Synthesis and Analysis Techniques for the Human Body: R&D Projects - 3D Modeling and Animation: Synthesis and Analysis Techniques for the Human Body - page 370

MIRTH: Musculo-skeletical Injury Reduction tools for
Health and Safety
In this set of applications, we introduce yet another concept recently introduced
in the Automotive Industry, by Daimler-Chrysler in Germany. It is the use of 3D
human motion for teaching and benchmarking ergonomics in the workplace. A
project running under the European Research and Development Programme
“Growth,” is called MIRTH and aims at producing a set of tools that perform
ergonomic assessments of workplaces. The particular areas of application are
computer workstations and office ergonomics, electronic assembly work, and
car manufacturing production lines. The benefits of the project will include
reducing the present high costs of injuries incurred as a result of work-related
musculo-skeletical disorders.
The project will also develop an ergonomics-training tool in two versions, one for
expert users (ergonomers, workplace designers) and one for non-expert users
(office workers). The tool will be based on the concept of illustrating ergonomics
Figure 14. Different Modes of Illustration in MIRTH.
Figure 15. Illustrating the concepts of force and repetition.