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A short history of ergonomics
Posted on by . Tags: Choice Office Furniture, Ergonomics
One of the biggest factors in selecting office furniture is ergonomics. How comfortable is it? How does it support the body (and ultimately the work) over long periods of time? Does it reduce fatigue and soreness? Ergonomics tends to come before style and fit.
This was not always the case. Here is how ergonomics has become a vital component of modern office furniture.
The word “ergonomics” comes from the Greek terms for labour (ergon) and natural laws (nomos). The term was first used by Wojciech Jastrzębowski, a Polish scientist and inventor who wrote The Outline of Ergonomics, i.e. Science of Work, Based on the Truths Taken from the Natural Science in 1857. The book discussed the link between labour and the health of a worker.
It wasn’t until World War II that the study of occupational health expanded to connect design with productivity and performance. When products are designed with considerations for the physical and cognitive wellbeing of the user, the function of the product can be improved. This connection arose out of World War II, when American pilots complained that their plane’s altimeter was difficult to read. The poor design of the instrument had fatal consequences – there were instances when planes crashed when the pilot had trouble discerning their altitude. Airplanes were then upgraded with altimeters that were easier to read. Products that are designed with the user in mind improve the performance. And in this case, the results were life and death.
Modern ergonomics extends into design, human physiology, psychology and usability for products (physical and digital) and systems (such as policies and organizational structures). This broad field comes down to reducing stress on humans.
As the study of ergonomics broadened, the tools to design products have improved. Computer modelling has allowed office furniture designers to optimize the shape and size of furniture to align with the users. In addition, manufacturing processes no longer rely on large runs of identical products. Furniture can be produced in a variety of sizes. Custom furniture further extends the customization of office furniture to match the worker.
Read more:
Bad Enough Ergonomics: A Case Study of an Office Chair (2017)
History of Ergonomics (Japan Ergonomics Society)