What is Ergonomics 甚麼是人體工學?

The simplest definition of ergonomics is “the scientific study of human activity or work”.

"Ergonomics is a human centered approach to understand the interactions among humans and other components of a system. The aim of ergonomics application is to optimize human well-being. When you consider ergonomics in any part of your life, you are approaching a safer, happier and healthier living. "

人體工學最簡單的解釋是”以科學方法研究人類的活動及工作”

「人體工學是一種以人類為中心，利用科學來分析人與各種系統元素之相互關係。人體工學應用的主要目的是優化人類的能力。每當您在生活之中都考慮到人體工學時，您已經愈接近一個更加安全、更愉快和更健康的生活。」

Definition of Ergonomics by International Ergonomics Association Council 國際人體工學協會對人體工學所下之定義

Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.

~ Official definition by IEA Council, August 2011

人體工學(稱為Ergonomics or Human Factor)是以科學的角度去認識人類與各種系統之相互關係;及以利用專業方法去實踐人體工學之理論、原理、配合數據分析及各種靈活的方法去設計一個合適及全面的系統，以保障人類的安康。
    

~ 取自國際人體工學協會之官方定義 (2011年8月)

Domains of specialization:

Ergonomics is derived from the Greek words ergon (work) and nomos (laws) to denote the science of work, ergonomics is a systems-oriented discipline which now extends across all aspects of human activity. Practicing ergonomists must have a broad understanding of the full scope of the discipline. That is, ergonomics promotes a holistic approach in which considerations of physical, cognitive, social, organizational, environmental and other relevant factors are taken into account. Ergonomists often work in particular economic sectors or application domains. Application domains are not mutually exclusive and they evolve constantly; new ones are created and old ones take on new perspectives.

There exist domains of specialization within the discipline, which represent deeper competencies in specific human attributes or characteristics of human interaction.

Domains of specialization within the discipline of ergonomics are broadly the following:

• Physical ergonomics is concerned with human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics as they relate to physical activity. (Relevant topics include working postures, materials handling, repetitive movements, work related musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout, safety and health.)
  
• Cognitive ergonomics is concerned with mental processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response, as they affect interactions among humans and other elements of a system. (Relevant topics include mental workload, decision-making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work stress and training as these may relate to human-system design.)
  
• Organizational ergonomics is concerned with the optimization of sociotechnical systems, including their organizational structures, policies, and processes.

• 物理上的人體工學包括了人類解剖學、人體測量學、生理學及生物力學之特徵，而這些特徵都是與物理上之活動有關。(相關之題目包括：工作的姿勢、體力處理操作、重複性活動、工作引起的筋肌疲勞、工作間的佈置、安全及健康)

• 認知上的人體工學包括了心理上的過程，例如感知、記憶、推理及肌肉活動反應，而它們都會影響人與各種系統元素之相互關係。(相關之題目包括：心靈壓力之工作量(Mental Workload)、決策、技術上的表現、人類與電腦之間的相互關係(Human-computer Interaction)、人類的可信性(Human Reliability)、工作壓力及訓練。而以上各項是與人類與系統關係中的設計有關。)

Ergonomist 人體工學工程師:

Ergonomists contribute to the design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products, environments and systems in order to make them compatible with the needs, abilities and limitations of people.  

人體工學工程師(Ergonomist)為工序、工作、產品、環境及各項系統作設計及評估，令系統內容各項範疇能有效地配合人的需要、能力及人類之局限。

Ergonomist's Areas of Expertise:

• Office Ergonomics and Design
• Tasks and Work Systems Analysis
• Risk Assessment on Various Work Situations
• Resolve Work Related Musculoskeletal Problems
• Injury Prevention and Management
• Occupational Health and Safety Training
• Product Design and Consumer Product Evaluation Ergonomics
• Human Computer Interface Design and Assessment
• Usability Assessment
• Environmental Ergonomics 


人體工學工程師的專門技術的範圍:

• 辦公室人體工學及設計
• 工作間設計及工作間設計模型評估(Mock-up Workstation Evaluation)
• 工序及工作系統分析
• 各種工作情況之風險評估
• 解決工作中肌肉疲勞問題
• 意外預防及管理
• 職業安全及健康之訓練
• 產品設計及消費者產品人體工學的評估
• 人類與電腦系統間之設計及評估 (Human Computer Interface Design and Assessment)
• 可用性評估 (Usability Assessment)
• 環境人體工學