The disparity between what bosses and their employees earn has become one of those recession-chic topics. Politicians are particularly wont to rabbit on about how unfair it is. There have been marches. “The people” are, rightly, very indignant. So much so that in the UK a public inquiry has been launched to have a poke around.Read more...
Our awareness of the characteristics of the natural or man-made environment and all the features within it depends on the information received by our senses; a combination of touch, smell, tastes, sound and vision. The degree to which different individuals are able to use their senses to collect information is not identical and can vary from a level of basic recognition to perception of extremely complex and subtle nuances, depending on their ability to recognise and understand the information available to them. Read more...
Ergonomics is the study of the relationship between work and the environment in which it takes place. Sometimes referred to as ‘human engineering’, ergonomics concerns the relationship between people, activities, tools and the interior or exterior environment that they find themselves in. Individual or organizational ‘work’ in the context of building design can be defined as any activity involving people, materials or goods. The individuals’ physical and psychological characteristics referred to in the section about anthropometrics help to determine workplace arrangements, particularly important for comfort, health and safety, attitudes and motivation.Read more...
Anthropometrics is the scientific study of the measurements of the human body. The human sciences of physiology, anatomy and psychology provide essential information for designers of all products intended for human use. Data concerning ‘typical bodies’ includes physical dimensions and performance such as head height, foot size, arm reach, strength and mobility, sensory acuity in areas of eye sight, hearing, cognition and breathing, and experiential information about behaviour, culture and emotions. Statistical average figures are used as guidance for the design of many elements within the building, which will suit most people, but thought should also be given to the fact that maximum and minimum ranges may not be so convenient to some special user groups.Read more...
The colour wheel conveniently groups the warm and cool colours in opposing arcs facing one another; the greens, blues and purples on one side, which are cool and the yellows, oranges and reds on the other.
Cool colours tend to move away from the viewer, making spaces appear to be larger than they actually are, whilst warm colours tend to do the reverse, moving towards the viewer, making spaces smaller and more ‘cosy’. Rotating the selection around the circle can allow the colour scheme to have contrasts within it by for example selecting blues, greens and yellows, cool colours with contrasting warmth, or oranges, reds and violets, warm colours with contrasting coolness. Contrast can also be obtained by variations of background colour. A patch of colour will appear brighter in a dark background and dimmer in a light one, but a high level of contrast between colours can cause fatigue.Read more...