What is Anthropometry?

Imagine you are positioning an emergency "rip cord" on a train. How high up should you put it?

So people can reach it! is the obvious (and correct) response. One way to arrive at an answer is to ask your friends to give it a try. But to get values that are in any way robust (especially if the product is to be used by different nationalities), it is necessary to turn to the science of anthropometrics.

Anthropometrics are used to describe the "user" or "target" population for a product. Answers are given in terms of the range of body dimensions which exist in that population. Having data available on the dimensions of a population takes the guess work out of this aspect of design. It means that a designer can specify what range of people a design should fit.

There are considerable data available, gathered from taking measurements of large numbers of people in standard positions, which provide designers with the information they need. Basic statistical techniques are used to help interpret these data.

It is important to use the appropriate anthropometric information for the population who will be using the eventual design. As you might expect, there are some differences between nationalities for most body dimensions. As a general guide, UK adults are roughly similar to other Northern Europeans (although there are differences), and Southern Europeans tend to be a little shorter. US adults are a little taller and heavier than UK adults, while Asian populations tend to be considerably shorter.  Need data for other nationalities? Find out where you can get it for free.

Ansgar Kupper

First published 2001

Last reviewed Jan 2008