University classrooms and students' compatibility.

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2014

Authors

Luís S. Sousa (Author) Other; Maria Eugénia Pinho (Author) FEUP; Pedro Arezes (Author) Other; Joaquim Góis (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: AHFE 2014

Pages: 1055-1066

5th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics AHFE 2014

Kraków, Poland, 19-23 July 2014

Indexing

Scopus

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Other engineering and technologies

Other information

Abstract (EN): chairs and 4 tables) available in the classrooms of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). 206 students (131 males and 75 females) from different courses, with ages ranging from 18 to 35 years old, were meas-ured by using both a stationary and a portable anthropometer. A set of 14 static anthropometric dimensions were collected. This enabled the creation of the anthropometric database of the faculty’s student population. Students’ majority (69.9%) reported feeling discomfort while using the classroom furniture. The interpretation of the obtained factor plans highlights not only a difference between genders, but also differences regarding the importance of anth-ropometric variables in the explanation of the perceived comfort. The results show that most of the chairs are in-compatible with users’ characteristics, being noticeable a significant difference between fixed and adjustable type chairs. Likewise, when used with the chairs, tables also revealed significant incompatibilities. This study seems to indicate that classroom furniture is usually selected and acquired without due previous ergonomic concern, which often results in its inadequacy and mismatch with the end users anthropometric characteristics.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: In Advances in Ergonomics In Design, Usability & Special Populations (Part I) (Vol. 16) Edited by T. Ahram, W. Karwowski & T. Marek ISBN 978-1-4951-1572-1