INTRODUCTION TO ERGONOMICS - Ergonomics derives from two Greek words: ergon, meaning work, and nomoi, meaning natural laws, to create a word that means the science of work and a person’s relationship to that work. Ergonomics is the science of making things comfy. It also makes things efficient. And when you think about it, comfy is just another way of making things efficient. For simplicity, ergonomics makes things comfortable and efficient. It literally means the science of work.

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Ergonomics

An Introduction to Ergonomics

by Chris Adams 

Ergonomics is a term thrown around by health professionals and marketing mavens with a cavalier attitude.

For some, it has a very specific meaning. For others, it covers everything under the sun.

With all this different verbiage flying at you, you are probably starting to wonder, “What is Ergonomics?”

Definition of Ergonomics

Ergonomics derives from two Greek words: ergon, meaning work, and nomoi, meaning natural laws, to create a word that means the science of work and a person’s relationship to that work.

The International Ergonomics Association has adopted this technical definition: ​"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."

That is not the most efficient definition of what ergonomics is.

Let us keep things simple. Ergonomics is the science of making things comfy.

It also makes things efficient. And when you think about it, comfy is just another way of making things efficient.

However, for simplicity, ergonomics makes things comfortable and efficient.

What Is the Study of Ergonomics?

At its simplest definition ergonomics, it literally means the science of work.

So ergonomists, i.e. the practitioners of ergonomics, study work, how work is done and how to work better.

It is the attempt to make work better that ergonomics becomes so useful. And that is also where making things comfortable and efficient comes into play.

Ergonomics is commonly thought of in terms of products. But it can be equally useful in the design of services or processes.

It is used in design in many complex ways. However, what you, or the user, is most concerned with is, “How can I use the product or service, will it meet my needs, and will I like using it?”

Ergonomics helps define how it is used, how it meets your needs, and most importantly if you like it. It makes things comfy and efficient.

What Is Comfort?

Comfort is much more than a soft handle. Comfort is one of the greatest aspects of a design’s effectiveness.

Comfort in the human-machine interface and the mental aspects of the product or service is a primary ergonomic design concern.

Comfort in the human-machine interface is usually noticed first. Physical comfort in how an item feels is pleasing to the user.

If you do not like to touch it, you won't. If you do not touch it, you will not operate it. If you do not operate it, then it is useless.​

The utility of an item is the only true measure of the quality of its design. The job of any designer is to find innovative ways to increase the utility of a product.

Physical comfort while using an item increases its utility. Making an item intuitive and comfortable to use will ensure its success in the marketplace. 

The mental aspect of comfort in the human-machine interface is found in feedback. You have preconceived notions of certain things.

A quality product should feel like it is made out of quality materials. If it is lightweight and flimsy, you will not feel that comfortable using it.

The look, feel, use, and durability of a product help you make a mental determination about a product or service.

Basically, it lets you evaluate the quality of the item and compare that to the cost.

Better ergonomics mean better quality, which means you will be more comfortable with the value of the item.

What Is Efficiency?

Efficiency is quite simply making something easier to do. Efficiency comes in many forms, however.​

·     Reducing the strength required makes a process more physically efficient.

·     Reducing the number of steps in a task makes it quicker (i.e. efficient) to complete.

·     Reducing the number of parts makes repairs more efficient.

·     Reducing the amount of training needed, i.e. making it more intuitive, gives you a larger number of people who are qualified to perform the task. Imagine how inefficient trash disposal would be if your teenage child wasn't capable of taking out the garbage.

Efficiency can be found almost everywhere. If something is easier to do, you are more likely to do it. If you do it more, then it is more useful.

Again, the utility is the only true measure of the quality of a design.

And if you willingly do something more often, you have a greater chance of liking it. If you like doing it, you will be more comfortable doing it.

So the next time you hear the term ergonomics, you will know what it means to you. And, hopefully, that is a comforting thought.

Chris Adams

Human factors engineer and industrial designer

Human systems integration lead at Strata-G Solutions, Inc.

Experience

Chris Adams is a former writer for ThoughtCo who wrote about ergonomics for more than nine years. Ergonomics is the study of how humans effectively interact with their work environment. Chris has more than 11 years of experience working in the field of human factors and ergonomics. He was a human factors and systems engineer with Jacobs Engineering working on NASA's the Ares I and V rocket systems. Chris later became the lead of human-system integration for Strata-G Solutions, Inc. 

Chris specializes in furniture design and corporate identity and works as an independent consultant on various design projects. His work for ThoughtCo appears on many websites, newsletters, and books which focus on engineering spaces for human use.

Education

Chris Adams earned a Bachelor of Industrial Design (B.I.D.) in Industrial and Product Design from Auburn University in 1999.

ThoughtCo and Dotdash

ThoughtCo is a premier reference site focusing on expert-created education content. We are one of the top-10 information sites in the world as rated by comScore, a leading Internet measurement company. Every month, more than 13 million readers seek answers to their questions on ThoughtCo.

For more than 20 years, Dotdash brands have been helping people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired. We are one of the top-20 largest content publishers on the Internet according to comScore, and reach more than 30% of the U.S. population monthly. Our brands collectively have won more than 20 industry awards in the last year alone, and recently Dotdash was named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-ergonomics-1206379