3D anthropometry has created a significant opportunity for designers to improve fit by offering detailed information regarding the shape of the human body. Various researchers have shown the benefit of using 3D anthropometric data in the development or evaluation of head related products for adults. However, detailed 3D anthropometric data of children heads and faces is still lacking. This paper presents up to date descriptive statistics of detailed measurements made of heads and faces of Dutch children. For the purpose of developing ergonomic head and face wear for children, an anthropometric survey was conducted, whereby children aged 6 months to 7 years were measured, utilising both traditional anthropometric measurement techniques and 3D image derived measurements. The traditional measurements were compared with the most recent dataset of Dutch children and, on a more detailed level, with a dataset of North American children.

No abstract

In product design, human body measurements are essential when it comes to products that need to fit the contour of the human body in order to be effective. When designing these products, designers must integrate anthropometric dimensions in their design process to optimize the usability and functioning of the product. In spite of the wide variety of available anthropometric tools, designers most commonly use traditional (1D) anthropometric information when designing and evaluating products. This does not always offer the detailed information of the human body shape required to develop a product with an optimal fit. This is especially the case for medical products such as respirators and orthesis, but also in consumer products, such as helmets and protective glasses. 3D anthropometry however, creates a significant opportunity for designers by offering detailed information regarding the shape of the human body. Advances in 3D imaging technologies have reinforced these possibilities in the field of anthropometry. With the use of these technologies, it is possible to capture a complete 3D image of the whole body in a matter of seconds, making the measurement process less invasive and therefor more suitable for populations that are difficult to measure with traditional means like children, elderly and physically impaired persons. The objective of this study is to map the variation of children's heads and faces and to define a new way to present this 3D anthropometric data so that it is tailored for use in design. For the first stage of this study, an anthropometric survey was conducted, whereby the heads and faces of children between the ages of 0.5 to 7 years old were analysed. Around 300 boys and girls were measured combining traditional anthropometric measurements with measurements derived from 3D images. All subjects were photographed using a digital three-dimensional photogrammetry system (3dMD Face imaging system). This paper presents the preliminary 3D data set of the heads and faces of children aged 0.5-7 years for design applications and shows the summary statistics for some of the traditional anthropometric measurements.

The use of 3D anthropometric data of children’s heads and faces has great potential in the development of protective gear and medical products that need to provide a close fit in order to function well. Given the lack of detailed data of this kind, the aim of this study is to map the size and shape variation of Dutch children’s heads and faces and investigate possible implications for the design of a ventilation mask. In this study, a dataset of heads and faces of 303 Dutch children aged six months to seven years consisting of traditional measurements and 3D scans were analysed. A principal component analysis (PCA) of facial measurements was performed to map the variation of the children’s face shapes. The first principal component describes the overall size, whilst the second principal component captures the more width related variation of the face. After establishing a homology between the 3D scanned face shapes, a second principal component analysis was done on the point coordinates, revealing the most prominent variations in 3D shape within the sample.

3D scan images have been successfully applied in ergonomic product design. Features of human body parts (e.g., landmarks, measurements, curvatures, surfaces, volumes) extracted from 3D body scan images can be used to analyze variations of the size and shape of human bodies. The information of size and shape variations can be applied in product design to support technical ideas regarding accommodation, tolerance, and adjustability. This study is aimed to briefly introduce a few analysis methods of body shape variation using 3D facial scan images of Dutch children in order to acquire useful features for the design of a children’s facial mask.

No abstract

One of our master's degree students had to design an insole for a Spanish company, Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV). He did several biomechanical and anthropometrical experiments to find the best requirements for insoles and to add comfort to a shoe during walking. One extra requirement was to design an insole that did not fit in other shoe brands. Research included walking sessions with different insoles to measure the dynamic pressure distribution, size, 3D shape, and other biomechanical characteristics of the foot to analyze the physical interaction between the foot and the floor during walking in the IBV laboratories. The result was an innovative insole including up to six layers of different materials that create an upright foot and comfortable gait pattern (Pizá Padial, 2009) (Fig. 56.1).

In Ergonomic product design, designers need to translate anthropometric data of the target population into product dimensions or sizing systems. Currently, sizing systems are often based on traditional anthropometric data and generally use the variation of one or two key body dimensions directly related to the product. For products that need to closely fit a certain part of the body it is relevant to incorporate multiple key dimensions. This can be realized by a multivariate approach such as a Principal Component Analysis. Over the past decades, there has been an increase in incorporating 3D imaging in anthropometric surveys. In order to integrate the use of 3D anthropometry in product sizing, representative models are used to visualize the variability of the target population. For the development of a ventilation mask for children, this study compares representative models of 3D faces based on a bivariate, multivariate and shape based analysis of 303 children's faces.