Ergotyping tools for ergonomic research on human-machine interfaces in Digital Prototyping

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The best basis for health-conscious and competitive solutions is provided by an informed and prescient ergonomic interpretation of the product and system components of changing characteristics of user populations. OBJECTIVE: Software-based ergonomic evaluation permits the simulation and assessment of human-machine interactions. The goal is to develop suitable ergonomic tools that can estimate work-related stress by using virtual human and environment models. METHODS: Ergonomic findings and data from various sources were made available for computer-based processing. RESULTS: Development of software solutions that interact with a digital human model (“Visibility”, “Body Forces”, “Posture Analysis”, and “Manual Handling Evaluation”). CONCLUSIONS: Usage of ergonomic software still requires expert knowledge and involves comprehensive initial training. However, particularly in the context of iterative problem-solving processes, the software provides significant advantages because it allows for a comparison of different virtual solutions.