Step by Step guide

To learn PeopleSize, starting from scratch, follow these steps:

Stage 1 - learn the visual interface

Imagine your design being used, and visualise all the ways people will hold and touch it. Sketching may help.

Look at the yellow and grey icons, and consider which ones might show people in relevant postures, and relevant detail.

Click on one of the icons, to get a larger illustration. To switch to a different illustration, simply click another icon.

The triangles mark the points at which body measurements have been taken. Float the cursor over triangles to see which ones are connected: they turn green. Click on one that is relevant.

(note that if you see some Grey triangles, it means there is data but not for the currently set User Group. If you need it, click on the triangle anyway, it will take you to the User Group settings dialog, where you can see in black text which groups there is data for).

You may get a result straight away; otherwise, click on a flashing triangle that marks the far end of the measurement you want.

You will now see the main output dialog. Take a few minutes to look through its contents. If you don't understand, read the anthropometry help topic.

Click the Settings button.

Stage2 - settings

Pro version: In the User settings, click the User Definition button.

Read through the dialog.

Consider, or find out, exactly who is going to use your design, and then complete the dialog.

When you are returned to User Settings, read through the dialog, and decide what percentage of potential users you are going to exclude from the design. Think carefully about the consequences for them, don't settle for 5th to 95th percentile unless you have specific and compelling reasons.

Click the Auto button.

Read through the dialog, using Help if necessary, then complete the dialog and click Calculate.

Calculation will take some minutes, depending on the number of dimensions and your computer. When it has finished. click Close.

Easy version:

Read through the User settings dialog and set your Smallest and Largest users.

Both versions:

Back in the Settings dialog, click the Adjustments tab.

Read through the dialog and complete it.

Click the Export / View tab.

Set the options you wish for exporting data and the type of illustration you want.

Click OK.

You have now defined the people you are designing for, and all the dimensions you select will be for them.

Stage3 - get data and start designing

Methodically select all the dimensions that matter for fit and usability for the design. Export each one.

If the size of one dimension will affect the fit of another, use the 'Select a dimension Connected to this one...' button in the main output dialog, and Export the results.

Close PeopleSize, saving the settings when prompted. If you save them with the default name they will be re-loaded automatically next session.

Design a first prototype or an adjustable rig or buck. Use the Export file to help this process, in a spreadsheet or wordprocessing program according to the settings you made for Export files. Don't automatically design exactly to the anthropometry data: you may need to add clearances, body movements, and adjustability ranges. Check for differences between real-world postures and the formal repeatable postures used in anthropometry measurement. Also you may need to make compromises.

Construct a buck or prototype, and carry out a Fitting Trial.

Amend the size specification as indicated.

If you wish, you can extend the Export file into a report which formally records the informed basis for the sizing of the design.

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