Radar operator’s oculomotor activity at working with group targets

Computer oculography (eye-tracking) technologies make it possible to effectively study the work of the human oculomotor system in the operator's activity in the man-machine system. The data obtained in this way helps to increase the system efficiency, especially in conditions of extreme activities associated with vital and emotional stress at a high cost of error. Within the process of the interface ergonomic design of the radar complex for detecting and tracking, the features of the human oculomotor system are considered when working with group targets.

Special Issue “Novel Approaches and Applications in Ergonomic Design”

Interactions between humans and systems need to be designed appropriately for safety, usability, productivity, health, and/or wellness [...]

Development of a Virtual Fit Analysis Method for an Ergonomic Design of Pilot Oxygen Mask

In the ergonomic design of wearable products such as an oxygen mask, systematic design methods including the analysis of anthropometric information, evaluation of fit, and product design need to utilize 3D human scan data. The present study intends to develop a virtual fit analysis method that generates an ergonomic shape of an oxygen mask for fighter pilots based on 3D facial scans. The proposed virtual fit analysis method enables iteratively to revise the shape of an oxygen mask until an appropriate level of fit between the mask and a group of pilot faces is achieved. The proposed method of virtual fit analysis and design optimization was applied to find ergonomic shapes of oxygen masks for four size categories (small narrow, medium narrow, medium wide, and large wide) to accommodate 336 pilots of the Republic of Korea Air Force. The virtual fit analysis results in the study showed that the revised oxygen mask shapes achieved significantly higher accommodation percentages (4.8~88.7%) at facial areas (nasal root, nasal side, cheek, and chin) compared to the existing oxygen mask shapes. The proposed method can be applied to develop an ergonomic product design that fits the face and other human body parts.

Extreme Interaction Among Human–Environment–Equipment: A Pilot Study on the Ergonomic Design of Military Snow Boots

The Indian soldiers guard the border regions located at extreme elevations in cold, often snow-covered conditions. Protecting their feet from life-threatening cold injuries is a primary objective as well as a matter of national security. As a solution, a new cold-condition “snow boot” design based on ergonomic principles was developed indigenously. The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of the newly developed snow boot through the application of both objective and subjective tools. The new snow boot was as effective as an existing imported boot. Users preferred the new design and appreciated the boot’s relative lightweight.