After an unforgettable summer of sport in the UK in 2012, with London hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the influence of ergonomics on the sporting world was on show to a global audience like never before. Whether you were lucky enough to have had a ticket to an event, or whether you enjoyed the spectacle from the comfort of home, the performance of so many of the athletes was incredibly inspiring.
Yet it was not always faultless design that made the headlines. Indeed, while watching the rowing and the men’s double skulls final, how many of us were sat there cursing the seat design that caused a restart for Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter? In the Paralympic men’s T44 final, how many of us watched in amazement as Oscar Pistorius was beaten by Alan Oliveria, and then launched an attack on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) regarding the sizing of Oliveria’s Carbon Fibre J-shaped blades? There were also design limitations placed in the swimming pool where competitors were limited to the style of swimwear they were allowed. As ergonomists our eyes are constantly glued to ways we can improve performance, and the variety of sports on offer over the summer presented a vast array of ergonomics interventions.
The ‘Designed to Win Exhibition’ at the Design Museum in London from 26th July to 18th November 2012 celebrated the ways in which design and sport have combined to push the limits of human endeavour in order to achieve great success. The revolutionary new materials that have advanced sport significantly such as Neoprene and carbon fibre were showcased alongside new technologies, fashions and sporting equipment, all of which have raised human performance.
The exhibition was an Aladdin’s cave of sports ergonomics, demonstrating the process of designing sporting equipment and the influences, including material innovations, sporting constraints, nature and science. With new innovations and continued refinement, athletes have become faster, stronger and fitter, meaning the demand for continued improvement is on a rapid upward curve.
The exhibition raised the question, where does human ability stop and the contest between designers, scientists and engineers begin? Advances in sports training, sportswear and health science have resulted in enhanced performance and a greater understanding of the human body.
If you visited the ‘Designed to Win’ Exhibition, then please send in your own thoughts, comments and photos. As we look to grow the Special Interest Group, we aim to become an open forum for discussion and information on Sports Ergonomics, as will the @SportErgonomics twitter page.
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