treating human health and social issues”, “manufacturing industries”, and “agriculture, livestock, fishing, and forestry”. The NMQ is an indirect method commonly used individually or complemented with other methods for evaluating the MSD and possible associated psychosocial and labour risks. The use of NMQ can help in the evaluation of the sustainability of a company