Anthropometry

BME 602 (792)

SDSMT / USD
Dr. Carter J. Kerk
Edited by: erwin m pribadi
 Questions

 How tall are people nowadays?

 How far can we reach?
 How high do we sit?
 How strongly can we push with a hand or foot?
 How does the body develop strength?
 What are our work capabilities?
 What body sizes and capabilities are important in
human modeling, design of prothetics, etc?
 Can we just ignore body size?
Human Variability

 Size
 Range of Motion
 Strength
 Endurance
 Stress tolerance
 Intelligence
 Dexterity (ketangkasan)
 etc.
Selection vs. Job Modification

 Assume a heavy box must be moved

from Point A to Point B
 Selection: Select a strong person (Fit
the Person to the Job)
 Job Modification: Redesign the job so
almost anyone can do it (split the load,
MMH aid) (Fit the Job to the Person)
Job Design

 Try to maximize the population

accommodation
 But, account for the additional cost
that may be incurred
 Do we want to design a fighter plane
to accommodate a 6’10” pilot and/or a
4’10” pilot?
 Anthropometry
 The measure of humans
 Demonstration
– Class Sample
 Height
 Hand length
 Pinch grip strength
The Story of Lacy and Andrew

 Does one size fit all?

 Lacy is 4’ 10” (147 cm)
 Andrew is 6’ 10” (208 cm)
Love conquers all – even anthropometry!
 Measurement Techniques
 Ways to measure classical stature
– Standing naturally upright, but not stretched
– Standing freely but stretched to max height
– Leaning against a wall with back flattened and
stretched to max height
– Lying face up
– Standing but slumped
 Results would yield several centimeter
differences
 Standardized techniques must be used
 Types of Distance
Measurements
 Height: straight-line, point-to-point vertical
measurement
 Breadth: straight-line, point-to-point horizontal
measurement running across the body or
segment
 Depth: straight-line, point-to-point horizontal
measurement running fore and aft
 Circumference: closed measurement following a
body contour
 Reach: point-to-point measurement following
the long axis of an arm or leg
Anthropometric Design
Principles
 Designing for the average
– Typical or default
– McDonalds seating
 Designing for the extremes
– Doorways, reach distances
 Designing for the range
– 5th %tile female to 95 %tile male
– 5’ female to 6’ 2” male
– ADJUSTABILITY!
Functional
Anthropometric Data
 Adjustments/Allowances to nude data:
 shoe sole: add 1” males, 0.6”
females; 2 lb
 clothing increases torso breadth by
0.3”; torso circumference by 0.6”; 1 lb
Anthropometry Problem #1

 Dr. Kerk is 6’1” tall. What percentile is

his stature among US Adult males?
Anthropometry Problem #2

 How tall is an 8th %tile US adult

female?
Design Problem

 Design the vertical adjustment range

for a horizontal standing work surface
that will accommodate knuckle height
to elbow height for 95% of US Adult
males and females.
Normal Distribution