Ergonomics Concentration Calendar Changes - School of Kinesiology
Kin 180 is an introduction to Ergonomics course that has been approved as a Writing-Intensive course. The following calendar changes recognize that Kin 180 should be a foundation of the ergonomics concentration
Intended for students with a potential interest in ergonomics or human factors, the course surveys the design of work, the workplace environment, information systems, and consumer products. Topics include musculoskeletal disorders, manual materials handling, workplace design, organization of work, design of human/machine interfaces, environmental ergonomics, industrial design, and legal and social issues. Prerequisite: Grade 12 Biology or Physics, Grade 12 Math."
KIN 180 to be added to the pre-requisite list for Kin 380, 383, 486 & 488.
KIN 380-3 Occupational Biomechanics
"This course will teach the principles of biomechanical analysis and their application in the workplace. Topics will include techniques for measurement and analysis of movement; analysis of forces and accelerations in three dimensions; work and power; simple biomechanical and biodynamic models; standards for lifting and carrying, their application and limitations. Prerequisite: KIN 180, KIN 201, 205 and 326 which may be taken concurrently."
KIN 383-3 Human-Machine and Human-Computer Interaction
"Human information processing and motor control factors are considered as factors relevant to effective, usable human-machine interfaces. A user-centred approach deals with task analysis, context of use, information processing demands, the interface, and the design, assessment and usability of tools, machines and computers. Prerequisite: KIN 180, KIN 201 and 207."
KIN 486-3 Human Factors in Industrial Design
In addition to the prereq change, the current calendar description is inaccurate and should be changed to reflect the current course content
Currently:
The objective of the course is to learn the rudiments of design layout. In an industrial context, a well designed human-machine system must have more than just good display and control components. The essence of industrial design is to arrange system components so as to minimize production inefficiencies and quality control and safety compromises. Industrial examples will be presented to illustrate how human-factors input can improve the production process and help to control some of the extreme hazards that arise in industrial environments. Prerequisite: KIN 380, 383.
Change to:
Covers the role of human factors in the design process. The objective of the course is to explain how human factors/ergonomics knowledge is incorporated into the design process in order to improve safety, comfort, usability and efficiency for consumer products and products used in the workplace. Biomechanical principles, concepts from human-computer interaction and basic ergonomics/human factors principles will be applied. An applied project will be undertaken by groups of students and will form a significant part of the course. This course is designed for students who are following the human factors/ergonomics stream of the undergraduate program Prerequisite: KIN 180 and KIN 380 or 383.
KIN 488-3 Ergonomics Laboratory
A project based laboratory course that applies theoretical knowledge to industrial situations. Instruction will be provided in proposal development, evaluation techniques, and report writing. Students will complete projects in human-machine interaction, occupational ergonomics, and industrial design. Prerequisite: KIN 180, KIN 180, plus at least four of the following: KIN 380, 381, 382, 383, 481, 442, 486 and CMNS 354.
Kin 381 should have KIN 180 as a recommended course:
KIN 381-3 Psychology of Work
The application of psychological principles and methods to the study of human performance at work. A systems approach will be taken to study the interactions among the individual worker, his/her task, groups of workers, and the management structure of the organization. Prerequisite: PSYC 210 or both of KIN 207 and STAT 201. Corequisite: STAT 201 may be taken concurrently. Recommended KIN 180
Note that we would accept grandfathering for students prior to 2004 (first time in calendar for Kin 180)
In addition, change the prerequisites for Kin 485 Human Factors in the Underwater Environment.
Current: Kin 305, Kin 306 and Math 155 (or 152)
Change to: Kin 305.
Rationale:
Kin 485 is primarily a Human Factors course, drawing from a broad base of Kinesiology. The courses that contribute most are: Phys 102; Math 155; Kin 142, 201, 205, and 305.
All of the above are prereqs for Kin 305.
Math 155 (or 152) is a pre-req for Kin 305 and does not need to be listed for Kin 485.
Kin 306 is not required. The information contained in Kin 305 is adequate for Kin 485. Much of the course is on the physics of diving and life support equipment (breathing apparatus, thermal protection, recompression chambers, saturation diving procedures etc.) The physiological emphasis is mainly on effects of pressure and immersion on respiratory mechanics, work physiology and the effects of cold exposure and thermal protection. Decompression is taught mainly from a physics (gas uptake and elimination), modeling, theory of decompression tables, DCS symptoms and treatment tables, point of view. Narcosis and HPNS are taught mainly from the human factors point of view (effects on performance). Although some aetiology is included, the course does not go into cellular mechanisms in detail.
The inclusion of Kin 306 tends to limit the number of students who can take the course and at the same time does not really contribute much to the knowledge base required.