A systematic review on ear anthropometry and its industrial design applications

Abstract

Ergonomics is extensively studied to provide a scientific understanding of humans' physical and cognitive use of products and workplaces. Ergonomics of the external ear is crucial for the industrial design of various ear-related products. For this review, 50 articles regarding ear anthropometry and its applications in product design that met determined inclusion criteria were selected after searching four databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Science Direct. Previous anthropometric information acquired with traditional measurement, photogrammetric method, and three dimensional (3D) anthropometric techniques (photogrammetry, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, 3D scanning, and ear impression).Those studies demonstrated that demographic factors, including age, ethnicity, gender, and ear symmetry, should be considered when designing for specific markets.Ear sizes kept growth throughout the entire lifetime. Results also showed that males had larger ear sizes than females in most populations. Most of linear, area, and ratio dimensions showed a good symmetry between left and right ears, while angular dimensions tended to be nonsymmetric. Differences in anthropometric findings existed among Asian, Western, and African populations. Hence, there is a need to establish more universal anthropometric databases for different ethnicities to meet the development of product form and function. Furthermore, fit and comfort perception was important to be examined for product design, which can be studied through questionnaire on comfort perception, analysis online comments of consumers, and virtual fit analysis. With a comprehensive presentation of literature, future research opportunities were inspired from the perspective of industrial design. K E Y W O R D S ear anthropometry, ear modeling, ergonomic application, industrial design, systematic review

Survey of ear anthropometry for young college students in China and its implications for ear‐related product design

“…We compared the dimensions of male and female ears and found that ear dimensions in female subjects were significantly smaller, as shown in Table 2. This finding is consistent with previous studies (Bozkir et al, 2006; Farkas et al, 1992; Fok et al, 2010; Fu & Luximon, 2020; Lee et al, 2018; Liu, 2008; Murgod et al, 2013). Similar to other body dimensions, such differences suggest that matching geometrical demands cannot simply be satisfied by providing one product size for all.…”

“…Comparing the pinna length and ear width, we could confirm that differences exist between young Chinese people and other ethnic groups; young Chinese people have smaller ears. Similar ethnic differences are found in other studies (Bozkir et al, 2006; Fok et al, 2010; Fu & Luximon, 2020; Jung & Jung, 2003; Lian et al, 2008; Zhao et al, 2017). These differences may cause discomfort from wearing ear‐related products if the design parameters were based on anthropometry data from another population.…”

“…We compared the dimensions of male and female ears and found that ear dimensions in female subjects were significantly smaller, as shown in Table 2. This finding is consistent with previous studies (Bozkir et al, 2006;Farkas et al, 1992;Fok et al, 2010;Fu & Luximon, 2020;Lee et al, 2018;Liu, 2008;Murgod et al, 2013).…”

“…young Chinese people have smaller ears. Similar ethnic differences are found in other studies (Bozkir et al, 2006;Fok et al, 2010;Fu & Luximon, 2020;Jung & Jung, 2003;Lian et al, 2008;Zhao et al, 2017).…”

A critical review of the literature on comfort of hearing protection devices: analysis of the comfort measurement variability

“…Furthermore, these earcanal properties are not used to analyze comfort and attenuation results. In future comfort studies, other characterization methods such as scans of participants' physical earmold impressions or digital ear scanning [49,50] could be used to have a more precise description of participants' earcanal morphology and relate it to comfort.…”