Kamis, 26 November 2009

web based information system for Indonesian anthropometric database

Background

One of the biggest problems in industrial design in Indonesia is the absence of the Indonesian anthropometry data base. Anthropometry here means the science of measurement and the art of application that establishes the physical geometry, mass properties, and strength capabilities of human body, especially for design purpose (Roebuck, 1995), Pheasant (1988). This anthropometry data base is very important to get well design object based on Human Centered Design or User Centered Design. The newest anthropometry data base in Indonesia was published by Ministry of Labor in 1965 (Suma’mur, 1965).

One reason why Indonesia didn’t have anthropometry data base is because the constraint of the old anthropometry method which is called direct/manual measurement. This method has many disadvantages such as time consuming (to measure 36 dimension of body need about 45 minutes (Ardani, Widyanti, 2003), the object and the measure has to be at the same time and same location, the device is expensive and not moveable.

New method for anthropometry measurement was already developed based on digital image/image processing (Widyanti, 2006). Better result from time consume point of view, accuracy, and budget are already gain. But there is still a big problem as no connection between many universities as anthropometry data collector and industries as anthropometry database user.

Methodology

Development process for Indonesian anthropometry database information system is described below :

Initiation

In this stage, study in universities and industries were conducted to identify the need of anthropometry data in both.

Development

Development stage is a stage that discuss about the development of information system directly. In stage, specification and technical computerized solution construction appropriate with the working process will be determined. User interface also developed in this stage.

Implementation

During this stage, the construction of the information system will be build and it will be placed on the working system. The hardware and software will be installed and tested. The tests will certain that the system is working good and fulfill the user requirements and will. Implementation of this information system can be seen in figure 1.

Operational and Maintenance

In this stage, the changes in the information system are aim to correct simple mistakes or to simply modify to advance technology or to fulfill changing user’s requirement.

Result and discussion

As attached. Trial both in universities and industries has been conducted to see the usability of website. Minor revised implemented in the websitased on this result. More than 50% respondent being surveyed (both universities and industries) said that this website and information system of anthropometry database useful for industrial design purposes. It take times about several years to see the success and affect of this information system to the quality of product design in Indonesia based on anthropometry.

Summary

Embedded of nonlinier and dynamic anthropometric measurement must be conducted to gain better information system on anthropometric database for Indonesian.