Development of an anthropometry database for the malaysian population: problems and challenges
- Author:
Rosnah Mohd. Yusuff
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Anthropometry, database, Malaysian, design.
- From:Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine
2016;16(Supplement 2):36-43
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Ergonomics is generally to design for human use and optimizing the working and living conditions. The comfort,
safety and ease of use of systems, products and machines require the principles of ergonomics to be incorporated
into the design. Anthropometry is a part of ergonomics which deals with the measurement of body dimensions, its
capability and limitations of the human ability. Studies have indicated that body dimensions differ for various
populations, depending on ethnic group, sex and age. The measurement of physical characteristics and abilities of
people provides information that is essential for the appropriate design of occupational and non- occupational
environments, as well as for the design of consumer products, clothing, tools and equipment. It has been considered
as the very basic core of ergonomics in an attempt to resolve the dilemma of 'fitting people to machines'. It has also
been regarded as a branch of anthropology which deals with physical characteristics of the man in time and space,
particularly with individual variation, ontogenesis and generic development. Knowledge about man from the point of
view of physical anthropometry is very useful for the purpose of ergonomics and design. Thus it is important that an
anthropometric database for each nation is developed to ensure design of products and systems are compatible with
the user population. In Malaysia, many researchers have conducted anthropometric studies on various groups of
people, focused on a small sample size and used for specific designs. Unfortunately, the measurements are not
representatives of the population. The work has been individually based, confined to certain group of researchers in
various universities and there is no concerted effort towards developing a national anthropometric database.This
paper discusses some of the anthropometry work conducted in Malaysia, the problems and challenges in developing
the national database, the importance of anthropometry and the roles that the government has to play in developing
the database.
- Full text:P020170202353366758534.pdf
