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November 11, 2010

Today is World Usability Day

Today, 11 November 2010, is World Usability Day. "It's all about making the world work better." Each year, on the second Thursday of November, events are organized in more than 44 countries around the world to raise the public's awareness, and to train professionals in the tools and issues central to good usability research, development and practice.
October 21, 2010

Tea Party Ergonomics; the Meaning of Ergonomic Design

A roundup of recent news including John Dennis, a Republican candidate and Tea Party favorite -- who also has close ties to ergonomics -- and who is running against powerful Democratic incumbent Nancy Pelosi; and a fight over the internet domain address ErgonomicDesigns.com that included debate over the meaning of "ergonomic designs".
October 20, 2010

Making the Business Case for Ergonomics and Safe Patient Handling Programs

If you need to establish an economic case for ergonomics and safe patient handling, this article provides a blue print for doing so. Guest contributor Lynda Enos, courtesy of the Oregon Nurses Association, gives a detailed overview of how to make an effective business case that will result in fully funded and sustainable safety and ergonomics programs in health care facilities.
October 14, 2010

Office Ergonomics: Web-based Training Improves Outcomes

If you've ever been asked to provide ergonomics training and workstation evaluations for hundreds (or thousands) of employees in a call center, you know that one-on-one delivery of ergonomics services has some serious limitations. Guest contributor Gene Kay shares his approach, including the use of online systems.
October 6, 2010

Balls as Chairs; Ergonomic Checkpoints; 18th World Congress on Ergonomics

A roundup of ergonomics topics, including the New York Times on using exercise balls as chairs, the release of the 2nd edition of Ergonomic Checkpoints, an excellent resource for participatory ergonomics, and the 18th World Congress on Ergonomics, to be held in 2012 in Brazil (the week before Carnival!); Global Ergonomics Month; and the 1st FEES Conference.
September 29, 2010

Student Wins Ergonomics Award for Public Urinal Concept

Ergonomics graduate student Augusto Espinosa accepts award: "This design proposes a more efficient urinal for fast paced locales such as bars, clubs, and busy restaurants. The new model combines the sink area with the urinal. This better utilizes space and improves hygiene since the person is more likely to wash his hands if the sink is already in front of him."
September 29, 2010

The Role of Ergonomics in Rehab Engineering (Case Studies)

Combining ergonomics with rehabilitation engineering can change lives and provide disabled individuals with a means to do things that may otherwise seem impossible. This article highlights a few examples, including designs that help a young paraplegic auto mechanic, a multi-finger amputee mechanic, and even allow a quadriplegic to fish.
September 21, 2010

Where’s Ergonomics Going? Nowhere if Things Don’t Change!

Guest contributor Ian Chong makes a case -- and issues a call to action -- that ergonomists and stakeholders in the field of ergonomics need to cooperate and form an association as a way to better define and present the value of ergonomics to the public, and to protect and advance the meaning and application of ergonomics, particularly in product design.