Exoskeletons often initiate assistance at unexpected moments, disrupting natural movement and reducing user acceptance. The timing of mechanical assistance is critical for enabling users to perform fast and accurate movements without conscious effort. This study examined how assistance onset timing affects movement accuracy, muscle activation, and subjective evaluation during simple tasks. Twenty healthy young participants performed visually guided elbow flexions (30°–120°) within 1.15 s, lifting a dumbbell equal to 25% of their maximum voluntary contraction with 40% mechanical assistance under seven onset conditions (±300 ms, ±200 ms, ±100 ms, and 0 ms relative to the start cue). The findings indicate that both early and delayed assistance provide unique advantages but are subject to a fundamental trade-off: early assistance improves movement accuracy, whereas delayed assistance better preserves the sense of agency. The most effective cooperation occurred within a ±100 ms window, balancing accuracy and agency—factors essential for improving device acceptance.
{"title":"Human motor responses to different assistance onset timings during powered elbow flexion","authors":"Daichi Kusumoto , Wen Liang Yeoh , Jeewon Choi , Ping Yeap Loh , Satoshi Muraki","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104721","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104721","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exoskeletons often initiate assistance at unexpected moments, disrupting natural movement and reducing user acceptance. The timing of mechanical assistance is critical for enabling users to perform fast and accurate movements without conscious effort. This study examined how assistance onset timing affects movement accuracy, muscle activation, and subjective evaluation during simple tasks. Twenty healthy young participants performed visually guided elbow flexions (30°–120°) within 1.15 s, lifting a dumbbell equal to 25% of their maximum voluntary contraction with 40% mechanical assistance under seven onset conditions (±300 ms, ±200 ms, ±100 ms, and 0 ms relative to the start cue). The findings indicate that both early and delayed assistance provide unique advantages but are subject to a fundamental trade-off: early assistance improves movement accuracy, whereas delayed assistance better preserves the sense of agency. The most effective cooperation occurred within a ±100 ms window, balancing accuracy and agency—factors essential for improving device acceptance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104721"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104730
Kuanting Chen , Kyle Holland , Margaret J. Foster , Jennifer M. Yentes
This scoping review aims to synthesize existing evidence investigating the impact of firefighters' personal protective equipment (PPE) on mobility and performance in the United States. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews, five databases were searched, and fifteen articles meeting the criteria were reviewed. Findings revealed that PPE impaired firefighters’ dynamic balance (4 of 4 studies), static range of motion (all 4 studies showed various degrees of limitations), gait (3 of 3 studies), and subjective perceptions of comfort and movement ease (5 of 5 studies). In contrast, all studies investigating static balance and firefighting task completion time showed these performances were unaffected, although evidence in these areas remains limited. Factors influencing mobility and performance in PPE included gear fit, design features, wear conditions, and firefighter fitness levels. This review highlighted the importance of high physical fitness among firefighters and the need for end-user wear trials in gear design and evaluation.
{"title":"The effect of United States firefighters’ personal protective equipment on mobility and functional task performance: A scoping review","authors":"Kuanting Chen , Kyle Holland , Margaret J. Foster , Jennifer M. Yentes","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104730","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104730","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This scoping review aims to synthesize existing evidence investigating the impact of firefighters' personal protective equipment (PPE) on mobility and performance in the United States. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews, five databases were searched, and fifteen articles meeting the criteria were reviewed. Findings revealed that PPE impaired firefighters’ dynamic balance (4 of 4 studies), static range of motion (all 4 studies showed various degrees of limitations), gait (3 of 3 studies), and subjective perceptions of comfort and movement ease (5 of 5 studies). In contrast, all studies investigating static balance and firefighting task completion time showed these performances were unaffected, although evidence in these areas remains limited. Factors influencing mobility and performance in PPE included gear fit, design features, wear conditions, and firefighter fitness levels. This review highlighted the importance of high physical fitness among firefighters and the need for end-user wear trials in gear design and evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104730"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145967208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104734
Seobin Choi , Kiana Kia , Allen Chan , Mina Salehi , Woodam Chung , Jeong Ho Kim
This study evaluated the effects of passive back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) on biomechanical load and postural stability during simulated manual timber felling at three cutting heights. Twenty healthy adult male participants performed timber felling tasks under four BSE conditions (two rigid, one soft, and no BSE). During the tasks, electromyographic (EMG) activity, trunk angle, postural sway, and perceived exertion were measured. Results showed that rigid BSEs reduced trunk flexion and low back EMG activity at the middle cutting height, where trunk flexion was greatest. No significant changes were observed at low or high cutting heights, likely due to insufficient exoskeleton engagement. BSE use shifted postural control strategies rather than providing a uniform stabilizing effect. Additionally, BSEs lowered perceived exertion for the whole body and low back. These findings suggest that BSEs may help reduce low back loading at the middle cutting height during manual timber felling, but further field testing is warranted.
{"title":"Effects of back-support passive exoskeletons on biomechanical loads and postural stability during simulated manual timber felling","authors":"Seobin Choi , Kiana Kia , Allen Chan , Mina Salehi , Woodam Chung , Jeong Ho Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104734","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104734","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of passive back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) on biomechanical load and postural stability during simulated manual timber felling at three cutting heights. Twenty healthy adult male participants performed timber felling tasks under four BSE conditions (two rigid, one soft, and no BSE). During the tasks, electromyographic (EMG) activity, trunk angle, postural sway, and perceived exertion were measured. Results showed that rigid BSEs reduced trunk flexion and low back EMG activity at the middle cutting height, where trunk flexion was greatest. No significant changes were observed at low or high cutting heights, likely due to insufficient exoskeleton engagement. BSE use shifted postural control strategies rather than providing a uniform stabilizing effect. Additionally, BSEs lowered perceived exertion for the whole body and low back. These findings suggest that BSEs may help reduce low back loading at the middle cutting height during manual timber felling, but further field testing is warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104734"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145967967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104732
Jiachen Wang, Qianhan Bao, Daofei Li
With the rapid advancement of automated driving, motion sickness (MS) has gathered significant attention from both academia and industry. Advanced sensing, decision-making, and control systems in autonomous vehicles offer promising opportunities to mitigate MS in next-generation transportation. Traditionally, objective metrics such as Motion Sickness Dose Value (MSDV) and Motion Sickness Incidence (MSI) are derived directly from vehicle motion states to quantify MS severity. However, these metrics often overlook the filtering or amplification effects of human body dynamics on the motion stimuli experienced in occupant heads. To address this, we designed two motion planning algorithms to generate vehicle trajectories: one optimized solely based on vehicle motion (control group) and another incorporating occupant head motion dynamics (experimental group). Real-road experiments with 23 participants, using a within-subject design, were conducted on an automated vehicle. Results demonstrated that trajectories with ‘head-motion-first’ concept can significantly reduce MSDV, with subjective assessments via the Misery Scale (MISC) showing notable reductions in MS severity. This study represents one of the few occupant-in-the-loop on-road validations of MS mitigation through automated driving, confirming the effectiveness of incorporating head motion dynamics into MS-oriented trajectory planning.
{"title":"On-road evaluation of sickness-less motion planning in automated vehicles: ‘Head motion first’ helps!","authors":"Jiachen Wang, Qianhan Bao, Daofei Li","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104732","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104732","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the rapid advancement of automated driving, motion sickness (MS) has gathered significant attention from both academia and industry. Advanced sensing, decision-making, and control systems in autonomous vehicles offer promising opportunities to mitigate MS in next-generation transportation. Traditionally, objective metrics such as Motion Sickness Dose Value (MSDV) and Motion Sickness Incidence (MSI) are derived directly from vehicle motion states to quantify MS severity. However, these metrics often overlook the filtering or amplification effects of human body dynamics on the motion stimuli experienced in occupant heads. To address this, we designed two motion planning algorithms to generate vehicle trajectories: one optimized solely based on vehicle motion (control group) and another incorporating occupant head motion dynamics (experimental group). Real-road experiments with 23 participants, using a within-subject design, were conducted on an automated vehicle. Results demonstrated that trajectories with ‘head-motion-first’ concept can significantly reduce MSDV, with subjective assessments via the Misery Scale (MISC) showing notable reductions in MS severity. This study represents one of the few occupant-in-the-loop on-road validations of MS mitigation through automated driving, confirming the effectiveness of incorporating head motion dynamics into MS-oriented trajectory planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104732"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104720
Fabiha Islam , Zipporah Bright , Mei-Hsiu Chen , Liang Zhan , Chao Shi
Virtual reality (VR) is a promising tool to promote mental health support for depressed and healthy populations. However, in current VR-based therapy, most users visualize on computer or smartphone screens, which lack depth cues (2D screen). The 2D screen may add cognitive load, reducing VR usability, especially in users suffering from mental health issues such as depression. These 2D screens might further reduce the therapy outcomes if they affect users' situation awareness (SA) and engagement. Many mental health professionals are not fully aware of the benefits or potential applications of immersive VR therapy. This study aims to evaluate the potential benefits of more immersive technologies, such as VR, using head-mounted displays (HMDs). As a first step towards potential clinical implementation, we ran an experiment with 21 healthy participants who performed a 3D reaching and cutting fruit task using: (1) a VR HMD, and (2) a 2D screen. Pupil diameter, fixation, saccade duration, and saccade amplitude data were collected. Pupil diameter results showed that the VR environment can mitigate the impact of high task difficulty on participants’ cognitive workload (CWL). Fixation and saccade results indicated that participants could tentatively maintain consistent levels of SA and engagement within the VR environment, regardless of task difficulty. These findings suggest that VR holds promise as a therapeutic platform for alleviating CWL and maintaining engagement compared to 2D screens.
{"title":"Evaluating the effect of immersive virtual reality technologies on cognitive load, situation awareness, and engagement using eye movements","authors":"Fabiha Islam , Zipporah Bright , Mei-Hsiu Chen , Liang Zhan , Chao Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104720","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104720","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Virtual reality (VR) is a promising tool to promote mental health support for depressed and healthy populations. However, in current VR-based therapy, most users visualize on computer or smartphone screens, which lack depth cues (2D screen). The 2D screen may add cognitive load, reducing VR usability, especially in users suffering from mental health issues such as depression. These 2D screens might further reduce the therapy outcomes if they affect users' situation awareness (SA) and engagement. Many mental health professionals are not fully aware of the benefits or potential applications of immersive VR therapy. This study aims to evaluate the potential benefits of more immersive technologies, such as VR, using head-mounted displays (HMDs). As a first step towards potential clinical implementation, we ran an experiment with 21 healthy participants who performed a 3D reaching and cutting fruit task using: (1) a VR HMD, and (2) a 2D screen. Pupil diameter, fixation, saccade duration, and saccade amplitude data were collected. Pupil diameter results showed that the VR environment can mitigate the impact of high task difficulty on participants’ cognitive workload (CWL). Fixation and saccade results indicated that participants could tentatively maintain consistent levels of SA and engagement within the VR environment, regardless of task difficulty. These findings suggest that VR holds promise as a therapeutic platform for alleviating CWL and maintaining engagement compared to 2D screens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104720"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104722
Kyurey Park , Milo Tacheny , Rui Li , Mengying Zhang , Guowen Song , Linsey Griffin
Ill-fitting firefighter gloves negatively impact firefighters’ work efficiency, performance, and safety. Although the NFPA 1971 Standard defines recommended glove sizing parameters, it remains unclear whether these sizing frameworks are accurately implemented during manufacturing. Previous studies have developed sizing systems through statistical analysis or applied population-based approaches; however, there has been a lack of research that systematically evaluates the consistency and reliability of sizing systems in actual manufactured products. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the dimensional structure and manufacturability of firefighter glove sizing systems across five commercially available manufacturers. Using 3D scanning and key dimension analysis of index finger length and hand breadth, the research assessed the degree of linearity, size interval consistency, accommodation of the target population, and alignment with NFPA standards. Findings revealed pervasive inconsistencies, including reverse intervals, irregular size progression, gaps and substantial overlaps in size distributions. These issues indicate a fundamental disconnect between intended sizing logic and the physical dimensions of manufactured gloves, leading to unreliable fit and reduced population accommodation. The study underscores that designing more size options or applying advanced statistical models alone cannot resolve fit issues if sizing systems are developed in isolation from production realities and material constraints. An integrated approach—incorporating sizing development, design specifications, and manufacturing feasibility—is essential for achieving reliable and inclusive fit outcomes. The sizing evaluation framework presented provides a quantitative, reusable method for assessing and improving glove fit in future product development.
{"title":"Evaluation of sizing system structure and reliability in firefighting gloves","authors":"Kyurey Park , Milo Tacheny , Rui Li , Mengying Zhang , Guowen Song , Linsey Griffin","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104722","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104722","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ill-fitting firefighter gloves negatively impact firefighters’ work efficiency, performance, and safety. Although the NFPA 1971 Standard defines recommended glove sizing parameters, it remains unclear whether these sizing frameworks are accurately implemented during manufacturing. Previous studies have developed sizing systems through statistical analysis or applied population-based approaches; however, there has been a lack of research that systematically evaluates the consistency and reliability of sizing systems in actual manufactured products. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the dimensional structure and manufacturability of firefighter glove sizing systems across five commercially available manufacturers. Using 3D scanning and key dimension analysis of index finger length and hand breadth, the research assessed the degree of linearity, size interval consistency, accommodation of the target population, and alignment with NFPA standards. Findings revealed pervasive inconsistencies, including reverse intervals, irregular size progression, gaps and substantial overlaps in size distributions. These issues indicate a fundamental disconnect between intended sizing logic and the physical dimensions of manufactured gloves, leading to unreliable fit and reduced population accommodation. The study underscores that designing more size options or applying advanced statistical models alone cannot resolve fit issues if sizing systems are developed in isolation from production realities and material constraints. An integrated approach—incorporating sizing development, design specifications, and manufacturing feasibility—is essential for achieving reliable and inclusive fit outcomes. The sizing evaluation framework presented provides a quantitative, reusable method for assessing and improving glove fit in future product development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104722"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104719
Micah Wilson George , Zachary Hass , Brandon J. Pitts
As automated vehicle (AV) systems become increasingly more intelligent and self-aware of their capabilities, understanding drivers' interactions with AVs is paramount for successful integration of these vehicles into the broader transportation landscape. One area that needs more attention is understanding the effects of displaying AV self-assessed system certainty – regarding its navigability around roadway obstacles – on drivers' trust, decision-making, and behavioral responses. To contribute to the existing body of work, the current study evaluated a set of dynamic and continuous human-machine interfaces (HMIs) that present 2-dimensional AV system certainty information to drivers. A simulated driving study was conducted wherein participants were exposed to four different linear and curvilinear system certainty patterns (Linear Up, Linear Down, Convex, and Concave) on an HMI that represented an AV's confidence in its ability to safely avoid a construction zone ahead in its lane. Using this information, drivers decided whether or not (and when) to take over from the vehicle. The AV's true reliability and system certainty were not directly proportional to one-another. Trust, workload, takeover decisions and performance, eye movement behavior, and heart rate measures were captured during the study to understand drivers' responses to the vehicle certainty information. Overall, system certainty information had a significant effect on drivers' takeover response times and eye gaze behavior but did not affect their trust nor workload. In 24 % of all cases, participants either voluntarily took control of the AV when it was reliable or did not take over when the AV was unreliable. Trust was higher for participants who did not take over. The results of this work can be used to inform the design of in-vehicle interfaces in future autonomous vehicles, aiming to enhance decision-making and safety during driving.
{"title":"Do you trust what an automated vehicle shows you? The effects of presenting dynamic system certainty information on driver behavior","authors":"Micah Wilson George , Zachary Hass , Brandon J. Pitts","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104719","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104719","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As automated vehicle (AV) systems become increasingly more intelligent and self-aware of their capabilities, understanding drivers' interactions with AVs is paramount for successful integration of these vehicles into the broader transportation landscape. One area that needs more attention is understanding the effects of displaying AV self-assessed system certainty – regarding its navigability around roadway obstacles – on drivers' trust, decision-making, and behavioral responses. To contribute to the existing body of work, the current study evaluated a set of dynamic and continuous human-machine interfaces (HMIs) that present 2-dimensional AV system certainty information to drivers. A simulated driving study was conducted wherein participants were exposed to four different linear and curvilinear system certainty patterns (Linear Up, Linear Down, Convex, and Concave) on an HMI that represented an AV's confidence in its ability to safely avoid a construction zone ahead in its lane. Using this information, drivers decided whether or not (and when) to take over from the vehicle. The AV's true reliability and system certainty were not directly proportional to one-another. Trust, workload, takeover decisions and performance, eye movement behavior, and heart rate measures were captured during the study to understand drivers' responses to the vehicle certainty information. Overall, system certainty information had a significant effect on drivers' takeover response times and eye gaze behavior but did not affect their trust nor workload. In 24 % of all cases, participants either voluntarily took control of the AV when it was reliable or did not take over when the AV was unreliable. Trust was higher for participants who did not take over. The results of this work can be used to inform the design of in-vehicle interfaces in future autonomous vehicles, aiming to enhance decision-making and safety during driving.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104719"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104717
Gisele de Macedo Steffen , Daniel Pacheco Lacerda , Douglas Corrêa Rodrigues , Rodrigo Frank de Souza Gomes
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way we work. The advance of communication and information technologies, partly stimulated by the crisis, has strengthened flexible working models. The shift from well-established office activities to remote working can present challenges for workers. This qualitative study therefore aims to investigate the technological barriers faced by tele workers. An exploratory analysis was carried out using content analysis. Knowledge workers from three different organizations were interviewed. The results indicated that the barriers faced by workers were usability and familiarity with ICTs, quality and access to ICTs, and digital interaction dynamics. These barriers operate through mechanisms that contribute to phenomena such as digital fatigue and technostress. It should be noted that barriers are influenced by the individual, social, and organizational contexts experienced by workers. In the face of digital transformations, organizations need to rethink their management models, taking technological impacts into account.
{"title":"Can you hear me? An exploratory study on the technological barriers experienced by Brazilian teleworkers","authors":"Gisele de Macedo Steffen , Daniel Pacheco Lacerda , Douglas Corrêa Rodrigues , Rodrigo Frank de Souza Gomes","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104717","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104717","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way we work. The advance of communication and information technologies, partly stimulated by the crisis, has strengthened flexible working models. The shift from well-established office activities to remote working can present challenges for workers. This qualitative study therefore aims to investigate the technological barriers faced by tele workers. An exploratory analysis was carried out using content analysis. Knowledge workers from three different organizations were interviewed. The results indicated that the barriers faced by workers were usability and familiarity with ICTs, quality and access to ICTs, and digital interaction dynamics. These barriers operate through mechanisms that contribute to phenomena such as digital fatigue and technostress. It should be noted that barriers are influenced by the individual, social, and organizational contexts experienced by workers. In the face of digital transformations, organizations need to rethink their management models, taking technological impacts into account.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104717"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104718
Carolina Daza-Beltrán , Gabriel García-Acosta , Martha Helena Saravia-Pinilla
The traditional notion of productivity in ergonomics —primarily focused on efficiency and performance— is insufficient to address environmental responsibility in the sustainable management of resources. Eco-productivity has emerged as a concept that can transform ergonomic design and product development through regenerative models that optimize the use of materials, energy, and other resources.
This study aims to examine how eco-productivity is defined and discussed in the literature and to explore its application in ergonomic-sustainable design from an ergoecological perspective. Eco-productivity incorporates systemic and regenerative principles aimed at reducing environmental degradation while enhancing human and ecological well-being —which are consistent with the contemporary scope of ergonomics. Despite its conceptual relevance, eco-productivity remains less developed than related approaches such as eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness.
The findings highlight the need for clear metrics and interdisciplinary methodologies to effectively operationalize eco-productivity. By linking energy, material, and information flows with ergonomic practices, this concept offers an integrative framework for advancing ergonomic-sustainable design and promoting more balanced interactions among humans, technology, and the environment.
Using the Roses standard, this study conducts a systematic review of the eco-productivity concept. This analysis deepens understanding of how eco-productivity can guide future ergonomic research and practice within sustainability transitions.
{"title":"Eco-productivity in ergonomic-sustainable design: A systematic review from an ergoecological perspective as a basis for future applications","authors":"Carolina Daza-Beltrán , Gabriel García-Acosta , Martha Helena Saravia-Pinilla","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104718","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104718","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The traditional notion of productivity in ergonomics —primarily focused on efficiency and performance— is insufficient to address environmental responsibility in the sustainable management of resources. <em>Eco-productivity</em> has emerged as a concept that can transform ergonomic design and product development through regenerative models that optimize the use of materials, energy, and other resources.</div><div>This study aims to examine how eco-productivity is defined and discussed in the literature and to explore its application in ergonomic-sustainable design from an ergoecological perspective. Eco-productivity incorporates systemic and regenerative principles aimed at reducing environmental degradation while enhancing human and ecological well-being —which are consistent with the contemporary scope of ergonomics. Despite its conceptual relevance, eco-productivity remains less developed than related approaches such as eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness.</div><div>The findings highlight the need for clear metrics and interdisciplinary methodologies to effectively operationalize eco-productivity. By linking energy, material, and information flows with ergonomic practices, this concept offers an integrative framework for advancing ergonomic-sustainable design and promoting more balanced interactions among humans, technology, and the environment.</div><div>Using the Roses standard, this study conducts a systematic review of the eco-productivity concept. This analysis deepens understanding of how eco-productivity can guide future ergonomic research and practice within sustainability transitions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104718"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145901734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104715
Ana Cristina Beitia Kraemer Moraes , Shiren Fathi Yusef Bakri , Caroline Karlinski Scherer , Larissa Oliveira Daneluz Vaz , Jaqueline Yonara da Silva Galhardo , Everton Granemann Souza , Chiara das Dores do Nascimento , Rafael Guerra Lund
Background
Usability evaluation is a regulatory and safety requirement in medical device development, as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) IEC 62366-1/2 and the United States Food and Drug Administration FDA guidance. These frameworks establish processes for identifying and mitigating risks associated with device use under normal conditions, but they do not guarantee methodological consistency or scientific reproducibility. Consequently, usability testing is often implemented as a procedural step rather than as an evidence-based validation strategy.
Objective
This study systematically examines how usability evaluations are selected and conducted during medical device development, analyzing the application of heuristic, formative, and summative approaches, and identifying confounding factors that affect scientific consistency and external validation.
Methods
A comprehensive search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, and Google Scholar (April 2024–January 2025). Of 2600 records, 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Qualitative synthesis followed Bardin's content analysis, and evidence quality was appraised using the GRADE and ROBINS-I frameworks to assess bias and methodological strength.
Results
Most studies demonstrated strong methodological rigor and moderate risk of bias, yielding moderate-to-high confidence evidence. Simulation-based evaluations effectively identified usability issues under controlled conditions, but their limited ecological validity restricted generalization to clinical contexts. Recurrent inconsistencies in sampling, participant training, and instrument standardization were major confounders limiting comparability and reproducibility.
Conclusion
Usability evaluations of medical devices remain methodologically rigorous yet scientifically fragmented. The persistent gap between regulatory compliance and scientific validation underscores the need for standardized hybrid protocols integrating simulation and real-world clinical testing. Embedding Human Factors Engineering principles as a continuous, evidence-based process is essential to strengthen safety, performance, and user-centered innovation in medical technologies.
可用性评估是国际电工委员会（IEC） IEC 62366-1/2和美国食品和药物管理局FDA指南所定义的医疗器械开发中的一项监管和安全要求。这些框架建立了在正常条件下识别和减轻与器械使用相关风险的流程，但它们不保证方法的一致性或科学可重复性。因此，可用性测试通常是作为一个程序步骤来实现的，而不是作为一个基于证据的验证策略。目的本研究系统探讨了在医疗器械开发过程中如何选择和实施可用性评估，分析了启发式、形成性和总结性方法的应用，并确定了影响科学一致性和外部验证的混杂因素。方法综合检索PubMed、Scopus、Web of Science、LILACS、谷歌Scholar（2024年4月- 2025年1月）的文献。在2600条记录中，有24项研究符合纳入标准。定性综合遵循Bardin的内容分析，并使用GRADE和ROBINS-I框架评估证据质量，以评估偏倚和方法学强度。结果大多数研究显示了很强的方法严谨性和中等偏倚风险，得出了中等到高可信度的证据。基于模拟的评估有效地识别了受控条件下的可用性问题，但其有限的生态有效性限制了其在临床环境中的推广。抽样、参与者培训和仪器标准化方面反复出现的不一致性是限制可比性和可重复性的主要混杂因素。结论医疗器械可用性评价在方法学上仍较为严谨，但在科学上仍较为零散。法规遵从性和科学验证之间的持续差距强调了将模拟和真实临床测试集成在一起的标准化混合协议的必要性。将人为因素工程原则作为一个持续的、基于证据的过程，对于加强医疗技术的安全性、性能和以用户为中心的创新至关重要。
{"title":"Systematic review of usability evaluations in medical devices: Methodological choices, heuristic application, and confounding factors","authors":"Ana Cristina Beitia Kraemer Moraes , Shiren Fathi Yusef Bakri , Caroline Karlinski Scherer , Larissa Oliveira Daneluz Vaz , Jaqueline Yonara da Silva Galhardo , Everton Granemann Souza , Chiara das Dores do Nascimento , Rafael Guerra Lund","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104715","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104715","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Usability evaluation is a regulatory and safety requirement in medical device development, as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) IEC 62366-1/2 and the United States Food and Drug Administration FDA guidance. These frameworks establish processes for identifying and mitigating risks associated with device use under normal conditions, but they do not guarantee methodological consistency or scientific reproducibility. Consequently, usability testing is often implemented as a procedural step rather than as an evidence-based validation strategy.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study systematically examines how usability evaluations are selected and conducted during medical device development, analyzing the application of heuristic, formative, and summative approaches, and identifying confounding factors that affect scientific consistency and external validation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, and Google Scholar (April 2024–January 2025). Of 2600 records, 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Qualitative synthesis followed Bardin's content analysis, and evidence quality was appraised using the GRADE and ROBINS-I frameworks to assess bias and methodological strength.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Most studies demonstrated strong methodological rigor and moderate risk of bias, yielding moderate-to-high confidence evidence. Simulation-based evaluations effectively identified usability issues under controlled conditions, but their limited ecological validity restricted generalization to clinical contexts. Recurrent inconsistencies in sampling, participant training, and instrument standardization were major confounders limiting comparability and reproducibility.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Usability evaluations of medical devices remain methodologically rigorous yet scientifically fragmented. The persistent gap between regulatory compliance and scientific validation underscores the need for standardized hybrid protocols integrating simulation and real-world clinical testing. Embedding Human Factors Engineering principles as a continuous, evidence-based process is essential to strengthen safety, performance, and user-centered innovation in medical technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104715"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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