Visualization of ergonomic guidelines - A comparison of two computer aided systems to support vehicle design

Guidelines are used in information and quality management systems to ensure high quality by supporting design, production and communication processes. These guidelines can be presented as a conventional system on an intranet suitable for printouts, visualized as a traditional text-based report with a list of headings accompanied by tables and pictures or presented as paper documents in manuals or binders. Such approaches do not always correspond to some companys' requirements for usability. However, multimedia techniques can be used to visualize and let users interact with the information through hyperlinked text, pictures, and animations. The aim of this study was to design a computer aided system of ergonomic guidelines visualized by means of interactive multimedia technology based on cognitive theories and practical examples. Furthermore, the efficiency in and attitudes towards using the interactive multimedia system were evaluated and compared with a conventional system which visualized ergonomic guidelines in the form of a traditional report on scrollable web pages. The interactive multimedia system was the result of a participatory design process with experts and potential users in collaboration with Saab Automobile. The system was, in general, faster to use with lower dispersion in performance speed and number of incorrect answers compared to the conventional system. No statistically significant differences were found between males and females or between the five groups of potential users. In addition, the interactive multimedia system was experienced as more enjoyable to use, which is likely to promote interest and learning about ergonomic issues. Relevance to industry The results from this study can be used to design and improve visualization of ergonomic guidelines on an intranet, increase efficiency, and engender a positive attitude towards using ergonomic information. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved