ANTHROPOMETRICS

Anthropometry, or anthropometrics, is the study of human body

measurements. At its most basic, anthropometrics is used to help scientists
and anthropologists understand physical variations among humans.
Anthropometrics are useful for a wide array of applications, providing a kind
of baseline for human measurement.

Anthropometrics in architectural design

Anthropometrics is the comparative study of the measurements and

capabilities of the human body. It derives from the Greek words 'anthropos'
(meaning human), and 'metron' (meaning measure).
Anthropometry influences a wide range of industries,
processes, services and products and has a considerable importance in
optimising the design of buildings.
Human dimensions and capabilities are paramount in determining
a building's dimensions and overall design. The underlying principle
of anthropometrics is that building designs should adapt to suit the human
body, rather than people having to adapt to suit the buildings.
There are two basic areas of anthropometry:
-Static anthropometry is the measurement of body sizes at rest and when
using devices such as chairs, tables, beds, mobility devices, and so on.
-Functional anthropometry is the measurement of abilities related to
the completion of tasks, such as reaching, maneuvering and motion, and
other aspects of space and equipment use.
The use of anthropometrics in building design aims to ensure that every
person is as comfortable as possible. In practical terms, this means that the
dimensions must be appropriate, ceilings high enough, doorways and
hallways wide enough, and so on. In recent times, it has come to have
particular significance for workplace design, and the relationship between
desk, chair, keyboard and computer display.
 THE HISTORY OF ANTHROPOMETRICS

The study of anthropometry has had some less-than-scientific applications

throughout history. For instance, researchers in the 1800s used
anthropometrics to analyze facial characteristics and head size to predict
the likelihood that a person was predisposed to a life of crime when in
reality, there was little scientific evidence to support this application.

Anthropometry has also had other, more sinister applications; it was

incorporated by proponents of eugenics, a practice that sought to control
human reproduction by limiting it to people with "desirable" attributes.

In the modern era, anthropometrics have had more practical applications,

particularly in the areas of genetic research and workplace
ergonomics. Anthropometrics also provide insight into the study of
human fossils and can help paleontologists better understand evolutionary
processes.

The typical body measurements used in anthropometrics include height,

weight, body mass index (or BMI), waist-to-hip ratio and body fat
percentage. By studying the differences in these measurements among
humans, researchers can assess risk factors for a host of diseases.

ANTHROPOMETRICS IN ERGONOMICS DESIGN

Ergonomics is the study of people's efficiency in their working environment.

So ergonomic design seeks to create the most efficient workplace while
providing comfort for the people within it.

For the purposes of ergonomic design, anthropometrics offers information

about the average human build. This gives chair makers data they can use
to devise more comfortable seating, for example. Desk manufacturers can
build desks that don't force workers to hunch in uncomfortable positions,
and keyboards can be designed to reduce the likelihood of repetitive stress
injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Ergonomic design extends beyond the average cubicle; every car on the
street has been built to accommodate the largest set of the population
based on an anthropometric range. Data about how long the average
person's legs are and how most people sit while driving a vehicle can be
used to design a car that allows most drivers to reach the radio, for
example.

ANTHROPOMETRICS AND STATISTIC

Having anthropometric data for a single individual is only useful if you are
designing something specific to that individual, such as a prosthetic limb.
The real power comes from having a statistical data set for a population,
which is basically the measurements of a lot of people.

If you have data from a statistically significant portion of the said

population, you can extrapolate the data you don't have. So
through statistics, you can measure a few people in your population data
set and have enough knowledge to determine what the rest will be like with
a high degree of accuracy. This process is similar to the methods pollsters
use to determine likely election outcomes.

The population can be as general as "men," which represents all the males
in the world across all races and countries, or it can be tailored to a tighter
demographic such as "Caucasian American men."

Just as marketers tailor their clients' message to reach

certain demographics, anthropometrics can use information from a given
demographic for a more accurate result. For instance, every time a
pediatrician measures a child during an annual checkup, he or she tries to
determine how the child measures up to his or her peers. By this
methodology, if Child A is in the 80th percentile for height, if you lined up
100 children Child A would be taller than 80 of them.

Doctors can use these numbers to figure out if a child is growing within
established boundaries for the population. If over time a child's
development is at either the high or low end of the scale consistently, that
isn't necessarily a cause for concern. But if a child shows an erratic growth
pattern over time and his measurements are at an extreme of the scale,
this may indicate an anomaly.
REFERENCE

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-anthropometry-1206386

Planning and Designing book

https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Anthropometrics_in_architectural
_design

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=625&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=y
W0kXfbIJfDxhwP1uLrYAw&q=+anthropometrics+examples&oq=+anthropo
metrics+examples&gs_l=img.3..0.29734.29734..30722...0.0..0.138.138.0j1.
.....0....1..gws-wiz-img.rlN6OHp4HMY#imgrc=_