We’ve all heard of ergonomics. We know about ergonomic desk chairs, ergonomic adjustable tables, and other tips and tricks around the office to keep us happier and healthier, but these days, even the technological devices that have already made our lives easier are now being redesigned to be easier to use.
Ergonomics is defined by the International Ergonomics Association as the understanding of the interactions that humans have with the elements that make up the systems they are a part of. This definition extends to the profession that studies these interactions and optimizes well-being and system performance using data, theory, methods, and principles. Basically, ergonomics is the science of making things easier and helping us live and work better.
According to Forbes, one start up company called OwnPhones — which has turned to crowdfunding to support their endeavor — seeks to make ear buds more ergonomic using 3D printing technology. Using 3D printing, which allows for extreme customization, these ear buds will exactly fit your ears and will stay nestled in them during almost any activity. All it takes is a simple scan of your ear and the use of an “ergonomic simulator”, which will evaluate your ear bud needs for the activities you plan to do while wearing them and adjust the design accordingly. The design of devices themselves these days is not the only thing to become more ergonomic; the apps on the devices we use are as well.
One app that has recently been made more ergonomic is an alternative Android keyboard app called Swiftkey. According to Gizmodo, Swiftkey is now not only an easier keyboard to use, it is available for free. The new default theme, called Nickel, is said to be much more ergonomic than the previous one. Nickel boasts a better prediction engine which is helpful for multilingual users, Emoji prediction, a more easily accessible number row, and five additional supported languages.
Judging ergonomics is one of the many ways we evaluate electronics and other types of devices that we use. The tech review of the hot new LG G3 by Digital Spy almost immediately comments on the ergonomic placement of the lock and volume keys, which on the G3 are located on the back rather than the side of the device. Ergonomics is not just about chairs anymore. In our culture which is dominated by devices, physical and technical design are getting the ergonomic treatment. And just when we thought ergonomics were exclusive to the office.