There's been a lot of talk lately about ergonomic product certification, and Peter Budnick takes readers on a tour of the topic, drawing from work he's done on the question over the last 10-15 years. In this article, Part 1 in a series, he shares insightful video of interviews he conducted with consumers on the questions of "what does ergonomics mean" and "what would an 'ergonomically designed' label mean to you?" He also shares examples of how other industries have developed certifications, why industries need credible certification systems, and how that might come about for the field of ergonomics.

Forensics is yet another area of practice through which ergonomists and human factors engineers contribute to making the world a better place. Peter Budnick reviews and highlights several articles from the just released special issue of Ergonomics In Design (a quarterly from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society), which deals entirely with forensics as an applied specialization within the human factors and ergonomics profession.

Current chair testing protocols called for in USA industry standards from BIFMA/ANSI are based on criteria that is decades old, and does not include the effects of modern computer based office work, nor the significant trend of increasing weight among the adult working population. Texas A&M researchers Benden, Fink and Congleton conducted an in situ study of user habits that affect office chair design (in situ -- meaning they tested participants in actual chair use in real office conditions). Based on their results, the authors provide specific recommendations for updating existing testing standards, and for developing new standards specifically for emerging Heavy Duty and Bariatric Office Seating standards.

In work funded by the Office Ergonomics Research Committee (OERC), Canadian researchers Berolo, Wells and Amick performed an epidemiological study to investigate the prevalence of upper body musculoskeletal pain in mobile device users. According to the researchers, "this is the first study to provide empirical evidence of relationships between mobile device use and musculoskeletal symptoms of the upper extremity and neck." Further, "our results show a consistent relationship between mobile device use and pain in the ..."

In the past few days, tornadoes have damaged several southern US cities, and a volcano has erupted in Hawaii. Earthquakes devastated portions of New Zealand, Chile, and Haiti in the past 14 months, and the list goes on. In the USA State of Minnesota, where guest contributor Philip Jacobs, MS, CPE, CSP resides, there are daily reminders of the threat for

Guest contributor Karl Marion adds his thoughts to the question of whether the field of ergonomics, and practicing ergonomists, need to "raise the bar" on the use of the word ergonomics in product and process design. He notes that standards are common in everyday life, and in many industries, and believes "it's time" for the ergonomics marketplace to do the same.

We're quickly moving toward a wired world in which we interact with computers throughout our day. Our phones are mini-computers. Our work is computerized. Our entertainment is computerized. Gesturing, a term describing the body movements we use, like swiping fingers across your smartphone, are becoming commonplace. Peter Budnick shares a video depicting the wired, integrated computing world of the future and wonders what role ergonomics, and ergonomists, will play as these technologies progress.

Two new ISO International Standards will help make products, signs and displays more accessible to older persons and those with disabilities

Guest contributor Shane Sidebottom explains the valuable role Rapid Prototyping (RP) can play for ergonomists in any industry. RP is a fast developing technology that allows engineers, designers and ergonomists to quickly identify design improvement opportunities early in the design process, while changes are still feasible. He provides a real world example of how he's used it in his role as ergonomist, and gives a concise overview of the technology so you can be prepared to work with designers and make RP another important tool in promoting human centered design.