Option E Human Factors Design Digital Humans E.8.1 - E.8.9

E.8.1 Define digital human and motion capture Digital human modeling for ergonomic simulation “In order to help the designer (or the ergonomic expert) to evaluate and optimize human interaction with the future product, the digital human ideally should behave like real humans, not only in terms of anthropometry but also in terms of motion and discomfort perception. However, although DHMs have already existed for over 30 years, the current models do not fulfill all the requirements desired by the users” therefore motion capture data is used to enhance the animation of a digitally created human models. Taken from: http://www.inrets.fr/ur/lbmc/english/Ergo/IndexTheme.html Extra reading about digital human and motion capture at: http://www.uchsc.edu/sm/chs/gallery/animate/animation.html http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/tecnomatix/assembly_planning/jack/digital_humans.shtml

Terminology DHM = Digital Human Models VHP = Virtual Human Project MOCAP = Motion Capture

E.8.2 Explain how motion capture is used to digitally represent motion. Read about motion capture at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_capture

Motion reconstruction procedure (Wang et al., DHMC 2005)

E.8.3 Identify the advantages of motion capture for digitally representing motion Advantages Reduces the cost of animation Saves time Creates more natural complex and realistic movements Physical interactions such as secondary motions, weight and exchange of forces can be easily recreated in a physically accurate manner. Disadvantages Expensive and specialist software and equipment Limited to anatomically possible movements The real life performance may not translate on to the computer model as expected.

E.8.4 Explain how motion capture contributes to the development of a digital human Records movements and actions. Using different types of sensors the information gathered can be used in different scenarios and situations as required. For example: Lifting a heavy weight – muscle strain, using stress sensors can then be used to simulate digital humans operating in similar conditions Same scenario - Lifting a heavy weight by a giant robotic arm, this can also be simulated using data capture and mathematical programs and engineering. Try out this robot simulator http://www.math.union.edu/~dpvc/talks/2001-05-17.union/robot.html

E.8.5 Discuss how digital humans can enhance human factors research Joint resistance – e.g. how the hand and elbows move in conjunction with each other. Discomfort – e.g. shaping of a back rest of a seat, and seat pad, and the relationship. Reach envelopes – how far can you reach – e.g. can you reach the pedals in the car to be able to operate it? Visual fields – are there obstacles in the field of vision e.g. sitting in car looking out of the windscreen, do you see enough to be a safe driver? Is the car a safe design? Measure of human performance – e.g. driving a car, wearing clothes, etc.

Task Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using a digital human in the design of your computer mouse/controller you designed for Topic 1 The Design Process

E.8.6 Explain how digital humans enable the consideration of human factors early in the design cycle "Occupational ergonomists spend a substantial amount of time fixing or working around problems caused by uninformed design decisions. Thanks to advances in computerized human simulation, help for designers is on the way." Taken from http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=423 Bringing Digital Humans Into The Real World October 17, 2001 By Peter Budnick, Ph.D., CPE Note the date of the article!

Task Using Google Sketchup, create or select a model of a mobile phone. How can you use the human figure provided to show how it will interact with the mobile phone? How could you improve the interaction between the digital human and the digital mobile phone? Read the article: Pro/ENGINEER Manikin - A Human-Centric Approach to Design by Jerry Fireman (Pro-Engineer is the professional version of Pro-Desktop) Using an animated digital model what could be the disadvantages?

E.8.7 Explain how digital humans can increase the speed of the product development cycle Testing on digital prototypes reduces the need to create physical models: Cheaper - Lower development costs Time efficient - Shorter design time Records data directly and more accurately - Improved quality Enhanced safety Can improve automation of the development process - Increased productivity http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com

E.8.8 Explain the benefits of using digital humans in developing manufacturing plants and processes maintenance and training Improve worker safety and working methods & practices Manufacturing processes – increase optimal production Processes maintenance – Operating railway systems, air traffic control, assembly lines Training - Flight simulators, driving simulators (cars, buses, trucks) Read the text at Why Use Digital Humans? from Siemens http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com

E.8.9 Explain the advantages of using digital humans in product marketing. E-Commerce using digital humans for example The clothing industry - www.landsend.com which is using http://www.mvm.com/en/index.php Kinset 3D Store technology and with the launch comes two stores already available to access, a bookstore (BunchaBooks) and an electronics shop LectroTown) - http://www.kinset.com/index.php Secondlife simulating humans and their interactions with the real and fantasy world around them. Gaming, Film – authenticity for animation.

Task Go to the shop at www.landsend.com Create a model for yourself and dress it with the latest clothes from the catalogue. Email the final model to yourself. List 3 advantages for shopping in this way. List 3 disadvantages Draw conclusions from you observations and interaction with the site – considering ‘digital humans’

Links http://www.digital-humans.org/ http://www.engineering.uiowa.edu/~amalek/DHL/index.htm http://www.fas.org/dh/  http://www.ergoweb.com/news/detail.cfm?id=423 http://www.digitalhumans.ch/ http://homes.esat.kuleuven.be/~konijn/3d/  http://www.uchsc.edu/sm/chs/gallery/animate/animation.html http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/tecnomatix/assembly_planning/jack/digital_humans.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_capture http://www.springerlink.com/content/h4054785x4622115/ http://www.inrets.fr/ur/lbmc/english/Ergo/IndexTheme.html http://www.imakenews.com/ptcexpress/e_article001264973.cfm?x=bdKfshB,b3jsqcsB,w http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/02/wearable_motion_capture_midi_c.html http://www.digitalhumans.ch/