Hunter Gail, Burns Laurie, Bone Brian, Mintel Thomas, Jimenez Eduardo
Metaphase Design Group, Inc. St. Louis, MO, USA.
J Clin Dent. 2012;23 Spec No A:A26-30.
The presence of ergonomic features can impact the marketplace success of a new product. Metaphase Design Group, Inc., in partnership with the Colgate-Palmolive Company, conducted an ergonomic audit on three electric toothbrushes: a specially engineered sonic powered toothbrush with unique sensing and control technologies, the Sonicare FlexCare, and the Oral-B Smart Series 5000.
The ergonomic audit was conducted by Metaphase Design Groups's ergonomic and usability experts. Two experts used the toothbrushes over a one-week period and assessed the performance of each brush against a set of ergonomic principles.
The three toothbrushes have some solid ergonomic features. They each have adequate grip zones, provide grip security with elastomeric materials, and provide easy access to the on/off button. The most distinctive feature is the longitudinal shape of the handle of the specially engineered sonic powered toothbrush with unique sensing and control technologies. This handle angles downward at the top end and provides additional advantages through improved grip security and visibility. Yet all three toothbrushes have different opportunities for improvement. The Sonicare Flex Care toothbrush has a cluttered and complicated user interface that is difficult to read. The disadvantages of the Oral-B Smart Series 5000 toothbrush are related to its physical dimensions and audible feedback.
The specially engineered sonic powered toothbrush with unique sensing afid control technologies is surprising to use with its changes in speeds, brush movements, and resulting changes in audible feedback.
符合人体工程学的特性会影响新产品在市场上的成功。中期设计集团有限公司与高露洁棕榄公司合作，对三款电动牙刷进行了人体工程学评估：一款采用独特传感和控制技术的特殊设计声波电动牙刷、声波震动牙刷臻选系列以及欧乐-B智能系列5000。
人体工程学评估由中期设计集团的人体工程学和可用性专家进行。两名专家在一周时间内使用这些牙刷，并根据一套人体工程学原理评估每支牙刷的性能。
这三款牙刷都具备一些可靠的人体工程学特性。它们都有足够的握持区域，使用弹性材料确保握持安全，且易于操作开/关按钮。最显著的特点是采用独特传感和控制技术的特殊设计声波电动牙刷的手柄呈纵向形状。该手柄在顶端向下倾斜，通过提高握持安全性和可视性提供了额外优势。然而，这三款牙刷都有不同的改进空间。声波震动牙刷臻选系列的用户界面杂乱且复杂，难以读取。欧乐-B智能系列5000牙刷的缺点与其物理尺寸和声音反馈有关。
这款采用独特传感和控制技术的特殊设计声波电动牙刷在使用时，其速度、刷头运动以及由此产生的声音反馈变化令人惊讶。
