You are required to carry out an ergonomics assessment of a motor
car.
Background: A motor car (automobile) has been chosen as
the “working environment” for
this exercise. We believe that a car represents an artefact worthy of study in
this way and a useful “educational” example. It is assumed that you will be
able to access such a vehicle for the purposes of this exercise. If this is not
the case, then contact the Course Secretary for advice.
The whole of the Ergonomics module has
relevance to this assignment, but you should ensure that your answer
demonstrates a good understanding of topics covered in Units 1 to 5 and 9.
The primary focus of your report is to
assess the usability of the car in terms of the driver. Your assignment should
take the form of a report using the following headings.
1. Write a brief introduction to your
report stating your aims and outlining your structure.
2. The car: Specify the make,
model and year of manufacture of the car you studied. You should state whether
it is right or left hand drive and whether this is the standard form of control
layout in the country where the study was conducted.
3. The driver: Record, age,
gender, year received full driving licence, driving experience, approximate mileage
driven annually and approximate mean driving time in a normal day.
4. Ergonomics assessment of a car: This is the major part of the study. It involves you carrying
out an ergonomics assessment of a specific workspace envelope. You should use
the following sub-sections.
4.1. Displays: Produce a comprehensive list of the
displays on the dashboard. Design a classification system for the displays,
based on function, location, form and use of coding. For example, consider the
extent that the size and location of the various instruments reflect the type
and importance of the information displayed, what information can be perceived
without moving the head and how the display changes to accommodate visual
acuity in different lighting conditions. Based on the Multiple Resource Theory,
note the number of modalities used to convey information about the internal and
external environment as well as the status of the car. Include on board devices
(e.g. car phone or satellite navigation device) and consider how they impact
upon workload when driving. Make sure you relate your classification system to
ergonomic theory and evaluate the links between theory and practice in terms of
the display's usability. You may use tables, graphs or pictures to illustrate
your classification scheme.
4.2. Display/control relationships: How many controls
does the user interact with when driving? How many controls require
simultaneous manipulation and how does the physical distribution of controls
map onto the different ways the driver can interact with the system (e.g. using
your hands and feet)? To what extent does the design of the controls reflect
natural affordances or stereotypical assumptions? Choose three display/control
configurations and comment on their appropriateness. For example, downward
pressure on the throttle (accelerator /gas) pedal when the car is in motion
causes the speedometer to move “clockwise”. This is a display/control
relationship and if you choose this example, you should comment on the
compatibility of this relationship to the driver’s expectations.
4.3. Automation: There is a lot of current research on
automation for cars and some examples already exist, such as automatic
gearboxes, cruise control, parking sensors. Choose three areas for actual or
fictitious automation of car driver activities and comment on their possible
advantages and disadvantages. Consider how automation of these activities can
be used thttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7119612127988552053#editor/src=sidebaro modulate 'workload' or provide greater functionality for people with
physical disabilities. Also note any potential problems associated with the
automation you propose (e.g. how might automation affect situational
awareness?).
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