WEAR



World Engineering Anthropometry Resource
  
 

 
 

Blog

  • 18 Nov 2015 8:26 PM | Daisy Veitch (Administrator)

    Applications are now open for the CODATA-RDA School of Research Data Science

    The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics https://www.ictp.it/, in collaboration with CODATA http://www.codata.org/, RDA https://rd-alliance.org/node and TWAS http://twas.org/, is organising a short course in the data science approaches and skills that are essential for 21st century research. The CODATA-RDA Research Data Science Summer School will be held at the ICTP, Trieste, Italy from 1st to 12th August 2016.

    The ever-accelerating volume and variety of data being generated is having a huge impact on a wide variety of research disciplines, from the sciences to the humanities. The international, collective ability to create, share and analyse vast quantities of data is having a profound, transformative effect. This 'Data Revolution' offers great opportunities for students with modern data skills, both in conducting their research and in entering a jobs market where those skills are in demand.

    Contemporary research – particularly when addressing the most significant, transdisciplinary research challenges – cannot be done effectively without a range of skills relating to data. This includes the principles and practice of Open Science and research data management and curation, the use of a range of data platforms and infrastructures, large scale analysis, statistics, visualisation and modelling techniques, software development and annotation and more. We define ‘Research Data Science’ as the ensemble of these skills.

    TO APPLY VISIT http://indico.ictp.it/event/7658/

    The deadline for applications is 18 April 2016

  • 18 Oct 2015 11:43 PM | Daisy Veitch (Administrator)

    The Internal Journal of the Digital Human is organizing a special issue on 3D Anthropometry. The Call for Papers can be found at http://www.inderscience.com/info/ingeneral/cfp.php?id=3192

    Please consider submitting your latest work to this special issue and please help forward the message to anyone who might be interested.

    Important Dates:
    Submission of manuscripts: 31 May, 2016
    Notification to authors: 29 July, 2016
    Final versions due: 31 October, 2016

  • 22 Sep 2015 8:18 AM | Daisy Veitch (Administrator)

    One of the Founding Members of WEAR, Kathleen Robinette, was interviewed by CBC Radio about minimum airplane seat size.


    Read the article at:

    http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.3227332/flyers-rights-petition-demands-minimum-airplane-seat-size-1.3227336

  • 20 Sep 2015 7:33 AM | Daisy Veitch (Administrator)

    19th Triennial Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA)

    The 2015 IEA conference was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne, Australia. The conference started off with a warm and cozy welcome reception on a wintery Sunday, Aug 9, 2015. The conference sessions kicked off on Monday, Aug 10 and ended on Friday, Aug 14, 2015. There were 3 Anthropometry sessions during the conference along with an anthropometry workshop geared towards measurement, application, and analysis. In addition to these meetings, there was an anthropometric resource for Australia SIG and the IEA Technical committee meeting for Anthropometry. Fourteen papers were presented during the anthropometry sessions and overall, participation of presenters ranged from USA, Germany, China, Australia, Netherlands, France, and India. Presentations ranged from 3D and linear anthropometry, equipment anthropometry, virtual body models, and tools and techniques for testing PPE. During the anthropometry workshop organized by the Australian Military anthropometry specialists, panel discussions were held on topics ranging from measurement techniques, analysis approaches, and interpretation issues. During the Anthropometry technical committee meeting, new co-chairs were selected (Daisy Veitch and Sudhakar Rajulu) for the IEA 2018 to be held in Florence, Italy (Aug 25 thru Sept 1).

    We'd like to bring you information about accessing anthropometric resources, both existing and new. Plus information on relevant upcoming conferences. Please feel free to join our group on Linked In if you have an account - 

    Linkedin and go to IEA TC anthropometry to join


  • 23 Jul 2015 9:12 PM | Daisy Veitch (Administrator)

    We would like to invite you to the 6th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics!

    The conference objective is to provide an international forum for the dissemination and exchange of scientific information on theoretical, generic, and applied areas of ergonomics, including, physical ergonomics, cognitive and neuroergonomics, social and occupational ergonomics, cross-cultural aspects of decision making, ergonomics modeling and usability evaluation, human digital modeling, healthcare and special populations, human factors in oil, gas and nuclear energy industries, human factors in unmanned systems, safety management and human factors, ergonomics in design, affective and pleasurable design, human factors, software, and systems engineering, transportation (road and rail, maritime and aviation), training and human performance, occupational safety management, and the human side of service engineering. This will be accomplished through the following six modes of communication: keynote presentation, parallel sessions, demonstration and poster sessions, tutorials, exhibitions, and meetings of special interest groups. 


    For more information:

    http://www.ahfe2015.org/

  • 23 Jul 2015 7:01 AM | Daisy Veitch (Administrator)

    Hi everybody,

    If you are planning to attend the IEA in Melbourne and interested in anthropometry we’d like to specially invite you to attend two meetings. First on Tuesday please feel free to come to the Anthropometry Resource Australia Special Interest Group meeting (ARASIG)

    Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia

    Date: Tuesday, 11 August 2015 (4.15 – 5.45 PM in Room 107)

    Link: http://www.iea2015.org/index.php/program/program-2

     (Please note that the room number might be subject to change, the link above will provide you the latest program)

    We’ll be talking about what group members have been doing over the last 12 months or so, we’re interested in your ideas for the future and what your needs might be and how we can plan to incorporate your ideas into our group. We would like to invite anyone who would like to stay and have a chat after the meeting.

    We’d also like to invite you to the IEA TC Anthropometry meeting

    Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia

    Date: Wednesday, 12 August 2015 (5.00 – 6.30 PM in Room 104)

    Link: http://www.iea2015.org/index.php/program/program-2

     (Please note that the room number might be subject to change, the link above will provide you the latest program)

    Anyone interested in anthropometry can come to the meeting so please come along! We’ll be talking about plans over the next 3 years plus there will be an election of a new IEA TC Chair. Looking forward to seeing you there.

  • 09 Jul 2015 8:55 AM | Daisy Veitch (Administrator)
    Melbourne, 9 -14 August 2015


    With this year's theme of 'Reaching Out', the 2015 congress program aims to provide delegates with a plethora of topics which will question and challenge current burning local and international issues that will shape the future of ergonimics in this region of the world. Consisting of plenaries, panel discussions, concurrent workshops, and free communication sessions, the IEA 2015 Congress program is not to be missed.

    http://www.iea2015.org/index.php/registration

  • 18 Jun 2015 8:54 AM | Daisy Veitch (Administrator)

    Melbourne, 9 -14 August 2015

    With this year's theme of 'Reaching Out', the 2015 congress program aims to provide delegates with a plethora of topics which will question and challenge current burning local and international issues that will shape the future of ergonimics in this region of the world. Consisting of plenaries, panel discussions, concurrent workshops, and free communication sessions, the IEA 2015 Congress program is not to be missed.

    http://www.iea2015.org/index.php/registration

  • 10 Mar 2015 8:09 AM | Daisy Veitch (Administrator)

    One of our WEAR founding members, Karen Bredenkamp (ERGOnomics TECHnologies, South Africa) has written an interesting piece on "The Dimensional Divide":

    I am of the opinion that an ‘oversized’ gap exists between scientific analysis of anthropometric data and anthropometric inputs used for apparel and product design. So, where does the problem lie? Is it with the training courses for designers? Do they not have enough (if any) exposure to all types of (traditional and three dimensional (form)) anthropometric data or the software used for analysis thereof?


    If designers do not get the required exposure, why is this? The question of availability of anthropometric databases comes to mind. In most cases, the anthropometric data that is available freely to the public, including students, are small datasets and more often processed data such as minimum, maximum, average and some percentile data. The range of variables might not be extensive enough to include all dimensions required by the designers. Therefore, they are forced to do the unthinkable: add and subtract percentile data to derive variables not
    included in the original dataset. Some insightful teachers and professors might warn the designers of the future, of the risks involved in deriving variables in this way. But with the lack of other data, what are the students left to do? Another issue is the unavailability of population specific data. As a result, designers resort to using whatever data they can find… because we are all human and humans look “similar”.


    For some disciplines, this assumption of similarity might be sufficient, but within the science of anthropometry this assumption is detrimental! As a result of the unavailability of RAW, population specific, and especially three-dimensional form anthropometric data, there is limited to no exposure to the development of analysis know-how, specialised methodologies and software tools by which to analyse body form and size data for implementation in design.


    So, why is anthropometric data not freely available? I like the statement made by Wilson et al. (2014) “Data management and stewardship problems continue to be addressed piecemeal. Each organisation responds to its own needs with its own data standards and policies”. Funding an anthropometric survey is costly. Especially a well thought through survey which includes all the ‘cheques and balances’ to ensure high levels of data accuracy. In today’s cut-throat, cashstrapped times, organisations which can see their way through spending their money on such a survey, want to see some form of return on investment! Normally, this could be in the form of a product which will sell to make LOTS of money. This product will have competitor’s edge since it was based on access to data that ‘noone else has’. This edge ends up being a double edged sword because now we end up right where we started: anthropometric data for designers who don’t have the required know-how, procedures or tools to analyse.


    Then we get to the question of “Is it really fair to expect designers to be experts on anthropometry?” Designers find themselves preoccupied with development and design aspects, such as latest material technologies, design tools and software, design rules and principles to mention a few.

    On the other hand, the scientists specializing in anthropometry normally have a scientific background in anthropology, anthropometry or other related disciplines. This knowledge together with the knowledge of the potential added benefit of raw, population specific anthropometric data, is used to motivate for population specific surveys with appropriate decision makers and funders. Normally, such funding institutions also make funding available for research which could include exposure to analysis methodologies and software tool development. So now, the data can be analysed, extracted, compared and studied. Unfortunately, because they are scientists and not designers, this is normally where it stops. Or, the processed data is handed over to designers. In the event that there is a close working relationship and shared goals between the anthropometry specialists and the designers (normally because they work for the same organisation and they have shared goals and interests) it might be possible to get to an end product which incorporates all that
    the latest anthropometric data and analysis tools have to offer. However, in most cases, the anthropometry specialists and the designers speak two different languages and have isolated expectations, work pressures and deliverable priorities.


    Either, the anthropometry specialists cannot provide the anthropometric inputs in a format that the designer can use, or the designers do not have the know-how of how to design from anthropometric data ‘from scratch’. Designers might have become so accustomed to design using design guidelines (typically taught during their design course) based on long forgotten, processed anthropometric data (I can assume that it most probably was not population specific). So, all the advantages of advancements in anthropometric data quality and analysis tools are lost.


    So, what is needed to bridge this gap? An industry that is keen to evolve and embrace everything that new technologies and advances in the field of 3D anthropometry has to offer! A closer working relationship, tolerance and willingness to share and learn attitude between anthropometry specialists, apparel and design training institutions and industry designers. And finally, but most importantly, funding sources that are willing to spend money on POPULATION SPECIFIC anthropometric surveys (focused on ensuring high levels of data accuracy) and make data freely
    available to industry!


    Wilson, A., Downs, R.R., Lenhardt, W.C., Meyer, C., Michener, W., Ramapriyan, H. and Robinson, E. 2014. Realizing the Value of a National Asset: Scientific Data.
    Eos 95: 50 (16 December 2014).

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