A Comparison Between Virtual Reality and Digital Human Modeling for Proactive Ergonomic Design

Proactive ergonomics can improve the overall performance and well-being of the user and has the potential to improve the product quality and reduce the cost of resources. Application of Digital Human Modeling (DHM) is a pathway for proactive ergonomics. However, DHM has the issue of fidelity and it is yet not in the level of simulating human perceptions and emotions accurately. In this study, we have proposed an ergonomics approach that is used to infuse human factor engineering (HFE) guidelines during the early design process. The approach utilizes Virtual Reality (VR), Computer Aided Design (CAD) objects, and human-subjects to proactively filter design ideas, during the conceptualization phase, before functional prototypes are built. A comparative study between full computational prototyping and mixed prototype using VR is performed by (a) designing cockpit packaging and (b) assessing human performance during a fire in cockpit emergency situation. It is found that the cockpit design based on the two prototyping strategies provide similar outcomes. However, the computational prototyping approach is more suitable in design space exploration and the mixed prototyping is more relevant for communicating design ideas. Further, it is found that the computational prototyping approach cannot simulate the change in human performance due to emergency whereas the mixed prototype is able to simulate the change in human performance due to the emergency situations.