COURSE SYLLABUS

IE 316 ERGONOMICS (3-0) 3

Catalog Data:

Basic concepts in ergonomics. Anatomical and physiological capabilities and limitations of human-beings as related to systems design and human performance. Human information processing and its relevance to the design of displays and controls. Use of anthropometric data in the design of equipment, tools, and workstations and/or offices. Design of displays and controls systems. Analysis of environmental factors (noise, vibration, light, climate, and air quality). Design of work environment.

Text Book:

Sanders, M.S., and McCormick, E.J., Human Factors in Engineering and Design, McGraw-Hill Inc., 1993.

References:

· Bridger, R.S., Introduction to Ergonomics, McGraw-Hill, 1995.

· Salvendy, G.(Editor), Handbook of Human Factors, Wiley, 1987.

Prerequisites by Topic:

None.

Method for Assessing Student Knowledge of Prerequisites:

None.

Goals:

Students will have an ability to apply the engineering design process to identify, define, bound and resolve human factors issues. They are expected to incorporate environmental, regulatory and safety standards in the design of human-machine systems, particularly concentrating on the design of displays, control systems, and workstations and/or offices, to increase human performance, and individual and/or societal well-being.

Objectives:

· To provide the students with some background in the subject area and an awareness of the importance of giving explicit consideration to human operator in the design of manned systems.

· To enable students to improve their ability to identify, formulate, and solve human factor problems and implement them.

· To enable students to develop skills to acquire and determine validity and applicability of human factor information.

· To enable students to develop their verbal and written communication skills through written reports and presentations.

· To motivate students to utilize computer tools and engineering software to analyze human factor issues.

· To help students improve their team skills through design projects.

· To awoke, in students, an awareness of environmental, regulatory, and safety standards.

Topics:

1. Introduction to ergonomics (1 week)

2. Anatomical and physiological capabilities and limitations of human-beings as related to the design of manned systems and human performance (2 weeks)

3. Human information processing and its relevance to the design of displays and control systems (2 weeks)

4. Introduction to engineering anthropometry and use of anthropometric data in the design of equipment, tools, and workstations and/or offices (3 weeks)

5. Analysis and design of displays and controls systems (2 weeks)

6. Analysis of environmental factors ( noise, vibration, light, climate, and air quality) and design of work environment (3 weeks)

7. Project presentations (1 week)

Computer Usage:

Power point presentations, use of software for measuring physiological and environmental factors.

Laboratory Projects:

There will be a laboratory project for teams of three or four students.

Contribution to Professional Component:

1. Mathematics and Basic Sciences 0 credits

2. Engineering Science or Design 3 credits

3. General Education 0 credits