Anthropometrics

and Design
Compiled by:

DZULKIFLI AWANG, PHD

Anthropometrics is the comparative study of human body measurements
and properties.
Ergonomics is the science of making the work environment safer and more
comfortable for workers using design and anthropometric data.

click here

ANTHROPOMETRICS

Men and women are

different. Women are
usually smaller with
finer body proportions

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Anthropometrics means - man (anthrop) measurements (metric). It is the

measurement of the size and proportions of the human body, as well as other
stuff such as how far you can reach and so on. Accurate data on height,
weight, limb, and body sizes are needed to design items ranging from
clothing, furniture, cars tools and so on. Anthropometrics enables us to make
sure that the objects we design take into account about 90% of the
population.
Anthropometric Data comes in the form of
charts and tables. They may provide
specific sizes such as finger lengths and
People
of
People
from
hand spans but they also offer average
different ages
different parts of the
are
often
world need to be
group sizes for people of different age
different sizes
considered
when
ranges. Other sizes to consider are heights,
designing.
reach, grip and sight lines.
Game and toy designers need to use this
information in order to design their
products. They do understand that these
sizes are constantly changing, as the
population grows bigger.

 1. Design Limitations
a. Myth of designing for the "average" person - since
there are no people whose body dimensions are all at the
50th percentile. Body dimensions aren't linearly correlated
so people with short arms don't necessarily have short
legs, etc. While the use of the 5th and 95th percentiles on
one body dimension may exclude 10% of the population,
the use of these on 13 dimensions actually can exclude
52% of the population.
b. Myth that designing for 5-95th percentile - designing
to include the ranges between the 5th and 95th percentiles
of anthropometric data doesn't fit everyone. There are two
misunderstandings:
(1) 5 - 95 percentile is only 90% - 5-95% _ 95% of
people, it's only 90%! If you design for 90%, you'll fit 9 out
of 10, 90 out of 100, 900 out of 1000, etc.
(2) Anthropometrics are based on population "norms"
- must consider differences if dealing with a subpopulation
such as a group of Southeast Asians or offices for a pro
basketball team.

 c. Use appropriate anthropometric dataanthropometric data are only specific to the populations
which they describe. If the population is poorly specified
the percentiles may be biased. Also, percentiles are only
specific to the dimension which they describe.
(1) Maximum value - Examples include door clearances
and door widths for wheelchairs and users (arms must
work the chair), getting a gurney through a door, and
railings.
(2) Minimum clearances - Examples include safety
clearances for railings and elevator buttons.
d. Design for an adjustable range - but beware of the
cost/benefits of including more percentiles. Each
successive percent of the population to be
accommodated increases the costs relative to the
benefits, i.e. there are no diminishing returns.

 2. Design Aids a. Data tables - have anthropometric data but may be difficult to find
and use.
b. Humanscale - a series of templates are used by a computer to
change relevant attributes as populations change. Values are
printed. Unfortunately, it's still necessary to draw the figures from the
data values.
c. Mannequins - a two-dimensional drawing or figure which
articulates like ADAM (Anthropometric Data Applications
Mannequin) with plastic parts snap together like clear moveable
paper dolls or overlay transparencies.
d. Models - three-dimensional models like "George" can be useful
as examples of anthropometric data. Models have often been used
by clothing manufacturers.
e. Computer generated models - three-dimensional models of a
user at a specified percentile in certain respects. Can see elevation,
plan, or perspective. An example is "SAMMIE", System for Aiding
Man-Machine Interaction and Evaluation. Image can be changed to
simulate motion but we don't have good data for most
biomechanics.

 3. Issues of diversity - a wide variety of factors

influence human body dimensions, including the
following categories. "Clinical normality" in height is
defined as about the range 54"-79". The average stature
worldwide is 64.96" 3.15" for men and 60.5" 2.95" for
women.
a. Ethnic differences - shortest people in the world are
the Efe & Basua "pygmies" in Africa. There men are
56.61" 2.79" for men and 54.01 3.07"for women. The
largest are in southern Sudan, are the Dinka Nilotles with
men at 72" 2.4" and women at 66.49" 2.28". The
smallest living person is 29 1/2", a male Portuguese
professional drummer. The smallest person ever
recorded was a Dutch woman at 23.2" tall (1876-1895).
The tallest living person is a Pakistani male at 94.09" tall.
The tallest ever recorded was an American man at 107
1/2" tall (1918-1940). (He had to eat ~ 8000 calories per
day).

 (1) Sitting height - Stature differences become reduced

when sitting down.
Sitting height - relative sitting height = sitting height ~
53%
stature
Different ethnic groups have different physical
characteristics. Black Africans have proportionally longer
legs than Europeans. Eastern people (Asians) have
proportionally shorter lower limbs. This is most
pronounced for Japanese and less so for Chinese,
Koreans, Thai's, and Vietnamese. However, there is
some evidence that this situation is changing and that
Japanese youth have proportionally longer legs and
wider faces.

 2) General rules - Two general rules have been

developed which apply to ethnic differences.
(a) Bergman's rule - the body size of varieties increases
with decreasing mean temperature of the habitat.
Example: the ideal shape to be in the Arctic is a sphere.
(b) Allen's rule - the relative size of exposed portions of
the body decreases with decreasing temperature, i.e.
nose, ears, toes, extremities will be proportionately
smaller.

 b. Body shape - soft tissue varies in shape and these

variances may create differences in clearance and
mobility requirements.
1) mesomorph - body shape larger in the middle.
2) ectomorph - very slender.
3) endomorph - overweight or pregnant with a wider
body overall.

 c. Sex differences - have important ergonomic consequences

and separate data is usually used for men and women.
(1) Dimensions - Men exceed women in all linear body
dimensions except hip breadth. The lengths of upper and lower
limbs are absolutely and proportionally greater in men than
women except for buttock-knee length. Women exceed men for
skinfold thickness.
(2) Soft tissue distribution - generally, fat is a greater
proportion of body weight in women than men. Women have an
increase in subcutaneous fat in breasts, hips, thighs, and upper
arms. Abdominal fat tends to accumulate below the navel in
women and above the navel in men.

 d. Growth and development - rates are very fast for children

but decline with age.
(1) Children - At birth, average weight is 7.26lb .88lb and
average height is 19.7in .8in. Trunk is 70% of body length at
birth but only 52% of adult stature. Girls reach 50% of adult
height before 2 years of age. Boys do the same at around 2
years of age. From birth to 20 years of age the body length
increases 3-4 times and weight increases 20 times.
(2) Adolescents - Associated with puberty, boys begin a growth
spurt from around 11.5 years of age which lasts until around 14
years of age. Girls spurt starts earlier, at around 9 years of age. It
reaches its maximum rate around 12 years old and is completed
by around 16 years of age. At the same time height is changing,
relative body proportions are as well.

 e. Age group - It's important to consider whether children or

elderly people are included in anthropometric data.
(1) Height - Average heights of adults in the UK and US steadily
decline with age after 20 years of age. Around 40 years of age
most people begin to shrink in stature. Women shrink more than
men and shrinkage accelerates with age.
This shrinkage occurs in the intervertebral discs of the spine,
possibly causing rounding of the back. Some reduction in height
may result from shrinkage of lower limbs around the joints.
(2) Weight - The average weight of adults increases from ages
20-45. From age 50 onward men's weight declines. From age 60
onward women's weight declines. Until 55 years of age weight
increases for heights and there is an increase in hip breadth. Fat
is redistributed from subcutaneous areas to deeper positions
especially around abdominal organs. Lean body weight
decreases with age as muscles waste away. There is a decrease
in muscular strength but the mechanical tensile breaking strength
of bone, muscle, and connective tissue decreases with age.

 f. Disabilities - Worldwide, an estimated 400 million people cope

with physical disability. In the US in 1970 69 million citizens had
some physical disability. 5.4 million were visual problems, 20.1
million auditory problems, 18.3 million arthritis, and 7 million with
mobility problems (.5 million wheelchair users). There is very limited
anthropometric data.
(1) Wheelchair Users - Chairbound people actually suffer three
limitations:
(a) Condition which necessitates wheelchair use.

(b) Lower eye-level - eye-level is 15 to 16 inches below that of most

standing people and the seated posture also influences reach,
controls, and access.
(c) Possession of a cumbersome, awkward, space-consuming,
distinctive and inelegant vehicle. While a standing person occupies
25in by 15in of floor space, requires 16in to 26in aisle width and can
turn on the spot, a wheelchair user occupies up to 57in by 25in of
floorspace, requires minimum aisle clearance of 31.5in and needs a
turning circle of between 59in and 67in.

 g. Pregnancy - Later stages of pregnancy decreases in

the ability to lift, bend, reach, stand or walk for long
periods, turn head, etc. so it is a form of temporary
disability. Assuming a 0.02% pregnancy rate and
50,000,000 women of childbearing age, means an
estimated 1,000,000 pregnant women at any time. Only
recently have anthropometric surveys of pregnant
women begun to be conducted (in Japan).
h. Time of day - Because the cartilaginous discs of the
spinal column get compressed by body weight
throughout the day we tend to be slightly shorter in the
evening. Additionally, extremities (like feet) swell
throughout the day, making them puffier in the evening.

THE END
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