Bi9100 Ergonomics and Applied Anthropology

Faculty of Science
Spring 2019
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Martin Čuta, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Libor Šimek (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Martin Čuta, Ph.D.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Mgr. Martin Čuta, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 18. 2. to Fri 17. 5. Tue 8:00–9:50 Bp1,01007
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The overall purpose of the course is to integrate interdisciplinary anthropological knowledge from biological and social/cultural anthropology and to apply it in commercial fields. The student should be able to use anthropological expertise in these areas: ergonomics, human factors, marketing and international business. Special attention will be paid the subdiscipline of ergonomics and human factor; the students will familiarize with the goals, specializations and basic as well as advanced methods. The whole course is oriented toward practical tuition – the students will elaborate short case studies and mini-projects from areas of applied physical, social and cultural anthropology to better prepare them to thrive in the commercial sphere. To improve the chances of graduates to succeed in the labor market this course is taught in English.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course the student should be able to use anthropological expertise in the commercial sector, especially in the area of marketing and international business and to be familiar with basic and specialized diagnostic methods of ergonomics. He/she should be able to use basic methods of social, psychological, IT and biological sciences in the paradigm of applied, “commercial” anthropology (implemented in marketing, commerce, expert consulting, management and also in a specific-developing discipline termed HCI – human computer interaction). The student should be proficient in basic methods of ergonomics (metric and visual/recording) used in human locomotor system health risk (caused by repeated work- or non-work-related activity and load) diagnostics, including testing cognitive, manipulation and strength capacities.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: Integral anthropology. Social vs biological approaches; contradictory or complementary? 2. Soft-skills: negotiation, management, marketing. Intercultural specifics in the commercial sector. 3. Case studies/mini-project: international trade, intercultural marketing 4. Ergonomics and human factors. Specifics of non-academically oriented approaches/methods. 5. Case studies/mini-project: ergonomics and human factors. 6. The private company employed/consulting anthropologist and specifics of his/her work. 7. Case studies/mini-project: work process optimalization design 8. HCI – human computer interaction. Evaluating the requirements and preferences of the hardware/software users. 9. Case studies/mini-projekt: optimizing the product to the requirements of the user. 10. Evaluation cognitive functions and abilities. 11. Special ergonomics: manipulation capabilities of the human hand. 12. Special ergonomics: dynamometry.
Literature
  • HAVILAND, William A. Cultural anthropology (Souvis.) : Instructor's manual to accompany Cultural anthropology, eighth edition : Study guide and workbook to accompany Cultural anthropology, eighth edition. info
  • A handbook of economic anthropology. Edited by James G. Carrier. Northhampton, MA: Edward Elgar, 2005, xvi, 584. ISBN 1845429524. info
  • GILBERTOVÁ, Sylva and Oldřich MATOUŠEK. Ergonomie : optimalizace lidské činnosti. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada, 2002, 239 s. ISBN 8024702266. info
Teaching methods
Theoretical preparation in form of lectures, complemented with commented multimedial presentations (video etc.) and e-learning methods. Theoretical lectures alternate with practical training classes/mini-project sessions.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded by a combined written exam, which includes a test and protocols from the in-semester mini-projects. To pass successfully the test, the students need to prove sufficient knowledge acquired during the semester.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2019, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2019/Bi9100