Perception and visualization of human posture information for computer-aided ergonomic analysis
Liu, Y.; Zhang, X.; Chaffin, D.
Ergonomics 40(8): 818-833
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-0139 PMID: 9336106 DOI: 10.1080/001401397187810
Accession: 009169895
This article reports three experiments that examined the effects of photographic method, computerized visualization scheme, and posture complexity on posture perception and specification for computer-aided ergonomic analysis. The subjects were presented with photographs of working postures, and were required to manipulate human forms generated by an ergonomics software program to match the postures in the photographs. The first experiment showed a clear advantage of using a three-dimensional (3-D) human form graphic with two photographs when complex, asymmetric postures were analysed. However, the use of a 3-D human graphic display and two photographs jeopardized the subjects' posture specification performance when simple, symmetric postures were analysed. The results of the second and the third experiment demonstrated the importance of achieving congruency between photographic and computer display perspectives in improving posture specification performance. Implications for ergonomic job analysis and ergonomics software design are discussed.