ERGONOMICS RESEARCH SOCIETY THE SOCIETY'S LECTURE, 1965 Given at University College,Dublin, 5th April

The influence of adaptation as a continuous function of time on the phenomenal velocity of an observer in simulated motion along the principle line of sight is investigated. The results of two distinct groups of observers are reported, one having high visual motion after-effect and the other zero visual motion after-effect characteristics. The differential influence of velocity adaptation for these two groups is shown to support a visual motion after-effect based on an adaptation hypothesis. The results are discussed in terms of both psycho-physical and nourophysical models. The relevance of the study to a certain class of road accidents is demonstrated.     

Seated leg/foot ballistic and visually-controlled movements

An experiment with 52 participants investigated the relationship between movement time of the leg/foot for seated persons when moving in the transverse and sagittal planes. Four amplitudes of movement and 11 values of Fitts' Index of Difficulty (ID) were used to determine conditions under which ballistic movements could be made along with the need for visual control at higher ID values. Vision of the foot was available in all movements. As with arm movements (Gan and Hoffmann, 1988) there was a critical ID value below which it was possible to use ballistic movements and where movement times were approximately linear with the square-root of movement amplitudes. Above these ID values, Fitts' law applied, with gradients dependent on the amplitude of movement, suggesting that the muscle torque applied to the leg varied with movement amplitude. The critical ID varied with the amplitude of movement as previously found for arm movements.Relevance to industryThere is increasing use of the foot/leg for input to various controlling devices. Consequently it is necessary to have detailed information on the capacity of the leg/foot system to provide accurate input to a machine via a control pedal or other device. The present research provides such information over a wide range of control sizes and spacings.     

THE SOCIETY'S LECTURE, 1971 Given at the Cranfield Institute of Technology on 1st April INTRODUCTION,APPLICATION AND EVALUATION OF ERGONOMICS

Abstract

The Precursors of Ergonomics

Die Vorläufer der Ergonomie     

The Ergonomics Research Society THE SOCIETY'S LECTURE, 1974* The Borderland of Anatomy and Ergonomics

A survey of The status of ergonomics in Poland was conducted over a three week period during July 1978 under the sponsorship of the National Academy of Sciences scientific exchange programme. Ergonomic activities were reviewed in Warsaw and Cracow by means of a series of visits to academic and research institutions. Among the organizations contacted were: the Institute of Industrial Design, the Polish Psychological Association, the Institute of Psychology at the University of Warsaw, the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow and The Institute of Psychology associated with the Jagiellonian University. Based on interviews with prominent scientists in the forefront of ergonomic activities, the report provides a review of the historical development of ergonomics, the composition of the ergonomics community, current research interests and applications, and anticipated future trends. The Poles claim credit for having coined the term Ergonomics in 1857. They are proud to have formed the first Ergonomics Society in the Eastern European bloc of nations. Its current membership totals over 400 and they look forward to hosting the 1979 International Ergonomics Association meeting in Warsaw. There are only about 100 engineering psychologists in Poland. Engineers and physiologists or physicians tend to dominate the ergonomics field. There appears to be strong support for this emerging discipline from the State and industrial enterprises and ergonomics can be expected to become increasingly more important in Poland.     

THE SOCIETY'S LECTURE, 1972 Given at the U.W.I.S.T., Cardiff,on 13th April

Two contrasting 90 min VDT work situations were simulated in the laboratory: (1) a machine-paced, repetitive data entry task; and (2) a stimulating, self-paced learning task with successive feedback. Thirty non-smoking male students (20–34 years), without previous experience of VDT work, participated individually in each condition on two consecutive days (balanced order) and in a task-free baseline condition. Self-reports and successive measurements (ambulatory recordings) of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were obtained during work and during a subsequent 60 min period of deactivation. Urine samples were obtained after each period for the determination of catecholamines and Cortisol. In the baseline condition, measurements were obtained at corresponding times of the day. As expected, the data entry task was associated with self-reports of boredom, irritation, and unpleasantness; the learning task with alertness, interest, and ability to concentrate. Similar elevations of physiological measurements occurred in both work situations. However, differences between conditions were found after work. Following data entry, deactivation was slower in five of the six variables (significant for epinephrine).