ANTHROPOMETRICS,

PROXEMICS AND
ERGONOMICS
ARCHITECTURAL INTERIORS
Ar. Diane A. Jose, MBA
ANTHROPOMETRICS
FUNDAMENTAL TOOLS OF SPACE PLANNING,
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
 VITRUVIAN MAN

Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci’s

Vitruvian Man, from around 1492,
shows a man within a circle and a
square—an illustration of the
proportional canon of ancient Roman
architect Vitruvius. Leonardo and many
other Renaissance artists were
interested in mathematical and
scientific measurement. This work is in
the Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice,
Italy.
ANTHROPOMETRICS: Introduction
 For many hundred years human
have realized the importance of
knowing something about their own
body dimensions.

 Indeed, measuring units of the

“foot” and the “hand are still used
today, having been derived from
the dimensions of standard body
parts.
 1.618

Diagram of proportional
formulas used in the statue
ANTHROPOMETRICS: Introduction
 The idea that the
physical size of the
person is somehow
related to the ability to
function in the world is so
old that it is surprising
how often the concept is
neglected in everyday
thought and design.
ANTHROPOMETRICS: Introduction

 Nevertheless many studies

have demonstrated the
reductions in performance
that can occur if working
environments are not
matched to the individuals’
body sizes.
ANTHROPOMETRY: Definitions
 Derived from the two Greek word anthropo(s),
human and metricos of or pertaining to
measurement.

 The ergonomist (a person that studies ergonomics,

from the Greek: ergon - work; nomos – natural
laws) therefore, uses anthropomteric data to ensure,
quite literally, that the machine or the environment
fits the person.
ANTHROPOMETRICS: Introduction
 Whenever the human operator has to interact with
the environment it is important to have details of the
dimensions of the appropriate body part.

 So overall stature is an important determinant of,

for example, room size, door height or cockpit
dimensions.
Kinds of Anthropometry:
 Structural Anthropometry (often called as Static
Anthropometry) – deals with simple dimensions of
the stationary human being.
e.g. Weight, stature and the lengths, breadths,
depths and circumferences of particular body
structures.
Kinds of Anthropometry:
 Functional Anthropometry (Dynamic
Anthropometry) – deals with compound
measurements of the moving human being.
e.g. Reach and the angular ranges of various joints.
 Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

 Even to the least observant person one thing must

be abundantly clear about body dimensions – there
is wide variation between members of a population.

 With such variability it should e readily apparent

that anthropometric data need to be used very
carefully if they are to be of value.
 Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

 Just how much larger or smaller than average a

particular dimension depends on the importance
and function of the feature being designed.
Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

e.g. (1) A cockpit joystick is useless if it is placed

outside the user’s reach and so the reach dimension
in this case would need to be related to the reach
of the smallest member of a particular user
population.
 Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

e.g. (2) In military example, an escape hatch in a

submarine would need to be larger enough to allow
all 100% of the users through (with their clothes) in
an emergency.
 Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

e.g. (3) As long as adjustable chairs are available a

desk height does not need to be large enough to
accommodate all user’s heights and so could
possibly be designed to accommodate, say, 90 to
95%.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

 The wide distribution of body dimensions and

shapes which maybe encountered in a population
can often be due to slight genetic differences.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

 However, other, more readily observable variables

can affect body dimensions and their variability
and these include: AGE, SEX, CULTURE,
OCCUPATION, and HISTORICAL TRENDS
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

AGE
 The change in body dimensions from birth to
maturity is well known and, indeed, the increases
occur consistently although sometimes irregularly.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

AGE
 For height, as for most other body lengths, full
growth is attained for all practical purposes by the
age of 20 in males and 17 in females.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

AGE
 Some “shrinkage” of older people has also been
noted, which is mainly due to biological changes
that take place as a part of the normal ageing
process – flattening of discs between the vertebrae,
general thinning of the weight-bearing cartilages,
and so on.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

SEX
 With the increasing observance of sexual equality in
the workplace, designing for differences in body
dimensions between sexes will become an important
aspect of ergonomist’s task.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

SEX
 In this respect, males are generally larger than
females for most body dimensions, and the extent of
the difference varies from one dimension to another.

 Women, however, are larger than men in the four

dimensions of chest depth, hip breadth, hip
circumference and thigh circumference.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

CULTURE
 The importance of national and cultural differences
in anthropometry has been realized for some time,
but until recently there has been little concerted
effort to implement the relevant data in the
production of new plant ad machinery.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

CULTURE
 The variability in anthropometric dimensions due to
national and cultural differences may not all be as
dramatic as the difference in some culture.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

OCCUPATION
 Differences in body size and proportion among
occupational groups are common and are fairly well
known.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

OCCUPATION
e.g. Many body dimensions of a manual laborer are on
average larger than those of an academician.

however, such differences may also be related to age, diet,

exercise or many other factors, as well as the result of
selection criteria designated by specific occupations.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

OCCUPATION
 Whatever the reasons for the differences, however,
anthropometric variability in different occupations must be
realized so that appropriate environments can be designed
for the occupation and before anthropometric data
obtained from members of one occupation can be used to
design the environments of another.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

SECULAR (HISTORICAL) TRENDS

 Many people have observed that the equipment used in
earlier years would too small for effective use today.
 Such observations imply that the average size of the
population increases over time, perhaps because of better
diet and living conditions.
 If true, the results would have important implications for the
design of an environment that is to survive for some time.
 Sources of Anthropometric Variability

SECULAR (HISTORICAL) TRENDS

 If we are getting taller, for example, then the design might
need to take account of the statures of future generations
as well as present-day users.
SIMPLE METHODOLOGY FOR ANTHROPOMETRICS STUDY
RELATED TO ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN:

 The dimensional study of individuals and groups in

motion and without motion.

 The dimensional study of individuals and groups during

various activities. The data to explore individual,
smaller groups, medium groups and larger groups in
terms of intimate, social and public zones.

 Special study on dimensional requirements of physically

handicapped and elderly people.
PROXEMICS
FUNDAMENTAL TOOLS OF SPACE PLANNING,
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
PROXEMICS: Definitions
 Proxemics is the study of the symbolic and
communicative role of the spatial separation of
individuals, maintain in various social and
interpersonal situations and how the nature and
degree of this spatial arrangement relates to
envrironmental and cultural factors.

 Proxemics is the study of spatial distances between

individuals in different cultures and situations.
PROXEMICS
 The term proxemics was introduced by
anthropologist Edward T. Hall in 1966 to describe
set measurable distances between people as they
interact. The effects of proxemics, according to Hall,
can be summarized by the following loose rule:

“Like gravity, the influence of two bodies on each

other is inversely proportional not only to the square
of their distance but possibly even the cube of the
distance between them.”
Diagram of Edward T. Hall's
personal reaction bubbles (1966),
showing radius in feet.
PROXEMICS:
 Body spacing and posture, according to Hall, are
unintentional reactions to sensory fluctuations or
shifts, such as subtle changes in the sound and pitch
of a person's voice.
PROXEMICS:
Social distance between people is reliably correlated with
physical distance, as are intimate and personal distance,
according to the following delineations:

A. Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering

 Close phase - less than 6 inches (15 cm)

 Far phase - 6 to 18 inches (15 - 45 cm)

B. Personal distance for interactions among good friends

 Close phase - 1.5 to 2.5 feet (45 - 75 cm)

 Far phase - 2.5 to 4 feet (75 - 120 cm)

PROXEMICS:
Social distance between people is reliably correlated with
physical distance, as are intimate and personal distance,
according to the following delineations:

C. Social distance for interactions among acquaintances

 Close phase - 4 to 7 feet (1.2 - 2.1 m)

 Far phase - 7 to 12 feet (2.1 - 3.6 m)

D. Public distance used for public speaking

 Close phase - 12 to 25 feet (3.6 - 7.5 m)

 Far phase - 25 feet (7.5 m) or more

PROXEMICS:
 Hall notes that different cultures maintain different
standards of personal space. In Latin cultures, for
instance, those relative distances are smaller, and
people tend to be more comfortable standing close to
each other; in Nordic cultures the opposite is true.
 Realizing and recognizing these cultural differences
improves cross-cultural understanding, and helps
eliminate discomfort people may feel if the
interpersonal distance is too large ("stand-offish") or
too small (intrusive).
 Comfortable personal distances also depend on the
culture, social situation, gender, and individual
preference.
PROXEMICS
 A related term is propinquity. Propinquity, the
property of being close together.
PROXEMICS: Types of Space
Proxemics defines three different types of space:

 Fixed-feature space
This comprises things that are immobile, such as walls
and territorial boundaries. However, some territorial
boundaries can and are thus classified as semifixed-
features.

Territoriality – the pattern of behavior associated with

defining and defending a territory or domain.
PROXEMICS: Types of Space
Proxemics defines three different types of space:

 Semi-fixed feature space

This comprises movable objects, such as furniture.
However, again, some furniture is fixed, and is classified
as a fixed-feature.
PROXEMICS: Types of Space
Proxemics defines three different types of space:

 Informal space
This comprises the personal space around the body that
travels around with a person as he/she moves, and that
determines the personal distance among people.

Personal space – the variable and subjective distance

at which one person feels comfortable talking to
another. Also called as personal distance.
PROXEMICS: Sociofugal vs. Sociopetal

 Proxemics also classifies spaces as either sociofugal

or sociopetal (c.f. the sociofugal-sociopetal
behaviour category).
 The terms are analogous to the words "centrifugal"
and "centripetal". Sociofugal spaces are spaces
that are conducive, by dint of how they are
organized, to interpersonal communcation, whereas
sociopetal spaces encourage solitarity.
PROXEMICS: Behaviour Categories
Proxemics also defines eight factors in nonverbal
communication, or proxemic behaviour categories, that
apply to people engaged in conversation:
 posture-sex identifiers

 the sociopetal-sociofugal axis

 kinaesthetic factors

 touching code

 visual code

 thermal code

 olfactory code

 voice loudness
PROXEMICS: Behaviour Categories

 POSTURE-SEX IDENTIFIERS
This category relates the postures of the
participants and their sexes. Six primary sub-
categories are defined: man prone, man sitting or
squatting, man standing, woman prone, woman
sitting or squatting, and woman standing.

Posture - position or arrangement of the body and

its limbs.
PROXEMICS: Behaviour Categories

 THE SOCIOPETAL-SOCIOFUGAL AXIS

This axis denotes the relationship between the
positions of one person's shoulders and another's
shoulders.

Nine primary orientations are defined: face-to-

face, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 135°, 90°, 45°, and
back-to-back. The effects of the several orientations
are to either encourage or discourage
communication.
PROXEMICS: Behaviour Categories
 KINAESTHETIC FACTORS
This category deals with how closely the
participants are to touching, from being completely
outside of body-contact distance to being in
physical contact, which parts of the body are in
contact, and body part positioning.

Kinaesthesia – the sensory experience of bodily

positions, presence or movement derived chiefly
from stimulation of nerve endings in muscles,
tendons and joints.
PROXEMICS: Behaviour Categories

 TOUCHING CODE
This behavioural category deals in how people
participants are touching one another, such as
caressing, holding, feeling, prolonged holding, spot
touching, pressing against, accidental brushing, or
not touching at all.
PROXEMICS: Behaviour Categories

 VISUAL CODE
This category denotes the amount of eye contact
between participants. Four sub-categories are
defined, ranging from eye-to-eye contact to no eye
contact at all.
PROXEMICS: Behaviour Categories

 THERMAL CODE
This category denotes the amount of body heat that
each participant perceives from another. Four sub-
categories are defined: conducted heat detected,
radiant heat detected, heat probably detected,
and no detection of heat.
PROXEMICS: Behaviour Categories

 OLFACTORY CODE
This category deals in the kind and degree of
odour detected by each participant from the other.
PROXEMICS: Behaviour Categories

 VOICE LOUDNESS
This category deals in the volume of the speech
used. Seven sub-categories are defined: silent, very
soft, soft, normal, normal+, loud, and very loud.
ERGONOMICS
FUNDAMENTAL TOOLS OF SPACE PLANNING,
DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
ERGONOMICS: Definition
 (Greek ergon, “work”; nomos, “laws”)
 An applied science concerned with the characteristics of
people that need to be considered in the design of
devices and systems in order that people and things will
interact effectively and safely. Also called HUMAN
ENGINEERING.
 The science of designing the job, equipment, and
workplace to fit the worker. Proper ergonomic design is
necessary to prevent repetitive strain injuries, which can
develop over time and can lead to long-term disability.
ERGONOMICS: Definition
 The branch of engineering science in which biological
science is used to study the relation between users and
their environments.
 The scientific discipline concerned with designing
according to the human needs, and the profession that
applies theory, principles, data and methods to design
in order to optimize human well-being and overall
system performance.
 The science of designing machines, products, space and
systems to maximize the safety, comfort, and efficiency
of the people who use them.
ERGONOMICS: Overview
 Ergonomics is a science concerned with the ‘fit’
between people and their environment. It takes
account of the user's capabilities and limitations in
seeking to ensure that tasks, equipment, information
and the environment suit each user.
ERGONOMICS: Overview
To assess the fit between a person and their
environment, ergonomists consider:

 the activity to be done and the demands on the

user;
 the equipment used (its size, shape, and how
appropriate it is for the task or activity);
 the information used (how it is presented, accessed,
and changed).
ERGONOMICS: Five (5) Aspects
1. Safety:
Medicine bottles: The print on them could be larger
so that a sick person who may have impaired vision
(due to sinuses, etc.) can more easily see the
dosages and label. Ergonomics could design the
print style, color and size for optimal viewing.
ERGONOMICS: Five (5) Aspects
2. Comfort:
Alarm clock display: Some displays are harshly
bright, drawing one’s eye to the light when
surroundings are dark. Ergonomic principles could
redesign this based on contrast principles.
ERGONOMICS: Five (5) Aspects
3. Ease of use:
Street Signs: In a strange area, many times it is
difficult to spot street signs. This could be addressed
with the principles of visual detection in ergonomics.
ERGONOMICS: Five (5) Aspects
4. Productivity/Performance :
HD TV: The sound on HD TV is much lower than regular
TV. So when you switch from HD to regular, the volume
increases dramatically. Ergonomics recognizes that this
difference in decibel level creates a difference in
loudness and hurts human ears and this could be solved
by evening out the decibel levels. Voicemail instructions:
It takes too long to have to listen to all of the obvious
instructions. Ergonomics could address this by providing
more options to the user, enabling them to easily and
quickly skip the instructions.
ERGONOMICS: Five (5) Aspects
5. Aesthetics:
Signs in the workplace: Signage should be made
consistent throughout the workplace to not only be
aesthetically pleasing, but also so that information is
easily accessible for all signs