Ergonomics has acquired an increasingly important role in design, and must be given due consideration. Conceptually, it encompasses the overall working conditions in a given space and is relevant not only in the laying out of workstation and the selection of furniture, but in the appropriate placement of various equipment, lighting fixtures, etc.
Researchers studying the growing stresses of the nuclear age, and the resulting tension related disorders, soon discovered that using wrongly designed furniture over long periods was one of the causes of bodily harm, such as spinal problems. Further experimentation led to the development of appropriate ergonomic data and to new designs based on this information.
Although most of the data is derived from western populations and may not be directly applicable to the user of developing countries in Asia such as India and China, it highlights the essential points to be kept in mind when planning the office – be it the correct curve of the backrest, the right height for the desk, the location of the computer, etc.