Human Factors
Our Poly UX team employs HF professionals focused on research and ergonomic design and development. Headsets represent the ultimate “wearables” challenge, requiring intimate working knowledge of the structures of the human body. Human Factors is a key driver in the design and development process - it's often at the core of Poly's intellectual property and a key component in the company’s "special sauce" (influencing everything from fit, comfort and stability to audio performance and perceived quality).
Plantronics UX Lab
One of of my first tasks, after forming the UX group at Plantronics, was to build an on-site usability lab. Our lab is utilized for all types of formative and summative research activities, including ergonomic/usability testing, out-of-box evaluations and design validation sessions. The room is wired for hi-quality audio and video, allowing our process partners around the world to observe and participate in research activities in real-time.
Ergonomic Design and Development at Poly
This video illustrates our ergonomic design and development process for wearables…in a nutshell. This repeatable process is utilized for nearly every wearable we create at Poly (formerly Plantronics).
Poly Wall of Ears
Our team is responsible for managing and growing Poly’s anthropometric database - the primary driver for the creation of the Wall of Ears. Originally created as a means of taking extensive ear measurements, the wall now represents a statistically robust database of physical dimensions and characteristics. This tool is what provides Poly with a consistent edge over its competition in terms of fit, comfort and stability.
Plantronics Ergonomic Baselines
Much like our Hardware UI/HMI Specifications, our ergonomic baseline ensures that we use the most appropriate anthropometric and ergonomic data when starting any new program. Because Poly headsets are often worn for long periods of time - often all-day, everyday - it's critical that the fit, comfort and stability be excellent for the broadest population of users. The design team starts every program with the same baseline data, ensuring the least amount of re-invention, and the greatest amount of reuse.
