ABSTRACT
The concept of accurate representations of the human form in CAD models of products and environments has been with us for several decades. In the life or death situations of military or space use the technology has enabled complex interaction to be tested more fully than ever before. Systems in use in these areas were not commercial, i.e. they were not widely available in the marketplace, but were normally the product of in-house research and development programmes. The use of 3D computer mannequins then spread. Systems became more commercial and available, principally with SAMMIE and Mannequin. However, although used in many high-profile projects the software has never in any major sense permeated down to the street level of smaller design companies. The lack of availability is one factor, but the lack of understanding of ergonomics and the irregularity of the methods used by designers is another (see Erbug, 1999 and Ruiter, 1999).
