Space Requirements for Wheeled Mobility - University at Buffalo ...

General comments were given on how anthropometric data are applied in designand standards. For example, using anthropometry only to understand the spacerequirements alone may not provide enough information for the development ofeffective guidelines. Visual data appear to be important for designing andeducation, but their value in standards development still is not fully clear. Thetypes of anthropometric information and the level of detail required in design willdepend on the stage of design. However, standards development does notnecessarily follow the same iterative process that designers typically use, and thedetail and quality of information acceptable for standards making still remainsunclear.Overall, the preliminary research plans were well-received by Workshopparticipants. There was no criticism about the specific methods proposed in anyof the projects summarized during the presentation. Strengths identified byparticipants were the multi-site approach to many of the projects, the inclusion of avariety of wheeled mobility devices, the emphasis on consistent data gatheringmethods, and the inclusion of both simple and highly sophisticated approaches.Some participants argued that the scope of the research plan should be expandedto provide the information needed for standards making on space requirements.There is a need to include greater numbers of individuals, a greater variety ofindividuals, and a more information about functional task performance. Workshopparticipants also emphasized the need for more work in the field versus thelaboratory.The use of terms in the experimental protocols and measurement approachesshould be consistent with current ISO standards on anthropometric termdefinitions, measurement methods, database design, and wheelchair dimensions.The research team leaders should be involved in the ISO activities in order totransfer the lessons learned to the broader international arena.The final portions of the discussion focused on how to continue the dialoguestarted in the first two workshops. Suggestions included linking future meetingsabout the Board’s research agenda and specific projects to professionalconferences such as those held by the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of NorthAmerica, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, the InternationalErgonomics Association, and the Society of Automotive Engineers Digital HumanModeling group.Recommendations to the BoardSeveral recommendations for the research agenda evolved from the discussionsabout the preliminary research plans. These were:Space Requirements for Wheeled Mobility 38