Applied Ergonomics最新文献

{"title":"Using wearable measures to infer moments in workload from Electrodermal Activity and individual workload from Heart Rate Variability during a simulated railway signalling task","authors":"Abigail Fowler ,&nbsp;Catherine Harvey ,&nbsp;Max L. Wilson ,&nbsp;Sarah Sharples","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104710","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104710","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Physiological measures offer potential for real-time collection of data to inform understanding of the nature of work in safety critical settings. This study collected physiological data from wearable measures to assess the Mental Workload (MWL) of twenty participants whilst they completed a simulated railway signalling task. Electrodermal Activity (EDA) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) temporal data were compared to task demand (number of trains) and subjective workload. Average HRV showed a strong negative correlation with average subjective workload. EDA peaks indicated moments in workload including moments of realisation, uncertainty, or time pressure during the task in some participants. HRV and EDA results imply individuals vary in their experience of workload and physiological data can detect variation between participants. Results suggest EDA and HRV data could supplement existing measures of MWL during continuous tasks, through detecting both the timing of individuals’ changing experience of workload and underlying physiological state.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104710"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145776742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"What drives the effective integration of lift assists in automotive assembly? Perspectives from operators, ergonomists, and manufacturers","authors":"Ahmad Raza Usmani ,&nbsp;Sunwook Kim ,&nbsp;Marty Smets ,&nbsp;Maury A. Nussbaum","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104711","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104711","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Automotive assembly workers experience elevated risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders due to frequent material handling. Lift assists (LAs) can reduce these risks by offsetting payload weights. However, integrating LAs into complex workflows can be challenging, and workers may choose not to use LAs to achieve other objectives. We interviewed 16 operators, nine ergonomists, and six LA manufacturers to capture diverse viewpoints. Content analysis revealed perspectives on LA usability, design, implementation, and operational concerns. Operators noted physical demands in initiating, turning, or stopping LAs, and emphasized lightweight designs, simplified controls, and structured training. Ergonomists reported retrofitting LAs into workflows not designed for LAs, creating integration challenges. LA manufacturers described balancing ergonomic goals with operational demands and evolving requirements, emphasizing the need for better design feedback. Our findings suggest that heavy equipment, complex controls, and limited training hinder successful LA implementation; we offer recommendations to improve future LA design and implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104711"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pilot response to somatogravic illusion in a simulated environment: Implications for early instrument flight training","authors":"Vladimir Socha ,&nbsp;Lenka Hanakova ,&nbsp;Boris Oniscenko ,&nbsp;Robert O. Walton","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104713","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104713","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The somatogravic illusion, a vestibular misperception caused by linear acceleration in the absence of visual cues, poses a significant safety risk during flight, particularly under instrument meteorological conditions. Despite its operational relevance, current pilot training programs emphasize theoretical instruction and lack practical exposure to such illusions. This study aimed to assess the behavioral effects of the somatogravic illusion in a controlled simulator environment and to evaluate the potential for adaptation through repeated exposure. A total of 114 pilots were assigned to four groups based on IFR experience. Each participant completed two simulator sessions one week apart, each comprising flights with and without induced somatogravic illusions. Illusion induction was achieved using cabin pitch motion within a fixed-base disorientation trainer. Altitude trajectories during the illusion interval were extracted, L2-normalized, and analyzed using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering. Cluster transitions were evaluated to identify adaptation patterns. Post-exposure questionnaires assessed perceptual awareness and training utility. Illusion exposure caused systematic suppression of climb performance, independent of IFR experience. Unsupervised clustering revealed two dominant trajectory patterns corresponding to affected and unaffected responses. In the second session, 32% of previously affected pilots transitioned to the unaffected cluster, indicating behavioral adaptation. Perceptual awareness of the illusion remained low (23%–29%), yet 95.6% of participants endorsed the inclusion of vestibular illusion scenarios in IFR training. Controlled simulator exposure to the somatogravic illusion elicits measurable disruptions in altitude control that are not mitigated by experience alone but can improve with brief, repeated exposure. The findings support the integration of illusion-focused modules into early instrument training to enhance resilience to spatial disorientation. The use of fixed-base simulators for such training is feasible and well-received by pilots.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104713"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human back contour modeling for backrest design in future vehicles","authors":"Anna Bokdam,&nbsp;Gerbera Vledder,&nbsp;Yu (Wolf) Song,&nbsp;Peter Vink","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As automated vehicles evolve, seating designs must accommodate a wider range of postures, particularly for non-driving-related activities such as relaxing and sleeping. This study aims to model human back shapes in seated and reclined positions to improve ergonomic seat designs. Human back contour data were collected from 36 participants using a custom measurement device in two setups: a 25° backrest angle and a seat pan angle of 15°, simulating a driving posture, and a 50° backrest angle with the same seat pan angle, representing a reclined posture. Statistical Shape Models (SSMs) were developed to analyze the variability of back contours. The 25° setup exhibited a flatter spinal curve and higher compactness, capturing 79.7 % of the variance with the first principal component (PC1), compared to 74.6 % in the 50° setup. The combined setup balanced these differences, providing a comprehensive model for diverse postures. Overall, PC1, PC2, and PC3 together captured more than 96 % of total contour variance, indicating that variations in back height, neck bending, and lumbar prominence constitute the dominant sources of geometric diversity. These findings offer actionable dimensions for designing ergonomic backrests that support diverse users and postures. Future research should investigate whether implementing these guidelines enhances comfort and should include more diverse populations and a broader range of postures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"133 ","pages":"Article 104700"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145694888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating typeface, letter spacing, and line spacing of designs on text legibility in optical see-through head-mounted displays while walking","authors":"Chih-Yu Hsiao ,&nbsp;De-Cheng Liu ,&nbsp;Chien-Chi Chang ,&nbsp;Ming-Hui Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104683","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104683","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Optical see-through head-mounted displays (OST-HMDs) employ a distinctive method of information presentation that differs from conventional devices. This approach influences the human-computer interaction and text legibility. This study examines the impact of typefaces, letter spacing, and line spacing on OST-HMD text legibility while walking. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 evaluated the influence of two typefaces on text legibility, while Experiment 2 investigated the effects of three levels of letter spacing and line spacing. Both experiments followed the MNREAD protocol. The findings indicated that the selected typefaces did not significantly affect text legibility. However, smaller letters and line spacing negatively affected text legibility. These results will be beneficial in formulating recommendations for typefaces, letter spacing, and line spacing when displaying text on OST-HMDs, enhancing user experience and ensuring optimal legibility in various applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"132 ","pages":"Article 104683"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145566457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of shoulder-assist exoskeletons on muscle activity and balance during a wire pulling task on a simulated scissor lift","authors":"Liying Zheng ,&nbsp;Christopher Pan ,&nbsp;Kiana Kia ,&nbsp;Allen Chan ,&nbsp;Mina Salehi ,&nbsp;Andrew Moorehead ,&nbsp;Jeong Ho Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104694","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Construction workers, especially electricians, frequently perform overhead tasks on elevated platforms, increasing their risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and falls. This study evaluated the effects of three passive upper extremity exoskeletons (PUEEs) on shoulder muscle activity and postural balance during a simulated wire pulling task on a motion platform replicating scissor lift dynamics. Nine male participants completed tasks at two force levels (65 N and 130 N), with and without exoskeletons. Electromyography, motion capture, and force plate data were used to assess shoulder muscle activation, joint kinematics, and postural stability. The tested PUEEs significantly reduced peak activity in key shoulder muscles—including upper trapezius (−17 % to −38 %) and much of deltoid (−1 % to −49 %)—without increasing load in the back or lower limbs. Postural stability improved with the tested PUEEs (5 %–25 %), particularly with the heavy ones, though distinct kinematic changes were observed across models. These results suggest that PUEEs may reduce biomechanical strain and improve balance during static or quasi-static overhead work, but task-specific demands and device characteristics should be carefully considered.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"132 ","pages":"Article 104694"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145566462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can acceleration-coded vibrations help alleviate passenger motion sickness? Investigation in stop-and-go passenger rides","authors":"William Emond ,&nbsp;Mohsen Zare","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104682","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the deployment of high levels of vehicle automation, motion sickness is expected to become more prevalent in road transportation. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of haptic motion cueing as a countermeasure to motion sickness. During a stop-and-go ride in an electric vehicle, vibrotactile cues were generated in the seat backrest as an intervention. Grounded in the neural mismatch theory, this approach is based on a recovery hypothesis, proposing that providing somatosensory information consistent with vehicle motion forces can facilitate the restoration of sensory concordance and reduce motion sickness symptoms.</div><div>In a within-subjects design, 24 participants were driven in sessions of approximately 18 min (6 laps). During the first three laps, motion sickness was induced as participants played a video game without visibility of the vehicle's surroundings. In the last three laps, a motion sickness alleviation method was applied: participants stopped gaming and gazed at the vehicle's surroundings to relieve their symptoms, with or without the vibrotactile cues.</div><div>Analyses revealed no significant effect of the vibrotactile cues on symptom alleviation. Feedback from the participants emphasized user acceptance as a crucial dimension underlying the effectiveness of a haptic countermeasure. These outcomes improve understanding of haptic cues and inform the design of motion cueing systems that support motion sickness relief.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"132 ","pages":"Article 104682"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145468882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and EMG/metabolic assessment of a passive shoulder exoskeleton providing adjustable support for high arm elevation","authors":"Georgios Aronis,&nbsp;Michael Kurz,&nbsp;Thomas Angeli,&nbsp;Margit Gföhler","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104681","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104681","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exoskeletons are increasingly used to reduce physical strain during overhead and repetitive manual tasks. This study evaluated a novel passive upper limb exoskeleton adjustable for maximum support at different arm elevation angles. Ten male participants performed repetitive arm movements with a 2.5 kg weight along a sinusoidal trajectory at elevations between 90° and 135° in the sagittal plane. Use of the exoskeleton resulted in a statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05) reduction in muscle activity in the anterior deltoid and biceps brachii. Muscle activity for the lower trapezius, latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, and pectoralis major showed numerical reductions, but these were not statistically significant (p &gt; 0.05). With exoskeleton use, reductions were observed in heart rate, <span><math><mrow><msub><mover><mi>V</mi><mo>˙</mo></mover><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></msub></mrow></math></span>, <span><math><mrow><msub><mover><mi>V</mi><mo>˙</mo></mover><msub><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>O</mi></mrow><mn>2</mn></msub></msub></mrow></math></span> and RER, although only changes in <span><math><mrow><msub><mover><mi>V</mi><mo>˙</mo></mover><msub><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>O</mi></mrow><mn>2</mn></msub></msub></mrow></math></span> and RER were statistically significant. Respiratory frequency did not decrease (p &gt; 0.05). Future research should include a more diverse participant group, tasks that better represent real-world manual labour, and direct comparisons with already established exoskeletons.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"132 ","pages":"Article 104681"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145449028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing forearm exertion in manual tasks with surface EMG: A comparative analysis of through-forearm vs. muscle-specific EMG placements","authors":"Xuelong Fan ,&nbsp;Johan Rydgård ,&nbsp;Liyun Yang ,&nbsp;Peter J. Johansson","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104699","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104699","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hand-intensive work is associated with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), highlighting the need to estimate external forearm loads. Surface electromyography (sEMG) with muscle-specific placements enables continuous load monitoring but has notable limitations. This study evaluated a novel through-forearm sEMG placement against traditional extensor and flexor placements for estimating force and perceived exertion during hand-intensive tasks.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Sixteen participants performed four tasks at five exertion levels. sEMG signals, self-rated exertion, and exerted force were recorded. Polynomial mixed-effects models estimated self-rated exertion and exerted force, while correlations between sEMG placements were analyzed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All sEMG placements predicted exertion and force with strong fit (R² &gt; 0.95) and high precision. Through-forearm sEMG slightly outperformed extensor and flexor placements and was closely correlated with their signals.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Through-forearm sEMG offers marginally better performance for exertion estimation in manual tasks. Further research should explore individual calibration and task-specific methods for broader applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"132 ","pages":"Article 104699"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145670985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Person-specific evaluation method for occupational exoskeletons – Biomechanical body heat map","authors":"Mark Tröster ,&nbsp;Simon Eckstein ,&nbsp;Paula Kennel ,&nbsp;Verena Kopp ,&nbsp;Alina Benkiser ,&nbsp;Felicitas Bihlmeier ,&nbsp;Urban Daub ,&nbsp;Christophe Maufroy ,&nbsp;Sebastian Dendorfer ,&nbsp;Lars Fritzsche ,&nbsp;Urs Schneider ,&nbsp;Thomas Bauernhansl","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104671","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104671","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human-centred and ergonomic work design is one of the most important drivers for increasing the competitiveness of the European Union. As a flexible, person-specific occupational measure, exoskeletons promise great potential for effectively reducing individual ergonomic stress. Digital human models can provide important insights and offer great potential for systematising the effect and targeted use of exoskeletons, supporting their effective implementation in practice. In this article, digital human models are applied on two levels. Firstly, a realistic industrial logistics scenario in which boxes had to be relocated is designed with the help of a digital human model for workplace and process planning and secondly, a new biomechanical evaluation methodology to analyse intended and unintended effects on internal stress on the human body is demonstrated by applying musculoskeletal exoskeleton human models of four test subjects. Finally, the modelled biomechanical support tendencies of one exoskeleton are preliminary validated using EMG measurement data of the back muscles collected from the four male workers. The preliminary analysis of two back-support exoskeletons to demonstrate the new methodological approach confirms the expected, intended effects in the lower back and reveals unintended effects, such as e.g. changes in knee kinetics when applying a soft or hard-frame exoskeleton. Furthermore, the exemplary results to demonstrate the methodological approach expose notable differences between the test subjects, which underlines the relevance of person-specific evaluation and consideration of exoskeleton support. The preliminary validation shows a correlation between the modelled and the EMG-measured biomechanical exoskeleton support of the considered back muscles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"132 ","pages":"Article 104671"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145449030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}