Course syllabus for Design ergonomics

Course syllabus adopted 2022-02-11 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameErgonomi
  • CodeMMT011
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKDES
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyIndustrial Design Engineering
  • ThemeMTS 7.5 c
  • DepartmentINDUSTRIAL AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 56113
  • Maximum participants48
  • Open for exchange studentsNo

Credit distribution

0122 Written and oral assignments 7.5 c
Grading: TH		7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

None.

Aim

The purpose of the course is to give a complete picture of how products and systems should be designed to positively affect human performance, health, comfort and safety and take into account physical,cognitive and social aspects. Furthermore the purpose is to present methods and tools for analysis of human interaction with products and systems as well as consequences of various design soultions.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

• Describe explain and exemplify basic knowledge (theory, concepts and practical guidelines) in cognitive and physical ergonomics, as well as physical factors
• Interpret and apply the basic theory in relation to analysis and synthesis of given examples
• Apply and interpret results from basic ergonomics tools / methods of given examples
• Describe and analyse the interaction between human, artefact, task and environment as a system and from ergonomics perspective
• Analyse and evaluate a self-selected product from relevant ergonomic perspectives
• Create design proposals for better ergonomics and reflect on made design choices made in relation to user group, effectiveness, efficiency, created value, as well as ethics and social sustainability

Content

The course covers the knowledge of humans as objects; i.e. organically / genetically based general principles and the variation between individuals. Based on the theory for each block of knowledge, examples of ergonomic design for different products and systems / work environments are discussed.

Cognitive ergonomics: 
such as sensory input, attention, perception, memory functions, decision making, stress, mental workload and human error

Physical ergonomics: 
such as anatomy, anthropometry, biomechanics, physical loads, biological variation and comfort

Physical factors: 
such as vision and lighting, hearing and noise, vibrations and climate

Human Machine System: 
such as system theory, automation user interface design, control room design

Ergonomic methods: 
such as user description, task analysis, interaction analysis, physical load analysis

Human Factors Engineering: 
such as ergonomics in requirement management and the product development process

Organisation

Lectures that address basic theory of the different knowledge blocks

Applications with exercises that show how and where the knowledge is used

Self-study of the textbook, lecture materials and web-course for the tests, assignments and projects

Quizzes: Tests basic theoretical knowledge that is important to be aware of

Hand in exercises: Provides in-depth theoretical knowledge and training in ergonomic analysis

Project work: Application and integration of theory on real product 

Literature

Book: Work and Technology on human terms. Prevent, Stockholm, 2015 (in English).

Web-course: onhumanterms.org (2017)

Examination including compulsory elements

The following parts are mandatory to perform to pass the course:

- 2 Quizzes (individual)
- 6 Hand in exercises (individual)
- Oral presentation and quizzes of project assignment (in group of two students)

All parts contribute to the final grade.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.