Question

A kitchen platform is to be constructed in an Indian home. Which of the options should be used to determine the height of the platform?

• A. The height of tallest 5% adult Indian male population
• B. The height of tallest 5% adult Indian female population
• C. The height of tallest 50% adult Indian female population
• D. The average height of adult Indian male and female population

Hint:

Remember the core principle of universal design and ergonomics: "Design for the average, check for the extremes." For workspace heights, starting with the average user is the standard approach. For clearances (like doors), you design for the tallest users. For reach (like safety controls), you design for the shortest users.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question is about ergonomics and anthropometry in design. Ergonomics is the science of designing products, systems, or processes to take proper account of the interaction between them and the people who use them. Anthropometry is the study of the measurements and proportions of the human body. The goal is to design a kitchen platform that is comfortable and efficient for the widest range of potential users.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the options from an ergonomic perspective:
- A and B: Designing for the extreme percentiles (like the tallest 5% of males or females) is a principle used for things like clearance (e.g., doorway height), but not for reach or workspace height. A platform designed for the tallest 5% would be uncomfortably high for the other 95% of the population.
- C: The phrase "tallest 50%" is ambiguous. It refers to the entire upper half of the height distribution, not a specific value to design for.
- D: A kitchen in a home is typically used by multiple family members, including both men and women. Designing based on the average height of the combined adult male and female population is the most logical and inclusive approach among the choices. While designing for the average isn't perfect (it may be slightly too low for very tall people and slightly too high for very short people), it provides a comfortable working height for the largest number of users. Standard kitchen counter heights are typically derived from such average population data.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The most appropriate and common-sense ergonomic principle for a general-use item like a kitchen platform is to base it on the average height of the target user population, which includes both adult males and females.