Course syllabus adopted 2026-02-20 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).
Overview
- Swedish nameErgonomi
- CodeMMT011
- Credits7.5 Credits
- OwnerTKTDE
- Education cycleFirst-cycle
- Main field of studyIndustrial Design Engineering
- ThemeMTS 7.5 c
- DepartmentMECHANICAL ENGINEERING
- GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail
Course round 1
- Teaching language Swedish
- Application code 70117
- Maximum participants80
- Open for exchange studentsNo
- Only students with the course round in the programme overview.
Credit distribution
Module | Sp1 | Sp2 | Sp3 | Sp4 | Summer | Not Sp | Examination dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0122 Written and oral assignments 7.5 c Grading: TH | 7.5 c |
In programmes
- TKMED - Biomedical Engineering, Year 3 (elective)
- TKTDE - Industrial Design Engineering, Year 2 (compulsory)
Examiner
- Lars-Ola Bligård
- Teaching Fellow, Design & Human Factors, Industrial and Materials Science
Eligibility
General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements
Specific entry requirements
The same as for the programme that owns the courseApplicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements
Course specific prerequisites
None.
Aim
The purpose of the course is to give a complete picture of how products and systems should be designed to positively affect human performance, health, comfort and safety while considering physical, cognitive and social aspects. Furthermore, the purpose is to present methods and tools for analysis of human interaction with products and systems, as well as consequences of various design solutions.Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)
- Describe, explain, and exemplify fundamental knowledge (theory, concepts, and practical guidelines) within cognitive and physical ergonomics, as well as physical factors and human-machine systems.
- Interpret and apply the basic theory in the analysis and synthesis of given application examples.
- Apply and interpret results from basic ergonomic tools/methods on given examples.
- Describe and analyse the interaction between human, artifact, task, and environment as a system from an ergonomic perspective.
- Analyse and evaluate an existing product of their own choice from relevant ergonomic perspectives.
- Design and justify proposals for ergonomic solutions.
- Reflect on design choices in relation to user group, appropriateness, efficiency, created value, as well as ethics and social sustainability.
Content
The course addresses knowledge about human prerequisites (i.e., biology-based general principles and individual variation) for work and goal-directed behaviour in interaction with technology within a context. Based on the theory for each knowledge theme below, examples of ergonomic design for different products and systems/work environments are discussed.The human as a mentally working being Cognitive Ergonomics
Such as sensory input, attention, perception, memory, decision-making, stress, mental workload, and errors.
The human as a physically working being Physical Ergonomics
Such as anatomy, anthropometry, biomechanics, physical load, biological variation, and comfort.
Human influence from environmental factors Physical Factors
Such as noise, vibration, light/illumination, and climate.
Human-Machine Systems Systems Perspective
Such as systems theory, automation, and user interfaces.
Ergonomics Methods
Such as user profile, task analysis, interaction analysis, and physical load assessment.
Human Factors Engineering
Such as ergonomics in requirements management and the product development process.
Such as sensory input, attention, perception, memory, decision-making, stress, mental workload, and errors.
The human as a physically working being Physical Ergonomics
Such as anatomy, anthropometry, biomechanics, physical load, biological variation, and comfort.
Human influence from environmental factors Physical Factors
Such as noise, vibration, light/illumination, and climate.
Human-Machine Systems Systems Perspective
Such as systems theory, automation, and user interfaces.
Ergonomics Methods
Such as user profile, task analysis, interaction analysis, and physical load assessment.
Human Factors Engineering
Such as ergonomics in requirements management and the product development process.
Organisation
- Lectures covering fundamental theory for the different knowledge themes.
- Applications with exercises showing how and where the knowledge is used.
- Self-study of the course book and lecture materials in preparation for quizzes, assignments, labs, and projects.
- Quizzes: Testing basic theoretical knowledge that is important to be familiar with.
- Assignments: Providing deeper theoretical knowledge and training in ergonomics analysis.
- Lab work: Providing deeper practical knowledge and training in ergonomics analysis.
- Project work: Application and integration of theory on real product use.
- Applications with exercises showing how and where the knowledge is used.
- Self-study of the course book and lecture materials in preparation for quizzes, assignments, labs, and projects.
- Quizzes: Testing basic theoretical knowledge that is important to be familiar with.
- Assignments: Providing deeper theoretical knowledge and training in ergonomics analysis.
- Lab work: Providing deeper practical knowledge and training in ergonomics analysis.
- Project work: Application and integration of theory on real product use.
Literature
Book: Work and Technology on human terms. Prevent, Stockholm, 2015 (in English)
Examination including compulsory elements
The following parts are mandatory to perform to pass the course:
- Quizzes, 2 (individual)
- Assignments, 4 (individual)
- Lab exercises (individual)
- Oral presentation and written report on the project (groups of 2 students)
- Assignments, 4 (individual)
- Lab exercises (individual)
- Oral presentation and written report on the project (groups of 2 students)
All elements contribute to the final grade.
The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.