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SPECIAL

Ford Territory

SPECIAL

Ford Territory

Car Ergonomics Provide the Human Touch

Staff, Friday December 14, 2001.

Page 1 of 1

Liza says the buzzword in vehicle ergonomics is telematics; technology providing in-car communication and information systems.

"The challenge for those responsible for ergonomics will be how to integrate these systems into the car so they are easy and safe to use," Liza says.

"Where do you locate the screens and controls, for example, for the driver to operate the in-car entertainment systems or internet link so his or her eye is not taken off the road? The solution may rely on use of more audible sounds in your car such as voice recordings rather than visual cues which may distract you from driving.

"Then there is technology such as smart cruise control, collision avoidance and sonar parking systems which may one day see our cars run on auto-pilot and our job in ergonomics will be to advise on the operation of sleeping accommodation rather than seats," she adds with a laugh.

As Ford Australia's Ergonomics Engineer, Liza says her job is best summed up as "human factors engineering".

"It is my job to ensure that all the features of a vehicle, both inside and out, can be used easily, safely and comfortably by human beings," she says. "Can the driver reach the light switches, indicator, cup holder, radio controls and so on comfortably? Are they where the driver expects them to be? These are things that a driver shouldn't even have to think about if I'm doing my job well."

Ergonomic Tools

So how does Liza ensure the comfort of drivers given they come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of strength and mobility?

She says technology is driving the advances in car ergonomics and many of the tools at her disposal are designed to push the boundaries.

Sophisticated computers enable Ford engineers to simulate how a human being in any shape or size interacts with a vehicle design. They can simulate, for example, how a large adult male can sit comfortably in the back seat and his movement to enter or exit a vehicle, or how a small woman sits in the driver's seat and check her ability to reach different features such as the radio or foot pedals.

Virtual reality is the latest tool available. Engineers can take on the computer-generated persona of a particular customer, say a small woman, and take a virtual ride in a car, experiencing things from her perspective.

This ability to empathise with the customer is taken to new heights with two novel suits used by Ford in the United States and the UK. The first, called a "Third Age" suit, allows an engineer to wear a body suit that is weighted and stiffened to simulate the normal impairments of older adults. The second body suit simulates a woman in late-term pregnancy.

These digital tools allow Ford engineers to quickly test their theories, refine them and test them again, without having to build time-consuming prototypes. In turn, Ford is able to bring products to market faster and respond to customer needs quicker.

Liza says Ford Australia has access to this technology through Ford's globally integrated computer engineering systems. "We can access best practices and the latest research in ergonomics from anywhere in the Ford world and apply this knowledge to our Australian products.

"In turn, we have such a diverse population that we are frequently redefining best practices and educating the rest of the Ford world."

Ford Australia, like Ford operations worldwide, builds mock-up devices known as 'bucks' to prove-out the theories developed and honed with computer tools. These one-of-a-kind mock-ups are designed to demonstrate the package theory in actual operation.

However, Liza says nothing replaces the input of real-world customers. Ford Australia holds clinics for selected customers and the general public, as well as employees, to obtain feedback on ergonomic design of its cars at every stage from design to after-sales service.

Individual Tailoring

Liza says the trend in vehicle ergonomics is towards more customising of features to meet individual needs.

"Comfort is an individual thing and the challenge for us is to tailor a car to suit individual customers whether they are short, tall, big or small. There are also people who may have restricted movement such as the elderly, pregnant women and the disabled."

Liza says another factor impacting on ergonomic design is that the human race is getting heavier and taller, mainly due to evolving dietary habits.

Despite their gain in size, drivers continue to expect improvements in interior roominess while often demanding smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.

There are also gender and cultural considerations.

Because women are smaller on average than men, they prefer a more upright seating position for better visibility. The different sizes and strengths of males and females are considered in operating features such as opening the boot or hood.

Easy access to security features such as central locking is also important to women and parents, as is fitting of children's seatbelts ? preferably done without Houdini-like contortions!

With its vehicles now being developed for global markets, Ford has developed company-wide symbols and locations for most vehicle buttons, knobs and controls for ease of use by customers.

However, local peculiarities still exist, like the preference for the indicator stalk on Australian cars to be located on the right of the steering wheel while in Europe and America it is on the left. Australians also like to use knobs to recline and adjust the height of their car seats while Americans like to use levers.

Longer-term, Liza says the company's commitment to satisfying customers will see more advances in building cars to meet the special needs of people such as the physically impaired and elderly.

"People are able to customise their cars by choosing features such as colour, air bags, CD player," she says. "Perhaps one day a customer will be able to provide measurements for his or her height, weight and arm extension and we will be able to specifically manufacture to meet those requirements.

"We may not be there yet but I think it is something we should aspire to.

"Because this is where we will make our mark -- by being a company that not only builds great cars but also satisfies all of our customers no matter what their needs.?

For further information contact:
Ford Australia Communications
Phone: (03) 9359 8491

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