Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics Methods
Abstract
Ergonomics provides a group of powerful tools for the analysis of work, the design of usable products and the improvements of peoples' working environment. This handbook sets out in practical detail the main ergonomics, or human factors, methods along with practical examples. It presents approximately 100 methods, covering the assessment and measurement of physical, environmental, physiological, psychological, social and organizational phenomena. Each of the methods is set out in a very structured form to allow ready comparison covering: background, applications, procedure, a worked example, related methods, standards, approximate training and application times (based on the example), reliability and validity, costs, tools needed, related methods, and a short biography. A distinguished team of editors have drawn on international experts to cover each method.
... MSDs have traditionally been linked to physical factors at work, such as poor posture, movements and vigorous efforts required to fulfill the task (Stanton et al. 2005). However, the relationship between psychosocial work environment and MSDs has come increasingly into focus (Baek et al. 2018). ...
... Mental workload can consist of two components: stress (task demand) and strain (the impact upon the worker) (Stanton et al. 2005). Cognitive demand is the level of focus necessary to fulfill a task to the required performance standard that can be influenced by factors such as external support and the experience of the performer (Stanton and Young 2001;Stanton et al. 2005). ...
... Mental workload can consist of two components: stress (task demand) and strain (the impact upon the worker) (Stanton et al. 2005). Cognitive demand is the level of focus necessary to fulfill a task to the required performance standard that can be influenced by factors such as external support and the experience of the performer (Stanton and Young 2001;Stanton et al. 2005). Daily use of technology may impose high cognitive demands that develop over time as people have to work with complex interfaces and often work long hours under demanding conditions, staying focused to avoid accidents (Spinelli et al. 2020;Bafna and Hansen 2021). ...
... These user assessment methods or techniques provide information about users perceptions, cognitive processes and potential responses. The fifteen cognitive and behavioral methods, for Stanton et al. (2004), are classified into four groups: a) General Analysis Methods, b) Cognitive Task Analysis Methods; c) Error Analysis Methods; d) Methods of Situational Analysis and Mental Load. ...
... Tonin (2021), deriving out of Stanton et al. (2004), presents a selection of methods related to usability and decision (making), assuming that these, as they deal with consumer satisfaction and the act of purchasing, are the most relevant in investigations involving retail environments. The methods selected by the author are: 1-Interview, 2-Verbal Protocol, 3-Repertory Grid, 4-Focus Groups, 5-HTA (Hierarchical Task Analysis), 6-CDM (Critical Decision Method) and 7-ACWA (Applied Cognitive Work Analysis); the first four belonging to the General Analysis Methods and the last three to the Cognitive Task Analysis Methods. ...
... For Stanton et al. (2004), no single method can collect by itself all the information that is necessary to conduct an effective research and, therefore, to achieve factual results, it is advisable to use a combination of methods. In the case of researches involving retail, such methods can be personalized and related to the brand, its target audience and commercialized products. ...
The growth of online shopping is a recognized phenomenon and its strength has become even more evident during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the ease and speed of digital retail, one cannot lose sight of the physical store, responsible for ensuring the vitality of urban centers and promoting a more humane shopping experience. Current market and consumer movements call for a “Phygital” reality, an expression designed to represent the intersection of physical (offline) and digital (online) commercial environments.Design is about people. According to Lowdermilk (2018), you cannot create products for users without going to them. User-Centered Design (UCD) emerged from Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and essentially consists of a design methodology based on people's true needs and interests, developing products and services that are easy to understand and use. Deep knowledge of the public is the reason for the success of brands commonly associated with good commercial performance, after all, everything is created with the intention to be bought and thus become part of people's daily lives.An intrinsic relationship is found between Cognitive Ergonomics and User-Centered Design. Cognitive Ergonomics comes from Cognitive Psychology and its studies are linked to memory, concentration, attention, reasoning and decision-making processes. User Experience (UX), one of the focuses derived from User-Centered Design, addresses the entire experience that the user has with a product or service, including physical and emotional reactions (LOWDERMILK, 2018).Cognitive and behavioral methods, such as the focus group, have their original foundation in the disciplines of psychology and are strong allies of User-Centered Design and UX. These user assessment methods or techniques provide information about individuals' perceptions, cognitive processes and potential responses. The information obtained is perceived through sensory systems, which influence the way the user interacts with the task, his decision making and also satisfaction. Through these methods, users are placed at the center of the entire process of designing experiences (WICKENS, 1992).For Stanton (2006), no single method can, by itself, collect all the information necessary to conduct an effective research and, therefore, to achieve factual results, it is advisable to use a combination of methods. In the case of research involving retail, such methods can be personalized and related to the brand, its target audience and commercialized products. To facilitate users' understanding and ensure greater participation during a focus group session, for instance, a design thinking tool can be incorporated: the Experience Compelling Map. In this tool, accessed by Tonin during a “Design Thinking for Better Business” workshop held at The New School-PARSONS in 2018 and conducted by Melissa Rancourt, volunteers are invited to share insights from a structured exercise that sequentially maps the experience into five moments: 1-attraction, 2-entry, 3-engagement, 4-exit, 5-extension.In order to illustrate the benefits of using the tool as a support to the user experience design process in physical stores, the present study presents an experiment in which the Experience Compelling Map is used during focus group sessions involving 25 volunteers equally divided between the 5 different generations they belong: Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y and Generation Z. Based on the results obtained through the experiment, it is possible to propose guidelines to improve the consumer experience in physical retail. The guidelines presented are divided into 14 categories and are a synthesis of the insights collected from users, showing that the tool can not only be a great ally when applying cognitive-behavioral methods, but is also capable of significantly contribute to user experience design.
... A presente pesquisa adota uma abordagem qualitativa, com base em estudos de caso analítico-descritivos, utilizando o método de observação passiva em conjunto com ferramentas e técnicas complementares voltadas à avaliação de estímulos sensoriais. Para estruturar a coleta de dados e garantir maior robustez na análise por meio do cruzamento de métodos ou ferramentas (Stanton, 2004), especialmente relevante em pesquisas qualitativas, o estudo adota as seguintes técnicas complementares: 1) Sensory Experience Chart ou Tabela de Experiência Sensorial (Panos, 2001 apud Malnar & Vodvarka, p. 281); 2) Sensory Slider ou Controle Sensorial (Malnar & Vodvarka, 2004); e 3) Tríade Marcária (Santaella, 2018). ...
... Contudo, apesar das vantagens de oferecer uma visão mais autêntica do comportamento natural dos sujeitos, a observação passiva apresenta alguns desafios. Entre eles, destaca-se a necessidade de uma interpretação minuciosa e precisa por parte do observador, que deve evitar viés na análise, e a dificuldade de controlar ou isolar variáveis externas, as quais podem impactar os resultados de maneira imprevisível (Stanton, 2004). ...
The increasing competitiveness of retail, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, poses significant challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that operate solely in physical spaces. Often, these businesses lack the necessary knowledge to implement Sensory Branding and Experience Design strategies, which are common among large brands. Experience Design aims to create memorable emotional interactions with consumers, while Sensory Branding utilizes human senses to build a powerful brand identity. Through analytically descriptive case studies guided by a combination of qualitative methods and tools, the study explores how large companies in Brazilian retail-Havaianas, Granado, Farm, and Dengo-conduct sensory experiences in their physical stores. The research suggests that even with limited resources, SMEs can adopt effective sensory approaches to strengthen their identity and engage with customers.
... Thus, score A and score B give rise to a new score, determined using a final table relating the two scores. By adding the activity score to the resulting value, the REBA score for the posture in question is calculated and, finally, it is possible to realize the ergonomic risk it represents for the operator [22,23]. Figure 2 shows the calculation diagram that will be used to calculate the REBA score, using all the indicators. ...
... REBA calculation diagram (adapted from[19,23]). ...
Ergonomics is essential to improving workplace safety and efficiency by reducing the risks associated with physical tasks. This study presents a decision support system (DSS) aimed at enhancing production ergonomics in the construction sector through an analysis of high-risk postures. Using the Ovako Work Posture Analysis System (OWAS), the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (NIOSH equation) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), the DSS identifies ergonomic risks by assessing body postures across common construction tasks. Three specific postures—X, Y and Z—were selected to represent typical construction activities, including lifting, squatting and repetitive tool use. Posture X, involving a forward-leaning stance with arms above the shoulders and a 25 kg load, was identified as critical, yielding the highest OWAS and NIOSH values, thus indicating an immediate need for corrective action to mitigate risks of musculoskeletal injuries. The DSS provides recommendations for workplace adjustments and posture improvements, demonstrating a robust framework that can be adapted to other postures and industries. Future developments may include application to other postures and sectors, as well as the use of artificial intelligence to support ongoing ergonomic assessments, offering a promising solution to enhance Occupational Safety and Health policies.
... For the investigation, which is qualitative and exploratory-experimental in nature, the methods of Direct Observation and Mapping through Interview were selected, methods of Organizational Ergonomics that, through semi-structured interviews and observation of space, its relationships, flows, and functioning, can identify and obtain a view of the problems and point out what specific types of macroergonomic intervention could be performed (Stanton, 2005;Virgillito, 2010). For Stanton (2005), a cross-method approach provides greater depth to the collection, and in this study, the methods were then conducted together with the Experience Compelling Map. ...
... For the investigation, which is qualitative and exploratory-experimental in nature, the methods of Direct Observation and Mapping through Interview were selected, methods of Organizational Ergonomics that, through semi-structured interviews and observation of space, its relationships, flows, and functioning, can identify and obtain a view of the problems and point out what specific types of macroergonomic intervention could be performed (Stanton, 2005;Virgillito, 2010). For Stanton (2005), a cross-method approach provides greater depth to the collection, and in this study, the methods were then conducted together with the Experience Compelling Map. ...
Design Thinking and Organizational Ergonomics are complementary approaches that can be collaboratively applied to improve the efficiency and quality of work within an organization. In the context of healthcare, where issues such as long waits, lack of personalized care, and easy access to information are common, the combination of Design Thinking and Organizational Ergonomics can bring significant benefits. These approaches enable the identification of improvement points in the patient journey and offer more assertive solutions. In a study conducted at a medical office in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil; qualitative and exploratory-experimental methods were used to identify problems and possible macroergonomic interventions. Interviews and direct observations were conducted, combined with the Design Thinking tool known as the Experience Compelling Map. This approach allowed for insights into the customer experience and evaluation of the sociotechnical system characteristics of the organization. The study focuses on the early stages of a macroergonomic project, namely inspiration and ideation, without addressing the implementation of the proposed solutions. The final delivery of the article is based on the four elements of a work system project: network, layout, technology, and work.
... A complexidade refere-se à segmentação do sistema de trabalho e à integração desses segmentos para propósitos de comunicação, coordenação e controle. A complexidade também aborda fatores como definição de objetivos e metas e a orientação temporal, como prazos e etapas).A formalização pode ser definida como o grau de padronização das tarefas de cada posto de trabalho, e a centralização tem a ver com onde (e por quem) a tomada de decisão formal ocorre dentro do sistema de trabalho(Stanton;Hedge; Brookhuis, Eisenhardt (1989) sugere que o pesquisador pergunte-se constantemente, durante esta etapa: "O que estou aprendendo?" e "Como este caso difere do último?".Com esta "pré-avaliação", o pesquisador já pode identificar ajustes necessários na coleta de dados. Eisenhardt continua: "De fato, uma característica chave da construção de teorias de pesquisa de casos é a liberdade de fazer ajustes durante o processo de coleta de dados ...
... A complexidade refere-se à segmentação do sistema de trabalho e à integração desses segmentos para propósitos de comunicação, coordenação e controle. A complexidade também aborda fatores como definição de objetivos e metas e a orientação temporal, como prazos e etapas).A formalização pode ser definida como o grau de padronização das tarefas de cada posto de trabalho, e a centralização tem a ver com onde (e por quem) a tomada de decisão formal ocorre dentro do sistema de trabalho(Stanton;Hedge; Brookhuis, Eisenhardt (1989) sugere que o pesquisador pergunte-se constantemente, durante esta etapa: "O que estou aprendendo?" e "Como este caso difere do último?".Com esta "pré-avaliação", o pesquisador já pode identificar ajustes necessários na coleta de dados. Eisenhardt continua: "De fato, uma característica chave da construção de teorias de pesquisa de casos é a liberdade de fazer ajustes durante o processo de coleta de dados ...
For a product (or service) to be successful, it is important that the user's opinion of this product is considered in decision-making involving it. Design, as largely responsible for the study of human interaction with all “things”, advocates for the inclusion of the user in the product development process. This research proposes a conceptual framework for startups, combining Lean and Macroergonomics theories, which indicates the most suitable research methods for application in each stage of product development and decision-making moments. The proposed methods (observation, focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, MVPs and usability tests) are accompanied by a classification of technological complexity and the need for a specialist for its application, helping startups to decide which methods to apply according to their limitations at the time. The framework was developed based on bibliography, research with professionals working in startups and specialists in user research. It is expected that the framework can, in an easy and practical way, help startups to conduct research with users and thus involve them in decision making about their products.
... This qualitative research included a field survey to numerous commercial establishments in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto (Japan), and Seoul (South Korea). Employing the passive observation methodology-a data collection approach that entails systematically recording phenomena, behaviours, and interactions in natural settings without directly interacting with or influencing those observed (Stanton, 2004)-allowed for a nuanced view of how and where the 14 categories identified in the study are explored within Asian retail environments. By closely examining these categories in situ, the study captured insights into how global retail trends manifest in these vibrant markets, illuminating the subtle but powerful ways that consumer engagement is shaped by these environments. ...
This study investigates the global relevance of 14 consumer experience guidelines originally developed in Brazil using the “Experience Compelling Map,” a Design Thinking tool applied to physical retail. By observing 30 retail locations across Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Seoul, this research explores how sensory stimuli, personalization, and technology shape the shopping journey in Asia's leading markets. Findings indicate strong parallels between Brazilian insights and Asian practices, with personalization emerging in over half of the observed sites and visual and auditory stimuli enhancing brand connection. These results suggest that while consumer experiences are influenced by cultural contexts, they increasingly reflect shared global expectations shaped by digital and sensory-driven engagement. This analysis underscores the importance of human-centered innovation in retail, supporting the theme of integrating human and intelligent systems to create immersive, emotionally resonant consumer experiences.
... Segundo Brown (2005), os trabalhadores são os especialistas; e, com conhecimentos, competências, ferramentas, recursos e incentivo adequados, estão em melhor posição para identificar e analisar problemas e para desenvolver e implementar soluções que sejam eficazes na redução dos riscos de lesões e na melhoria da produtividade. ...
... Heart activity reflects the activity of the autonomic nervous system and can be easily monitored by electrocardiography (ECG) or photopletismography (PPG) signals [58], which can be acquired nowadays through minimally invasive devices such as bracelets or chest bands. Heart activity, particularly heart rate variability (HRV) [59], is often used to perform assessments on workload-related aspects such as fatigue and stress response in working contexts [60]. ...
The integration of eye-tracking technology in manufacturing is emerging as a powerful tool for optimizing human performance and well-being in the workplace. Advances in various fields enabled the recent development of smaller, wearable, and wireless eye-tracking devices which are suitable for naturalistically studying manufacturing processes, such as human-robot collaboration (HRC). However, the implementation of eye-tracking for evaluating mental workload in HRC is still limited, especially in long-duration sessions. This paper provides an overview on the application of eye-tracking technology in the context of cognitive ergonomics within the manufacturing sector, with special attention to eye-tracking metrics and their interpretation relatively to human state in long-duration sessions (i.e., work shifts). In addition, an example case study will be presented to explore the reliability of the most common eye-tracking metrics, concerning a repetitive assembly process of 8 h in an HRC setting. Among the explored eye-tracking metrics, pupil dilation, number and average duration of fixations, and number saccades provided useful insights on the mental strain in dynamic conditions. In addition, from the multiple information gathered by eye-tracking, different phenomena related to mental workload were able to be distinguished. The use of cognitive resources resulting from learning process was well detected by pupil dilation, number of fixations and saccades. Mental fatigue, on the other hand, was well detected by the average duration of fixations and the pupil diameter. These results highlight the need to consider multiple eye-tracking metrics simultaneously to obtain a holistic view of the operator’s psychophysiological state.
... Segundo Brown (2005), os trabalhadores são os especialistas; e, com conhecimentos, competências, ferramentas, recursos e incentivo adequados, estão em melhor posição para identificar e analisar problemas e para desenvolver e implementar soluções que sejam eficazes na redução dos riscos de lesões e na melhoria da produtividade. ...
... Segundo Brown (2005), os trabalhadores são os especialistas; e, com conhecimentos, competências, ferramentas, recursos e incentivo adequados, estão em melhor posição para identificar e analisar problemas e para desenvolver e implementar soluções que sejam eficazes na redução dos riscos de lesões e na melhoria da produtividade. ...
... Segundo Brown (2005), os trabalhadores são os especialistas; e, com conhecimentos, competências, ferramentas, recursos e incentivo adequados, estão em melhor posição para identificar e analisar problemas e para desenvolver e implementar soluções que sejam eficazes na redução dos riscos de lesões e na melhoria da produtividade. ...
... It is a science that examines how people engage with their jobs and their working environments to appropriately improve working circumstances. It is to ensure work efficiency, which includes ensuring that employees can support themselves and maintain excellent health [5][6][7]. ...
This study examines the work posture risk comparison of RULA and REBA based on measures of assessment-score variability. During the metal coating process, chemicals were frequently employed, necessitating a heightened level of caution among the employees. The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires (CMDQ) revealed the manifestation of physical discomfort among employees. In this study, the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) and the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) were used to identify ergonomic concerns related to the work of employees in the black oxide coating department of a metal coating firm. The sensitivity of risk assessment between the two methods was investigated, considering the mean and variability of the assessment scores. Consideration was given to the diverse and crucial work positions of employees at each station, focusing exclusively on the standing working posture. In the black oxide coating section, there were 12 steps that 20 workers had to complete. Under the same working postures, the overall average RULA score was determined to be at a high-risk level, whereas the overall average REBA score was at a moderate-risk level. As a result, the RULA method had a greater capacity for risk warning than the REBA method. Levene's test was also applied to determine whether the variances of the risk scores computed using the two techniques were equal. The results of the analysis showed that the variances in the scores using the two methods were not significantly different.
... Segundo Brown (2005), os trabalhadores são os especialistas; e, com conhecimentos, competências, ferramentas, recursos e incentivo adequados, estão em melhor posição para identificar e analisar problemas e para desenvolver e implementar soluções que sejam eficazes na redução dos riscos de lesões e na melhoria da produtividade. ...
... Anthropometry has been applied globally in several fields such as nutrition sciences, product development, workstation engineering, and even to garment and outfit design (16). according to (17) anthropometry is defined as a science of measure that is often used to quantify human's physical features based on engineering principal. Anthropometry is used to understand human physical variation in standing or moving motion caused by internal or external forces. ...
... A structured interview is essentially the administration of a questionnaire, which ensures consistency and thoroughness [127]. The obvious advantage of a questionnaire is that it can be completed by the participant on paper or electronically, allowing relatively large samples of data to be collected with relatively little effort on the part of the experimenter, whereas disadvantages include inflexibility and the inability to pursue interesting lines of inquiry or to follow up on responses that may be unclear. ...
Less than five percent of all mobile applications have become successful throughout 2023. The success of a new mobile application depends on a variety of factors ranging from business understanding, customer value, and perceived quality of use. In this sense, the topic of usability testing of mobile applications is relevant from the point of view of user satisfaction and acceptance. However, the current knowledge seems to be fragmented, scattered across many papers and reports, and sometimes poorly documented. This paper attempts to fill this gap by investigating the current state of knowledge by reviewing the previous literature relevant to the research topic and developing a unified view. In particular, the methodological framework is outlined and discussed, including the discourse on settings for laboratory and field studies, data collection techniques, experimental designs for mobile usability testing, and a generic research framework. Therefore, the paper contributes to both the theory and practice of human–computer interaction by providing methodological foundations for usability testing of mobile applications, paving the way for further studies in this area. Moreover, the paper provides a better understanding of the related topics, in particular shedding light on methodological foundations, key concepts, challenges, and issues, equipping readers with a comprehensive knowledge base to navigate and contribute to the advancement of the field of mobile usability.
... O grupo focal se caracteriza por uma discussão cuidadosamente planejada em grupo destinada a explorar percepções, experiências, opiniões, preocupações e desejos dos participantes em uma temática de interesse. Consiste em sessões em grupo de uma área definida a ser debatida, o que implica, por sua vez, na interação explícita entre os indivíduos (Stanton et al., 2005). ...
Embora espaços verdes no âmbito residencial seja um tema frequente de pesquisa, espaços verdes em condomínios para idosos ainda é um assunto pouco explorado. Assim, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar os atributos projetuais preferíveis e necessários ao desenvolvimento e planejamento de espaços verdes em condomínios para idosos. Para alcançar esse objetivo, a pesquisa teve abordagem qualitativa e exploratória. Os procedimentos aplicados envolveram revisão sistemática de literatura, foto-questionário aplicado a 35 sujeitos e grupo focal. Os dados coletados provenientes de questões abertas foram tratados por análise de conteúdo, e os de questões fechadas, pela frequência absoluta e relativa. Os principais resultados revelaram a preferência dos idosos por residir em condomínios horizontais de casas com jardins frontais em relação à rua e jardins nos fundos da residência, com possibilidade de jardins privativos e jardins comuns, com os mais variados espaços para atividades físicas e de lazer, caso residissem em um. Os benefícios mais relevantes dos espaços verdes em condomínios para idosos são a produção de comida saudável, a reconexão dos idosos com o ambiente natural, o incentivo a interação social, o estímulo a atividades físicas diárias, entre outros. É importante que os ambientes se adequem aos usuários idosos, pois assim minimizam-se riscos de acidentes, e se oferecem conforto, autonomia e independência a esses indivíduos. Espaços verdes projetados para atender a população idosa contribuem para um processo de envelhecimento saudável, ativo e autônomo.
... Ergonomi Patisipatori merupakan keterlibatan orang-orang dalam merencanakan dan mengendalikan aktivitas kerja mereka dengan pengetahuan dan kekuatan yang mereka miliki untuk mempengaruhi proses dan hasil untuk mencapai tujuan yang telah ditentukan. Ergonomic partisipatorin sebagai suatu metode atau pengaplikasian makro ergonomic [8]. Implementasi dari metode tersebut juga banyak yang bertujuan untuk membentuk suatu hal dengan berfokus pada manusia, melakukan pengembangan lingkungan organisasi, dan perbaikan desain sistem kerja. ...
. Permasalahan manajemen pada organisasi disebabkan oleh ketidakmampuan dalam pengoptimalan sumber daya yang dimilikinya. Salah satu sumber daya yang paling penting bagi suatu sistem manajemen organisasi merupakan manusia. Kenyamanan tempat kerja dari sisi lingkungan dan sosial merupakan faktor utama untuk mencapai efisiensi organisasi. Pendekatan faktor manusia dan ergonomi sangat penting dalam hal menganalisis, memahami, serta merancang sistem kerja manusia. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah merancang model konsep manajemen organisasi yang ergonomis untuk meningkatkan kenyamanan organisasi dengan menentukan parameter desain konsep model organisasi manajemen berdasarkan kebutuhan pengguna yang diperoleh dengan pendekatan ergonomi partisipatori. Model axiomatic design digunakan untuk menentukan parameter desain konsep model organisasi manajemen berdasarkan kebutuhan pengguna yang diperoleh dengan pendekatan ergonomi partisipatori. Uji verifikasi dilakukan untuk membuktikan bahwa rancangan konsep secara teori sudah sesuai dan dapat diimplementasikan. Sedangkan uji homogenitas digunakan untuk menguji hipotesis bahwa spesifikasi konsep desain dapat memenuhi kebutuhan pengguna. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah inovasi desain model konsep manajemen organisasi yang ergonomis dengan atribut yang dibutuhkan adalah nyamanan secara fisik dan mental. Model konsep yang dikembangkan diverifikasi melalui uji binomial dan uji homogenitas, didapatkan hasil bahwa rancangan model konsep tersebut sudah sesuai dan dapat memenuhi atribut kebutuhan
... This method is a simple observation-based method designed by McAtamney and Hignett in 1999 and is designed to be sensitive to the types of unpredictable working postures that exist in other service sectors, especially in the healthcare sector. [13][14][15] One hundred and forty-four posture combinations were coded independently by ergonomists and physiotherapists, and then load, grip, and activity scores were combined to produce the REBA outcome score, which determines risk and action levels. 15 In 1993, McAtamney developed RULA to analyze the working postures of the trunk and legs, that is, neck, upper arms, lower arms and wrists. ...
The aim of the study is to reach objective results about the ergonomic risks of nurses’ working postures not only by using questionnaires but also by using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methods, which are risk assessment methods used in engineering fields. This study is a cross-sectional study. First of all, 383 nurses were evaluated with a survey. 91.4% of the nurses were women and 6.5% were men. Average age (female: 38.20; male: 31.5), average weight (female: 65.60 kg; male: 81.50 kg), average height (female: 162.7 cm; male: 176.80 cm) and average body mass index (female: 24.80; male: 26) were calculated. In the hospital, which we grouped into in the hospital, which we divided into eight workstations, the REBA and RULA scores of the three nurses working at each workstation were calculated and the average REBA and RULA scores of the workstations were determined. The percentage of those who experienced musculoskeletal pain in the last 1 year at each workstation and the mean REBA–RULA scores were as follows; ward (92%; 6.92–5.69), operating room (98%; 10–7), emergency department (100%; 6.08–5.33), outpatient clinic (75%; 5.5–5.16), intensive care (94%; 6.21–5.57), administrative affairs (94%; 5–5), laboratory (95%; 5.80–5.2) and interventional procedure (92%; 6.4–5.4). In these stations, the highest scores were seen in the operating room. In the questionnaire, 92.46% of the nurses reported having complaints in at least one part of the musculoskeletal system in the last year. The hospital weighted mean score was REBA 6.86 and RULA 5.71. When REBA and RULA measurements were evaluated, it was determined that the risk in the departments where the nurses worked was generally at the medium risk level. REBA and RULA scores indicate that ergonomic changes and adjustments should be made. For this determination, the risks of working postures should be determined with quantitative methods.
... Загальна оцінка ергономічності ручного інструменту оцінюється як сума балів усіх зазначених показників у чек-листі. Такі оціночні шкали рекомендується використовувати за Правилами ергономічних оцінок виробничих сфер [8]. ...
Метою дослідження є розроблення алгоритму з перевірки ручного інструменту на ергономічність для працівників лісового господарства. Методи. Для перевірки ергономічності шести ручних інструментів працівників лісового господарства був розроблений алгоритм, який складається з п’яти кроків: складання переліку характеристик ручного інструменту, підбору групи експертів і ручного інструменту різних марок, проведення оцінювання ергоно- мічності, аналізу отриманих оцінок і розробки рекомендацій. Для створення чек-листа були використані рекомендації стандартів ДСТУ 7895:2015. Дизайн і ергономіка. Правила оцінювання ергономічного рівня якості промислової продукції, а також ДСТУ 7251:2011. Дизайн і ергономіка. Вимоги дизайну й ергономіки. Номенклатура та порядок вибору. Результати. Розроблено алгоритм з оцінки ергономічності ручного інструменту, основною відмінніс- тю якого від наявних є чек-лист, що містить 16 основних показників для визначення зручності та ком- фортності використання знарядь праці. Наведено результати оцінки ергономічності декількох ручних інструментів, які застосовуються на підприємствах лісного господарства, трьома групами учасників (фахівців, досвідчених і початківців), що дозволило встановити придатність розробленого чек-листа, навести рекомендації щодо його подальшого вдосконалення. Показано, що розбіжність між оціночними балами між групами дослідників зумовлена незрозумілістю шкал, а також не погодженням із ключовими показниками, наведеними в чек-листі. Наукова новизна. Науково обґрунтовано доцільність застосування контрольних показників для визначення ергономічності ручного інструменту через обробку результатів опитування учасників дослідження. Практична цінність. Розроблено алгоритм з оцінки ергономічності ручного інструменту з відповідним чек-листом.
... The RULA score takes into account different joint angles, muscle loading and strength. Stanton (2004) ...
... Task Analysis for Error Identification (TAFEI) models the interaction between the user and a device to predict errors that might arise when using that device. For example, this method has been used, to Dr. AMANGUL ATAUQYZY IMANGHALIYEVA improve the safety of an orthopaedic robot system and to predict human error during the requirements analysis stage (Stanton et al., 1996;Baber et al., 2002;Stanton et al., 2004;Kuang, 2009 (p.10); Salmon et al., 2009). Goals, Operators, Methods and Selection Rules (GOMS) is a user-focused method and operators' prediction technique that is based on the assumption that when interacting with a computer the users' approach is a type of problem solving approach . ...
Introduction
Mental Workload (MWL) is a concept that has garnered increasing interest in professional settings but remains challenging to define consensually. The literature reports a plurality of operational definitions and assessment methods, with no established unified framework. This review aims to identify objective and validated measurement methods for evaluating MWL in real-world work contexts. Particular attention is given to neurophysiological methods, recognized for their efficiency and robustness, enabling real-time assessment without disrupting operator activity.
Method
To conduct this analysis, a systematic search was performed in three databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and IEEEXplore), covering studies published from their inception until March 30, 2023. Selection criteria included research focusing on MWL and its derivatives, as well as neurophysiological measures applied in real-world conditions. An initial screening based on titles and abstracts was followed by an in-depth review, assisted by the bibliometric software Rayyan.
Results
The explored concepts, applied methods, and study results were compiled into a synthesis table. Ultimately, 35 studies were included, highlighting the diversity of measurement tools used in field settings, often combined with subjective assessments.
Discussion
Furthermore, key physiological indicators such as ECG, eye data, EEG and the relationship between MWL metrics and those uses to measure stress are emphasized and discussed. A better understanding of these interrelations could refine the assessment of their respective impacts and help anticipate their consequences on workers' mental health and safety.
The process of milk processing at PT XYZ is done manually and the tools used are not ergonomic, workers do the processing process that is cut open in a standing position and have to move their hands repeatedly so that if the milk produces the best milk quality, the purpose of this study was conducted with the aim to can provide several advantages one of which simplifies the cut open work process. So that workers can do their jobs easier, more comfortable, more focused at work and most importantly can reduce the impact of fatigue, back and shoulder pain due to lack of facilities. This research was conducted to obtain target specifications for the manufacture of assistive chairs for milk processing according to the Anthropometric approach and the physical form of the worker. Anthropometric data collection was carried out randomly and 10 sample / person data were taken from workers at PT XYZ. From the results of data processing to determine the dimensions / size of milk processing workers is the size of the chair that is the width of the base of the chair 39.39; seat height 44.73; the length of the seat base 43.29 and the height of the seat backrest 58.59. With an ergonomic assist chair, workers can more easily process milk compared to using a knife, removing the contents of the product (milk) in the container that has been
In every work environment, it is important to identify risk factors that may contribute to the development of occupational disorders. This study aimed to analyze the work system of a local garment factory’s trimming department and to minimize the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among workers. The study involved ergonomic assessment wherein the proponents performed job worksite analysis, anthropometric analysis and utilized ergonomic tools such as Body Discomfort Chart (BDC) and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). This was used to identify the body segments with high degree of perceived discomfort that eventually may lead to work-related disorders. Then, the study developed ergonomic interventions to mitigate the development of MSDs. Lastly, evaluation using postural analysis to simulate the new working posture of the trimmers in improved workplace design was done. The result showed mismatch between workplace design and anthropometric measurements that resulted to strong perceived body discomfort (p = 0.001) predominantly in lower back, shoulder and calf. Assessment indicated medium to high risk exposure to MSDs and implied that change in work system is required immediately (p = 0.000). Ergonomic interventions recommended improvement on workplace design components, which comprised of sitting-standing working position, a chair that every worker would fit in with an adjustable height from 57 - 63 cm (22.44 - 24.80 in) and an adjustable forward-tilting seat up to 15° to address lumbar area problems. The ergonomic solutions involved application of Anthropometry and Occupational Biomechanics guidelines in order to fit the work systems elements to the workers and to maintain the neutral working positions of trimmers.
A Ergonomia Organizacional ou Macroergonomia é uma subdisciplina da Ergonomia que se constrói desde a década de 1980, estudando a interface humano-máquina em todo sistema organizacional. A partir desta abordagem é possível analisar as demandas ergonômicas de sistemas de trabalho complexos, sejam estas demandas de ordem física, cognitiva ou de fluxo de trabalho. Em paralelo, revistas científicas acadêmicas dependem de participação voluntária e têm sua organização moldada de acordo com as pessoas que estejam no cerne de sua organização. Então, o objetivo deste artigo foi compreender e mapear o sistema de trabalho de uma revista científica acadêmica, atendendo à análise da demanda deste sistema através da abordagem da Ergonomia Organizacional. Os dados foram coletados de modo participativo, com entrevistas semiestruturadas e o fluxo de trabalho foi mapeado com auxílio da ferramenta Cognitive Walk-Through Method (CWM). A partir desta apreciação, foi possível notar onde demandas ergonômicas mais urgentes se encontram, como na relação com avaliadores ou nos problemas identificados na plataforma da revista. Conclui-se com este estudo de caso que a Macroergonomia pode ser uma importante abordagem para entendimento das demandas ergonômicas em sistemas complexos.
Introduction: The environmental quality of indoor spaces is essential to human health. Since people spend more than 90% of their time inside buildings, the effects of indoor environmental factors on cognitive functions are critical. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the performance of attention and workload of employees under the influence of light and color of the environment. Methods: In this study, 20 participants from 18 to 50-year-old employees (mean=33.8±standard deviation=5.13) were exposed to four environments simulated in virtual reality with lighting and colors were placed. First, the participants rested in the simulated space for 5 minutes, and then they performed the cognitive task designed based on the continuous performance test while the brain waves of the participants were recorded. Evaluation of the mental workload index was done through a NASA questionnaire. Results: The multivariate analysis of variance statistical test revealed that in an environment with a light intensity of 300 lux and blue color, people's level of sustained attention increased significantly (P=0.031, F=5.206 (36, 3)). Furthermore, no significant change was observed in this study regarding the mental workload index (P=0.902). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that the blue color positively affects the function of sustained attention of employees. Therefore, it is possible to improve the function of sustained attention with design interventions in work environments, which can improve the efficiency of employees and the productivity of organization. Abstract
Palletizing is an important job in logistic operations. It is considered an extremely labor-intensive process when performed manually, as it includes awkward and repetitive working postures, which result in serious back injuries. This paper introduces a new assistive device that helps reduce the exposure to physical loads among palletizing workers. The risk factors associated with manual palletizing in the food industry were analyzed using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method. Different postures were observed during manual palletizing in a food factory that had a RULA score of 7. An assistive device was proposed to improve the palletizing operation. As a result, after implementing the proposed assistive device, the RULA final score was dropped to 4 based on lifting at the elbow height of the pallet, 3 when lifting at low and medium heights of the loaded pallet during wrapping, and 4 when lifting at the highest point of the full pallet. In conclusion, the proposed assistive device helped improve the palletizing job and reduce its negative consequences for workers.
Background and Aim: Musculoskeletal disorders cause abnormalities and major problems, the most important of which is the inability to perform physical activities and military missions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a course of corrective training on the musculoskeletal disorders of soldiers in a military unit. Methods: The Nordic Questionnaire was distributed among 186 soldiers that were randomly selected from the military barracks in Tehran, Iran in 2016. Fifty-six soldiers with at least one musculoskeletal disorder were randomly assigned into two groups of 28 people. The intervention group underwent corrective exercises for eight weeks, and the control group did not perform any specific exercises or activities during this period. The QEC test was used to assess the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Results: The results of the Nordic questionnaire reported musculoskeletal disorders 51.78% in the lower back, 46.42% in the knees and ankles, 33.92% in the neck, 21.42% in the back, 14.28% in the thighs and buttocks, 12.50% in the shoulders and 10.71 % in hands and wrists. Risk factors for the tasks include 35.71 % very high, 46.42 % high, 12.50 % moderate and 5.35 % low. Finally, it was observed that corrective exercises had a significant effect on musculoskeletal disorders of the intervention group in the neck area (p=0.051 and z=2.271), the lumbar region (p=0.05 and z= 3.256), the shoulder muscle (p<0.05, z=3.045) and the wrist/hand area (p=0.05 and z=3.276). But no change was observed in the control group. Conclusion: Corrective exercises and physical fitness training reduce musculoskeletal disorders, and corrective exercises should be incorporated into the morning exercise program.
Objective: development of an algorithm for evaluating the comprehensive ergonomic indicator of hand tools to reduce physical strain during their use.Materials and Methods. The algorithm development utilized the nomenclature of ergonomic indicators specified in DSTU 7895:2015 "Design and Ergonomics. Rules for evaluating the ergonomic level of quality of industrial products," which is categorized into two levels. The first level includes usability, control and monitoring convenience, product planning, serviceability, product hygiene, and safety. The second level involves physical and mental workload, fatigue, and compliance with anthropometric parameters.Results. An algorithm for evaluating the comprehensive ergonomic indicator of hand tools has been developed, consisting of five steps: compiling a list of ergonomic characteristics of hand tools according to production tasks, selecting a group of five or more experts, conducting preliminary assessment of the product's comprehensive ergonomic indicator, analyzing expert assessments, discussing strengths and weaknesses, construction, and making decisions regarding the choice of weight coefficients, verifying the obtained results, and developing recommendations for application conditions for a specific product. The distinctive feature of the proposed algorithm lies in establishing weight coefficients of the tool's characteristics considering safety, convenience, and working conditions. The results of evaluating the comprehensive ergonomic indicator of angle grinders are presented, allowing for the effectiveness of the developed algorithm based on feedback from study participants and providing recommendations for its further improvement.The novelty lies in establishing correlations between two levels of ergonomic indicators through weight coefficients, allowing for the consideration of the complexity of working conditions, safety, and convenience of hand tools.Practical value: сhecklists for processing score assessments based on established ergonomic criteria have been developed.
Il miglioramento della sicurezza e della protezione dei pazienti dalle minacce sanitarie sono obiettivi fondamentali della politica sanitaria dello Stato e della Unione Europea. Il perseguire la sicurezza, intesa come "dimensione della qualità dell'assistenza sanitaria, che garantisce, attraverso l'identificazione, l'analisi e la gestione dei rischi e degli incidenti possibili per i pazienti, la progettazione e l'implementazione di sistemi operativi e processi che minimizzano la probabilità di errore, i rischi potenziali e i conseguenti possibili danni ai pazienti" (Ministero della Salute, 2007), impone lo sviluppo delle capacità e delle competenze necessarie per gestire e realizzare modifiche di comportamento e quindi modifiche del sistema. Tanto, anche in ragione degli approvandi disposti normativi in materia di risk management che, al netto della loro stesura finale, prevedono un forte intervento di tipo culturale per la formazione sulla prevenzione dei rischi, rafforzando il concetto di sicurezza dei pazienti e quindi di qualità dell'assistenza, in ossequio a quanto già raccomandato dall'Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità (WHO, 2006) e dall'Unione europea (Consiglio UE, 2009). In particolare, è auspicato che le attività di gestione del rischio clinico siano incardinate nell'ambito dei sistemi di gestione della sicurezza e qualità, così come avviene in tutte le organizzazioni a elevata complessità nel mondo. Il coordinamento delle precipue funzioni, poi, dovrebbe essere distinto in due ambiti, il primo dei quali inerente le attività cliniche di analisi e anticipazione degli eventi avversi, da porre in capo a operatori sanitari esperti sia nel proprio ambito specialistico che nell'analisi sistemica (clinical risk manager); il secondo, di contro, relativo alle attività di monitoraggio e valutazione della sicurezza e dell'appropriatezza, attribuite a professionisti di area psico-sociale e politecnica (patient safety manager). Orbene, se nel primo contesto appare ben acclarato il profilo delle capacità e delle competenze richieste per svolgere la funzione operativa di clinical risk manager, la figura del patient safety manager quale responsabile di attività di sicuro taglio manageriale, è ben lungi dall'essere definita sia in termini di capacità, che di competenze necessarie, nonché di percorsi formativi specifici. In prima battuta, questo lavoro si propone di delineare, attingendo dalla letteratura scientifica, dai documenti di politica sanitaria, piuttosto che dall'analisi dell'implementazione di particolari modelli organizzativi posti già in essere in specifiche realtà aziendali di sanità pubblica, il framework entro cui sviluppare la definizione del patient safety manager, determinandone la sua fisionomia e il necessario percorso formativo, prendendo le mosse dai principi del Curriculum dell'OMS per la sicurezza delle cure (WHO, 2009). Successivamente, si opererà una revisione sistematica della letteratura scientifica, al fine di confrontare il profilo come determinato del patient safety manager, con gli attuali modelli di formazione in ambito sanitario, relativamente alla gestione della sicurezza del paziente, sì da determinarne la sua sostanziale applicazione, ovvero individuare le aree di criticità che ne impediscono una efficace implementazione.
Company XYZ is a sugar manufacturing company where it has several processing sequence including milling until crystallization. Methods used in this research are NASA-TLX in order to measure mental workload of employees caused by a severe work environment such as dust and gas exposure, and a not optimum temperature. The findings shed a light on the significant of Own Performance (OP) among the others parameter of NASA-TLX. Showing that the main component of workers’ stress are coming from the performance itself with 534.333 index of OP. With the laboratory works at the company makes the top compared to the other jobs. This study shows company XYZ to improve in certain aspects. This will help improvements to be on target.
The adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing systems has accelerated in recent years, with a shift towards understanding operators’ well-being and resilience within the context of creating a human-centric manufacturing environment. In addition to measuring physical workload, monitoring operators’ cognitive workload is becoming a key element in maintaining a healthy and high-performing working environment in future digitalized manufacturing systems. The current approaches to the measurement of cognitive workload may be inadequate when human operators are faced with a series of new digitalized technologies, where their impact on operators’ mental workload and performance needs to be better understood. Therefore, a new method for measuring and determining the cognitive workload is required. Here, we propose a new method for determining cognitive-workload indices in a human-centric environment. The approach provides a method to define and verify the relationships between the factors of task complexity, cognitive workload, operators’ level of expertise, and indirectly, the operator performance level in a highly digitalized manufacturing environment. Our strategy is tested in a series of experiments where operators perform assembly tasks on a Wankel Engine block. The physiological signals from heart-rate variability and pupillometry bio-markers of 17 operators were captured and analysed using eye-tracking and electrocardiogram sensors. The experimental results demonstrate statistically significant differences in both cardiac and pupillometry-based cognitive load indices across the four task complexity levels (rest, low, medium, and high). Notably, these developed indices also provide better indications of cognitive load responding to changes in complexity compared to other measures. Additionally, while experts appear to exhibit lower cognitive loads across all complexity levels, further analysis is required to confirm statistically significant differences. In conclusion, the results from both measurement sensors are found to be compatible and in support of the proposed new approach. Our strategy should be useful for designing and optimizing workplace environments based on the cognitive load experienced by operators.
Low back pain is a part of musculoskeletal disorders that often occur during work activities. Low back pain complaints are experienced among public and mostly occur among workers such as gamelan craftsman. The process of making gamelan through several stages causes pain that is felt in the body. One factor that influences the onset of pain is work attitude. Non-Ergonomic work attitude will increase the risk of low back pain among workers. This study aimed to determine the correlation between work attitude and low back pain complaints among gamelan craftsmen. This study was a correlative descriptive study. Total sampling was used to recruit 57 respondents. Work attitudes and low back pain complaints are measured using Nordic Body Map (NBM) and REBA questionnaires. Data analysis that used was the Spearman rank test. The result shows that there is a significant and strong correlation with positive direction between work attitudes and low back pain complaints among gamelan craftsmen with p-value < 0,0001, r = 0,653. The result also show that determinant coefficient is 42,6%, it means work attitude has a correlation with low back pain complaints among gamelan craftsmen by 42,6%, Thus, the gamelan craftworkers require to adjust with body position and control the work duration to escape from health risk, such as low back pain.
Situation awareness is knowing what is going on in the situation. Clinicians working in the emergency medical services (EMS) encounter numerous situations in various conditions, and to be able to provide efficient and patient safe care they need to understand what is going on and possible projections of the current situation. The design of this study encompassed a Goal-Directed Task analysis where situation awareness information requirements were mapped in relation to goals related to various aspects of the EMS mission. A group of 30 EMS subject matter experts were recruited and answered a web-based survey in three rounds related to what they though themselves or a colleague might need to achieve situation awareness related to the specific goals of various situations. The answers were analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Answers reached consensus at a predetermined level of 75%. Those who reached consensus were entered into the final goal-directed task analysis protocol. The findings presented that EMS clinicians must rely on their own, or their colleagues prior experience or knowledge to achieve situation awareness. This suggests that individual expertise plays a crucial role in developing situation awareness. There also seems to be limited support for situation awareness from organizational guidelines. Furthermore, achieving situation awareness also involves collaborative efforts from the individuals involved in the situation. These findings could add to the foundation for further investigation in this area which could contribute to the development of strategies and tools to enhance situation awareness among EMS clinicians, ultimately improving patient care and safety.
The Digital Human Modelling (DHM) method, in which the anthropometric characteristics of humans are represented using a computer-aided three-dimensional model, is used in many different ergonomic optimisation applications, especially in areas such as manufacturing, machine utilization, assembly simulation, cabin design, human-robot communication. This method aims to identify and reduce potential ergonomic risks in posture and work positions during the design phase by simulating human-machine interactions in digital environments.Thus, possible injuries and injuries can be prevented. Especially in critical aviation applications where operator safety is vital, functionality and ergometry analyzes are important in cockpit and console designs. In this study, ergonomic analyzes of the operator consoles in an air support aircraft were carried out according to the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) methods, according to two different postures, using the Human Builder and Human Activity Analysis modules in the CATIA V5 sofware. In Position-1, the operator's situation of directly looking at the screen and reaching for the screen buttons is considered, while in Position-2, the operator's situation of reaching for the tablet located on the side and looking at the screen below has been evaluated from an ergonomic perspective. Additionally, angle of view analyses have been performed for these two postural positions.
Building viable teams provides a sustainable organizational culture and supports efforts to overcome challenges and maintain a long-lasting and growing business. This study analyzed the role of organizational distributive justice on the relationship between team-building interventions and team viability, alongside team performance. As we understand the underlying concepts of viability and performance better, we can build more resilient teams. An empirical study was conducted on a sample of 402 employees in different teams in organizations. A research model was built with viability and performance as the dependent variables and team-building as the independent variable. The perception of distributive justice was the mediator. Team-building was measured by four variables, where the results of the factor analysis suggested that problem-solving and interpersonal relationships converged into one variable, whereas goal-setting and role clarification represented the second factor of team-building. Regression and mediation analysis showed that problem-solving and interpersonal relationships had a stronger influence on teams’ viability and performance. More remarkably, distributive justice mediated this strong relationship. Throughout the challenging business environment, improving the problem-solving abilities of our teams and encouraging them to build strong interpersonal relationships integrated with a perception of justice would improve the teams’ sustainability significantly. Independent of the strength of the relationship between the team-building factors of viability and performance, organizational distributive justice fosters performance and sustainability. The observed influence of distributive justice was stronger on the goal-setting and role clarification components, whereas direct effects were relatively weaker. The high correlation between team viability and performance should encourage leaders to give equal importance to these concepts when building and motivating their teams, measuring the outcomes, and taking necessary actions.
In contemporary society, the spread of media and online learning has generated on one hand new forms of complexity and opportunities for the development and dissemination of knowledge, on the other, new forms of social exclusion. Learning in the digital age means having user-friendly and interactive systems capable of creating a series of new relationships between man and technology. In this regard, the Design is called to face, more and more strongly, with different disciplines, from the engineering-informatics to the humanistic-social ones. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a bottom-up multidisciplinary approach, within which the design field interfaces with increasingly complex design dimensions. In recent years, computer accessibility and aspects regarding the use, distribution and visualization of contents, not only informative but also educational, became issues of great importance within the technology market, particularly within the Educational Technologies sector. The objective of this work is the presentation of a design tool useful for the development of an e-learning platform (i.e. Virtual Learning System) for the university educational sector. The work focused on an exploratory analysis phase of the current e-learning systems through the application of Human-Centred Design evaluation methods to identify critical issues and to define design and tools assessment requirements for Inclusive Design studies. In particular, User Observation, Heuristic Evaluation and exclusion calculator were the methods used during the evaluation sessions. The latter involved a sample of 100 users between 19 and 24 years of age, affected by specific learning disabilities (SLD) and visual and hearing disabilities of medium severity. Subsequently, through co-design activities involving users and education experts, functionalities and new design solutions were developed. The final result of the work is to illustrate an operational strategy of evaluation and design and an experimental platform for inclusive learning. The research has highlighted the need to strengthen educational tools in terms of accessibility and usability, and in particular collaborative learning. The assessment of many tools for specific categories of users has led to enhance and develop in key for all integrated functionalities to stimulate and support all students, regardless of their individual condition. Moreover, the research highlighted the need for systems based on social networking, supporting not only accessibility but also autonomy, socialization and the ability to collectively build new meanings.
Assessing the difficulties and needs of psychiatric patients is the first step in an intervention process. A self-assessment instrument called (ELADEB) was developed to quantitatively measure the difficulties and needs of psychiatric patients and draw individualized clinical profiles for use in patient care. The instrument is familiar, but it is not easy to find free computer versions. This paper aims to present computer versions of the ELADEB instrument in the WEB/Desktop, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) versions capable of creating standard or customized self-assessment scenarios with media content more familiar to the patient (images, animations, and videos) and also the result of usability evaluations applied to the software developed. Some motivations include the remote use of the tool to avoid patients being unattended in a scenario of isolation or geographical distance, the possibility of using new environments such as AR and VR, and the increase in patient engagement thanks to the personalization of the self-assessment. Finally, the results of this work can provide greater access to the ELADEB tool, especially remotely, due to the more familiar and dynamic content and thus improve patient engagement in the self-assessment process. For future works, new versions should be made available to minimize the difficulties found in the usability tests, evaluations with more specialists in the application domain should be carried out to later evaluate with another audience.KeywordsELADEBUsability AssessmentWEB ApplicationAugmented RealityVirtual Reality
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