Ergonomics and Affordances

This week we covered ergonomics and affordance's
Affordance is 'anything which the environment can offer the individual which is pertinent to the role challenge and can facilitate role competence' (hagedorn, 2000).


Ergonomics is about how the physical, social, physiological and environmental factors influence task performance.
For example playing cards is a social fun thing that is done in my flat with my friends. The environment influences if we play cards or not, eg. we usually play at night, we play if there is nothing good on tv and have nothing better to do, we play in areas where we have enough space and seats for everyone. (usually we play in the lounge on the coffee table, to do this we have to re-arrange the furniture so we are all sitting closely around the table).
Social factors include- If everyone wants to play or not, and the skill and knowledge others have.


In relation to playing cards:
Communications (relationships)- Winner/loser
                                                 Instructor/teacher
                                                 Competitiveness
                                                 Language
                                                 Non verbal communication, eg. smiles, cover ups,
                                                                                            poker face
                                                  
Connections: 
This is the game of black jack we are playing
These are my friends who are playing the game of black jack
This is my house where my friends are where we are playing black jack
This is greg who built the house where my friends are playing black jack


Practical considerations- According to Christiansen & Townsend (2004), practical considerations are objects and tools that are necessary to be able to perform and engage in occupations. These are things i need in order to engage in my activity.
- Other people to play with, A pack of cards, a flat surface, something to sit on, enough space and preferably some drinks and nibbles (although these arn't essential).

Ethics

Burden -Guilt
- Keeping a straight face
- Pressure
Joy- winning
-spending time with friends/family
-understanding the game

Good- learning something new
- eating/drinking
-Fun
Bad-Addiction
Time wasting
Distracting


References:
Hagedorn, R. (2000). Tools for practice in occupational therapy. A structured approach to core skills and processes. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone

Christensen & E. Townsend (Eds.), An Introduction to the Art and Science of Living. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall