Usability evaluation for South Korean military backpack based on “context of use”

The military backpack used by the infantry imposes the greatest load on the body and, thus, is also the cause of most user complaints. This study (1) establishes a systematic development procedure for a military backpack that reflects user opinion; (2) suggests a usability questionnaire tool that can identify realistic user needs; and (3) proposes usability verification experiments that can quantitatively measure the usability of the military backpacks. The military backpack development procedure was created in accordance with user‐centered design principles. The “context of use” of the military backpack was extracted from a literature review and interviews with experts and actual users. In addition, the usability questionnaire tool and usability verification experiments were devised based on the identified context of use. An analysis of the usability questionnaire answered by 100 infantry soldiers confirms that the region of pain felt by users varies on the size of the human body. Thus, it was possible to recognize the necessity of diversifying the specification of the military backpack. The usability verification experiments did not produce statistical results because only four infantry soldiers performed the pilot test, but the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed experiments could be confirmed through this pilot test. The seven proposed experiments are expected to help confirm the usability differences among different military backpacks or body sizes. The military equipment development procedure, usability evaluation tool, and usability verification experiments are expected to improve user satisfaction and military operations when applied to the development of various military supplies.

[1]  Woojin Park,et al.  Effects of backpack weight on the performance of basic short-term/working memory tasks during flat-surface standing , 2019, Ergonomics.

[2]  Myung Hwan Yun,et al.  Design specifications for Multi-Function Consoles for use in submarines using anthropometric data of South Koreans , 2017 .

[3]  Shahram Baraz,et al.  Relationship between Features of Desks and Chairs and Prevalence of Skeletal Disorders in Primary School Students in Abadan , 2016 .

[4]  Frank Krause,et al.  Exoskeletons for industrial application and their potential effects on physical work load , 2016, Ergonomics.

[5]  S. Mann Research Methods for Business: A Skill-Building Approach , 2013 .

[6]  Stepan Wood,et al.  The International Organization for Standardization , 2013 .

[7]  G. Lucas Backpacks in children , 2011 .

[8]  M. Ramprasad,et al.  Effect of backpack weight on postural angles in preadolescent children , 2010, Indian pediatrics.

[9]  H. Daneshmandi,et al.  Effect of carrying school backpacks on cardio-respiratory changes in adolescent students , 2008, Sport Sciences for Health.

[10]  Charles E. Dean The Modern Warrior's Combat Load - Dismounted Operations in Afghanistan: 356 , 2008 .

[11]  S. Birrell,et al.  The effect of military load carriage on ground reaction forces. , 2007, Gait & posture.

[12]  Bor-Shong Liu,et al.  Backpack load positioning and walking surface slope effects on physiological responses in infantry soldiers , 2007 .

[13]  T. Crowder,et al.  Effects of heavy load carriage during constant-speed, simulated, road marching. , 2007, Military medicine.

[14]  R. L. Attwells,et al.  Influence of carrying heavy loads on soldiers' posture, movements and gait , 2006, Ergonomics.

[15]  Alun G. Williams,et al.  Can simple anthropometric and physical performance tests track training-induced changes in load-carriage ability? , 2006, Military medicine.

[16]  R R E E Motmans,et al.  Trunk muscle activity in different modes of carrying schoolbags , 2006, Ergonomics.

[17]  Martin C. Maguire,et al.  Context of Use within usability activities , 2001, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[18]  Youlian Hong,et al.  Effects of load carriage on heart rate, blood pressure and energy expenditure in children , 2000, Ergonomics.

[19]  S. Simon,et al.  Biomechanical and metabolic effects of varying backpack loading on simulated marching , 2000, Ergonomics.

[20]  William J. Tharion,et al.  Physiological, Biomechanical, and Maximal Performance Comparisons of Female Soldiers Carrying Loads Using Prototype U.S. Marine Corps Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) with Interceptor Body Armor and U.S. Army All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE) with PASGT , 1999 .

[21]  J. Knapik,et al.  Load carriage using packs: a review of physiological, biomechanical and medical aspects. , 1996, Applied ergonomics.

[22]  Debora Shaw,et al.  Handbook of usability testing: How to plan, design, and conduct effective tests , 1996 .

[23]  F. H. Jurden Individual differences in working memory and complex cognition , 1995 .

[24]  R H McCaig,et al.  Ergonomic and physiological aspects of military operations in a cold wet climate. , 1986, Ergonomics.

[25]  J. D. Gould,et al.  Designing for usability: key principles and what designers think , 1985, CACM.

[26]  G. Lawton THE MEASUREMENT OF ADULT INTELLIGENCE , 1939 .

[27]  Saied,et al.  The Relationship between Features of Desks and Chairs and Prevalence of Skeletal Disorders in Primary School Students in Abadan, South West of Iran , 2016 .

[28]  J. Knapik,et al.  Load Carriage-Related Injury Mechanisms, Risk Factors, and Prevention , 2015 .

[29]  A. Shehu,et al.  The Relationship between Market Orientation and Business Performance of Nigerian SMEs: The Role of Organizational Culture , 2014 .

[30]  Iosr Journals,et al.  Back Problems Due To Heavy Backpacks in School Children , 2013 .

[31]  J. Hair Multivariate data analysis : a global perspective , 2010 .

[32]  Nigel Bevan,et al.  Usability is Quality of Use , 1995 .

[33]  Philip M. Corsi Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain. , 1972 .