We conduct research in the application of rigorous design methodologies
to the design of artifacts and environments for people.
to the design of artifacts and environments for people.
Designing for Human Variability is offered again for the Fall 2009 semester. Students learn the principles of how to incorporate an understanding of variability in human size, capability, and preference into the design of products and environments. It is a unique opportunity to explore material from engineering, statistics, biomechanics, disability and aging research, and business in the context of design problems.
myAnthro - Basic is available in the Apple iTunes App Store. myAnthro is an iPhone app created by Dr. Parkinson for easily determining body dimensions derived from proportionality constants, a design tool employed in the Open Design Lab. Find more information by visiting Dr. Parkinson's myAnthro page.
NSF Career Award Prof. Matt Parkinson received the National Science Foundation's award for early career development. His proposal, Foundations for Designing for Human Variability, will be funded from 2009-2014. This work will enable the improved design of products, tasks, and environments, making them more accessible, accommodating, and effective for populations that are increasingly diverse.Featured Recent Publication
Garneau, C. J. and Parkinson, M. B. (2009). Including Preference in Anthropometry-Driven Models for Design. Journal of Mechanical Design. 131(10): .
In the design of artifacts that interact with people, the spatial dimensions of the target user popula- tion are often used to determine requirements of the engineered artifact. The expected variability in body dimensions (called “anthropometry”) is used to indicate how much adjustability or how many sizes are required to accommodate the intended user population. However, the quantification of anthropometric variability alone is not sufficient to make these kinds of assessments in many [ read more ]