School staff
Dr Steve Summerskill
Lecturer
Tel +44 (0)1509 228313
Email s.j.summerskill2@lboro.ac.uk
Location LDS 2.12
Personal profile
Steve Summerskill holds a BSc in Industrial Design and Technology, an MSc in Ergonomics and a PhD in Design Ergonomics, from Loughborough University.
Following his MSc Steve was a Design Ergonomics Consultant for three years, working with Wincor Nixdorf, Lloyds Bank, and the Dept. of Trade and Industry on various design ergonomics projects. Steve took a post as a Research Associate, working with the late Prof. Mark Porter for a period of seven years on projects that applied the combined design and ergonomics skill sets for Honda R&D, Jaguar Landrover and New Balance. Steve became a lecturer in 2008.
Steve is also the principle design consultant for SAMMIE CAD, applying digital human modelling software to the design of road and rail vehicles, including recent work for the Department of Transport examining the design of HGV and motorcycle mirrors.
Current research interests include design for the elderly and disabled through the EPSRC funded AUNT-SUE project. This has led to various dissemination projects including the design of a new accessible Journey Planner for Transport for London (TfL) in collaboration with Dr. Russell Marshall.
In addition, research interests focus on the design of dynamic seating in the office and automotive environments.
Teaching
Programme Director for BSc Design Ergonomics (in collaboration with Dr Russell Marshall).
Modules
- Ergonomics & Design 1 (DSA101)
- Computer Aided Ergonomics (DSB017)
- Computer Aided Ergonomics (DSC017)
- Research Methods for Design Ergonomics (DSP851)
- Introduction to Ergonomics and Design (DSP101)
- Design Practice 1 (DSA001)
- Design Practice 2 (DSA002)
- Final Year Design Practice (DSC026)
- Computer Aided Modelling and Manufacture (DSC025)
Research
Design Ergonomics Group member.
Steve is a co-investigator on the EPSRC funded AUNT-SUE project focussed on accessible and inclusive transport. Steve been working with the Loughborough team exploring the benefits of employing ergonomics in the CAD environment, through the use of digital human modelling, to user centred design and in particular, inclusive or universal design issues.
Steve is the principal consultant of SAMMIE the digital human modelling system. Initially developed by Professor Keith Case at Nottingham University and then at Loughborough in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. Since 1999 development and exploitation has been performed in collaboration with Dr. Russell Marshall in the Design School.
SAMMIE is the embodiment of ongoing research into anthropometry, digital human modelling, ergonomics, workplace and product design, biomechanical analysis, vision assessment, and universal design. SAMMIE research includes specific support for the 'Design for All' (GR/M68510/01) and AUNT-SUE (GR/S90867/01) research projects. It also includes the development of the protocol for the assessment of visibility in vehicles - PNCAP done in collaboration with CCD Ergonomics, ESRI and TRL. Recently it has been used for the assessment of drivers' field of view and mirror assessments on behalf of the Department for Transport.
SAMMIE has been used in over 100 commercial ergonomics projects by SAMMIE CAD alone. SAMMIE has also been purchased and used by International companies such as CCD Ergonomics, TRL, RSSB, Rolls Royce, Institute of Naval Medicine, National Air Traffic Services, and the Indian Defence Institute. It has also been used for research and teaching at Universities in Loughborough, Warsaw, Lisbon, Botswana, Ryerson - Toronto, California, NTUST - Taiwan, and UCS Brazil.
The ongoing development of SAMMIE supported recent publications in journals and at conferences and led to book chapters in: The Handbook of Digital Human Modelling (2009); and Handbook of Human Factors in Consumer Product Design (2011).
The Online Journey Planning project concerns the development of a new Accessible Journey Planner for Transport for London. This has particular relevance for those who are older or who have disabilities that may need to be aware of particular barriers to travel or the need for assistance before deciding if the journey is possible and actually making the journey. The impact from this research and its implementation by TfL is very significant. Millions of people are likely to benefit from the new Journey Planner tool improving general transport accessibility and for upcoming events such as London 2012.
Featured publications
- Summerskill, S. J. Marshall, R. (2010) The use of Digital Human Modelling in the product design process. Journal of Theoretical issues in Ergonomics Science. Special Edition on Ergonomics In Design. Accepted and awaiting publication.
- Summerskill, S. J., Marshall, R., Case, K., Gyi, D.E., Sims, R., Day, P. Rohan, C., Birnie, S. (2010). "Validation of the HADRIAN System using an ATM evaluation case study". International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation. Accepted and awaiting publication.
- Marshall, R., Case, K., Porter, J.M., Summerskill, S.J., Gyi, D.E., Davis, P.M. and Sims, R.E., ''HADRIAN: a virtual approach to design for all'', Journal of Engineering Design, 21(2& 3), April 2010, pp 253-273, ISSN 0954-4828.
- Porter, J.M., Summerskill, S.J., Burnett, G. and Prynne, K., ''BIONIC - 'eyes-free' design of secondary controls'', British Computer Society Workshops in Computing (eWIC) Series: Accessible Design in the Digital World Conference, August 2005, ISSN 1477-9358.