Anthroengineering
Anthroengineering is a transdisciplinary field, combining theories, methods, and data from anthropology and engineering to address research questions and real-world problems.[1] Theories, methods, and/or data can be used to address questions and problems within each field (e.g., using engineering methods to address anthropological problems),[2] but the real power of transdisciplinarity lies in using two or more fields to address questions or problems that transcend the disciplines, creating an overarching synthesis.[3]
The term anthroengineering is derived from combining forms of the Greek words ánthrōpos (ἄνθρωπος, "human")[4], used to create the term anthropology, and the Latin ingenium, meaning "cleverness" and ingeniare, meaning "to contrive, devise",[5] used to create the term engineering.
History
Anthropology and engineering have been combined for decades, but their transdisciplinary benefits have gone largely unrecognized. This is potentially because the ways in which anthropology and engineering were broad and disparate, meaning most researchers were unaware of each other's work. It wasn't until 2021 in the theme issue 'Biological anthroengineering' published in the Royal Society's journal Interface Focus that the word "anthroengineering" was proposed.[6] Berthaume and Kramer proposed the word anthroengineering should be used to describe the independent, transdisciplinary approach which encompasses all work that combines anthropology and engineering. At that point in time, the transdisciplinary approach was largely unknown, ill-defined, and abstract. They argued the word "anthroengineering" would help bring attention to this approach by making it less abstract and more concrete, giving it identity, centring it and providing it with symbolism beyond the word's meaning. They further argue this approach should be recognized as the independent field of anthroengineering.[7]
Ethnography and engineering design
Ethnography is a method from anthropology that systematically studies individual cultures, exploring cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study. As technologies are made for and by humans, researchers realized they could improve product design by incorporating aspects of human behaviour and culture into the design process. By making the user a central component of the design process, engineers could create products that work better for the individual, and by taking cultural and societal norms and behaviours into account, products could be altered for different groups and cultures to make the products relevant to them.
One of the first examples of ethnography being used in engineering design was in 1977, when PARC ethnographers helped improve the design of the new Xerox machine and make it easier to use (Youtube video here). Ethnography in engineering design has led to the development of the quick play/pause button on the MP3 player, the re-design of the mini-van as a portable living room, and the redesign of Microsoft and Windows products to make them more user-friendly.[8]
Evolutionary biomechanics
Biomechanics is commonly used to relate behaviour, ecology, and morphology to improve our understanding of how organisms have evolved. Anthropology and engineering have been combined to address questions ranging from how teeth and the skull evolved to how humans began walking on two feet.[9]
Education
The world's first master's degree in anthroengineering opened at London South Bank University in 2022.[10] The focuses of this MSc course include biomechanical modelling, end-user design, and evolutionary theory and biomechanics. The course is delivered in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, London. The course has two pathways, making it appropriate for students with backgrounds in both anthropology/biology, and engineering/physics.
References
- ↑ Berthaume, MA; Kramer, PA (2021). "Anthroengineering: an independent interdisciplinary field". Interface Focus. 11 (5): 20200056. doi:10.1098/rsfs.2020.0056. PMC 8361575 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 34938428 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Weber, G (2015). "Virtual Anthropology". Yearbook of Physical Anthropology. 156: 22–42. doi:10.1002/ajpa.22658. PMID 25418603.
- ↑
Klein, JT (2008). "Evaluation of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research: a literature review". Am. J. Prev. Med. 35 (2): S116–23. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2008.05.010. PMID 18619391. Unknown parameter
|s2cid=ignored (help) - ↑ Oxford English Dictionary, 1st ed. "anthropology, n." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1885.
- ↑ "About IAENG". iaeng.org. International Association of Engineers. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2016. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Kramer, PA; Berthaume, MA (2021). "Introduction to the theme issue 'Biological anthroengineering'". Interface Focus. 11 (5): 20210058. doi:10.1098/rsfs.2021.0058.
- ↑ Berthaume, MA; Kramer, PA (2021). "Anthroengineering: an independent interdisciplinary field". Interface Focus. 11 (5): 20200056. doi:10.1098/rsfs.2020.0056. PMC 8361575 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 34938428 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Brown, AS (2012). "Designing for technology's unknown tribes". Am. Soc. Mech. Eng. 134 (8): 30–5. doi:10.1115/1.2012-AUG-1.
- ↑ Berthaume, MA; Kramer, PA (2021). "Anthroengineering: an independent interdisciplinary field". Interface Focus. 11 (5): 20200056. doi:10.1098/rsfs.2020.0056. PMC 8361575 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 34938428 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ "World's first anthroengineering academic course to start in 2022". 30 November 2021.
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