Task Input Summary

Body segment angles, hand locations, and hand force magnitude and direction.

Analysis Summary

Hand forces, L5/S1 disc compression, percent capable, balance, and coefficient of friction.

Anthropometry

Anthropometric data including body segment lengths, center of gravity, and body segment weights.

Posture

Limb and trunk included angles calculated by vectoral analysis on the input posture.

Joint Locations

Calculated locations of each joint in the hand reference coordinate system.

Joint Moments

Resultant moments produced by the load and the body weight about the main reference axes at each joint.

Spinal Forces and Moments

Resultant moments and forces at the spinal segments.

Strength Capabilities

For each joint articulation: resultant moment produced by the load and body weight; muscle effect; population strength means, standard deviations, and percent of the population with the strength capability to generate a moment larger than the resultant moment.

Strength Direction Vectors

Unit vectors for the directions of the strength moments in the main reference (global) coordinate system.

Sagittal Plane Lowback Analysis

Lower back data: L5/S1 compression and shear forces, estimated ligament strain.

3D Lowback Analysis

More in-depth lower back analysis that considers the effect of additional muscle action in the torso.

New Features for Version 6.0 (top)

Version 6.0.1 (Release May 22, 2008) Several user interface bugs were fixed. Updated the exported segment and posture angles to include the new Version 6 angles. Improved the basis of support for seated modes. Corrected the upper body weight in the Anthropometry Report, which was correct in the calculations. Fixed a units bug when importing from a Version 5 file. Fixed a bug in the maintain hand locations feature. Fixed the calculation of the seat back force in seated mode which was not being calculated.

Version 6.0 (Released March 3, 2008) Includes many new features and improvements as follows:

1. Multiple frame capability to allow a biomechanical stress analysis of "motion" and an animation player.
2. Motion posture prediction capability based on empirical data collected by the Human Motion Simulation (HUMOSIM) research project.
3. Posturing improvements: three-dimensional posturing of legs, feet, pelvis, and head; a moveable shoulder joint; wrist manipulation; and pre-set postures.
4. Center of gravity calculation.
5. Improvement to clothing color and color settings for the stick view left and right joint centers. In addition when the cursor is positioned on a joint center the name of the joint appears.>
6. Inclusion of shoe effects on anthropometry.
7. Coordinate system center indicator and the ability to move the measurement coordinate center.
8. Inclusion of wrist strengths.
9. Ability to import joint location files and export AVI files.
10. Strength limits can be set to values other than NIOSH guidelines.

New Features for Version 5.0 (top)

Version 5.0.8 (Release April 19, 2007) Changed the L5S1 moment displayed in the Strength and Moment Reports when the backrest is active. Previously the L5S1 moment displayed was the moment prior to including the effect of the backrest force. Now the value includes the effect of the backrest force. All other displayed values were correct.

Version 5.0.7 (Release January 23, 2007) Fixed a COM bug and added two new COM capabilities. These are used only when the 3DSSPP is called by another program.

Version 5.0.6 (Release September 12, 2006) Fixed a Window's file error when using a synchronized network folder on a Windows 2000 Server.

Version 5.0.3 (Release July 21, 2005) Improved COP calculation and display for seated cases. Fixed file save bug. Finalized COM operation feature.

Version 5.0.1 (Release July 6, 2005) Improved leg-load balance distribution for split leg cases.

Version 5.0 (Release June 1, 2005) Includes many new features and improvements as follows:

1. A new input dialog for additional External Applied Forces and Moments has been added to the Task Input Menu. This allows loads applied to the body at locations other than at the hand (which is the default location) to be considered in the biomechanical analysis. Both forces and moments can be added at multiple body joints in any direction. Convenient control buttons include: OK, Cancel, Zero Current, Zero All, and Apply.
2. A Joint Forces report, similar to the Joint Moments report, has been added to the Reports Menu. Hand Forces and Moments have been added to both reports as have been the force and moments at the center of the ischial tuberosities. The latter is important when analyzing seated postures. Note that these reports display the stresses due to body weight and applied forces. Compression values at the individual joints is likely to be higher due to the muscle reaction forces.
3. The Task Input Summary report has been re-designed to display the additional applied load values. The report only displays the non-zero additional force or moment values.
4. A special balance calculation, including report and graphics, has been included to analyze seated balance. It is most useful for analysis of workers with paraplegia as the legs are not included as supporting structures. Alternatively it could be used to estimate the amount of leg loading required to maintain stability. The Center of Pressure is calculated at the seat pan surface level and compared to the location of the ischial tuberosities of the pelvis.
5. A new input dialog for Special Parameters has been added to the Task Input Menu to allow the entry of new miscellaneous parameter values. The dialog includes Ok, Apply, and Cancel buttons. One of the new parameters is Additional Pelvic Rotation. The 3D SSPP model estimates the amount of pelvis rotation from empirical data based on standing measurements at various trunk angles and postures. Seated postures, however, exhibit greater pelvic rotation. The new input adds or subtracts additional pelvic rotation to simulate this and other situations.
6. Significant improvements have been added to the Camera Control feature and dialog for the Oblique-View window. The hominoid can be translated within the window space; that is vertical or horizontal offset values can be entered. The translation can also be effected using the mouse by simply pointing at the hominoid, holding the left mouse button, and dragging the image. Further, the hominoid can be rotated or tilted by pressing the CTRL key while pointing, holding the left mouse button, and draging the image. Finally, the hominoid can be sized by similularly pressing the SHIFT key while pointing, holding the left mouse button, and draging the image. This greatly enhances the hominoid's use with a digital posture image inserted in the background.
7. The Digital Image Background feature for the Oblique-View window has been improved. The image can be stretched to fit or centered in the window and a bug, which sometimes flipped the image, has been addressed.
8. A Cameral Control dialog has been added to the 3-View Menu to control the apparent size of the hominoid in the graphic window. It simulates the focal length (or zoom) of a camera aimed straight at the center of the hips.
9. An option to select the stance: left foot on ground, right foot on ground, or both feet on ground, is included in the new Special Parameters dialog under the Task-Input Menu. When both feet are on the ground (supported), which is the default situation, the program estimates how much load to place on each leg. The new option allows either leg to be set as the sole load support. The balance calculations and displays have been altered to incorporate this new feature.
10. A new input dialog for Gravity entry has been added to the Task Input Menu. It allows the entry of acceleration of gravity values for Earth (default), Zero, Micro, Moon, or Mars, or the direct entry of other values. The acceleration of gravity is applied to the masses of the body parts to calculate the forces and moments they apply to the joints of the body.
11. The hand forces on the 3-View stick-figure graphics have been altered to more precisely depict the external load being applied to the hand. In addition, the "drag and drop" mode undo command now supports functions with hand force directions.
12. To improve useability (human factors!): Re-Draw buttons have been renamed Apply, additional Apply buttons have been added, a Left to Right Symmetry button has been added to the Body Segment Angles dialog, an increment feature has been added to the Hand Loads dialog similar to that on the Body Segment Angles dialog, the Population Name is displayed on every report if it has been changed from the default population, the Analysis Summary report has been re-designed to include the Standing Center of Pressure graphic, and printing of the graphic windows has been improved.
13. The data file format has been improved such that future program versions will be able to import file formates as early as version 4.2.

New Features for Version 4.3 (top)

Version 4.3.7 (Bug-Fix Release August 2004) fixed a rare shoulder strength anomaly.

Version 4.3.6 (Bug-Fix Release May 2003) added registration number requirement and new demo mode.

Version 4.32 (Bug-Fix Release July 2001) adds the capability to import data files from Version 4.2.

Version 4.3 (Released February 2001) includes several new features and improvements as follows:

1. Balance Output - A Balance Report has been added that includes calculation values and results for two balance checking algorithms: Center of Pressure and Static Equilibrium. The Center of Pressure calculations have been improved and a new Center of Pressure Graphical Display has been added.
2. Digital Image Background - A new feature has been added to the Oblique View | Background command to allow the selection of a digital image as the background for the oblique view window. Three digital formats are currently supported: gif, ico and jpeg. Enhanced manipulation of the Graphic Human Model figure is planned for future versions.
3. Anthropometry - A new command has been added to the Anthropometry entry dialog to select alternate Populations. The default population is the U of M industrial population. In the future additional populations may be added to the program and will then be selected using this command.
4. Status Windows - The Result Status and Hand Status windows have been combined and improved. The Low-back Compression value listed is that of the 3D calculation value, which replaces the previously listed sagittal calculation value. A button to display the new Center of Pressure Graphic has been added.
5. Redraw Buttons - The Anthropometry and Environment dialogue boxes now have redraw buttons.
6. Analysis Summary Report - The Sagittal Plane Low-back Compression value has been replaced by the 3D Low-back Compression value.
7. 2D/3D Mode - A "2D" or "3D" icon now appears in the upper left corner of the program windows to indicate the selected posture entry mode.

New Features for Version 4.2 (Released May 1999) (top)

Version 4.2 includes several new features and improvements as follows:

1. Batch File Input - Input data can now be entered from a file. This feature is most useful to researchers with many tasks to analyze.
2. COM Interface - The program can be operated remotely from another program. This feature will allow value added vendors to use the 3D SSPP engine in their products.
   
3. Push and Pull Posture Predictions - Posture Prediction for pushing has been improved based on new postural preference research.
4. The Horizontal Angle entry boxes in the Body Segment Angle dialog become inactive when the angle should not be entered.
5. The Hand Load Entry dialog has been improved with the addition of standard exertion effort selection buttons. Buttons have been added for each hand to select: Lift, Push Down, Push Forward, Pull Back, Exert Left, and Exert Right.
6. Hand locations have been added to the Joint Locations Report.
7. Select All and Select None buttons have been added to the Print Reports dialog.
8. The column headings in the Strength Capability Report have been changed to clarify their meaning.
9. A new balance measure has been added which checks the Center of Gravity of the body to determine if it is within the basis of support of the feet. The routine is limited in its application as it does not include the effect of hand forces. Further balance analysis and results will be added in the future.
10. Export Summary Files - Check boxes have been added to the Export Summary Options dialog to select the values to output in the export file.

New Features for Version 4.0 (top)

Version 4.0 of the 3D SSPP includes many new features designed to improve the user interface, making the program easier to use. Significant changes for those familiar with version 3.0 of the 3D SSPP include:

1. The program has been updated to a 32 bit application which runs under Windows 95 or Windows NT.
2. A new option for performing simpler 2D analyses with the 3D human graphic model has been added.
3. The population mean strength values and curves have been updated for trunk rotation and lateral bending strengths based on a review of current literature.
4. A new five window layout simultaneously displays the four postural views along with either hand locations or summary analysis results.
5. The reports have been reorganized for clearer, more useful presentation of data.
6. The metric to English units conversion now include all features and reports including the export to a file feature.
7. The click and drag stick figure posture entry tool is easier to use with improved graphics, larger joint markers which can be directly selected by clicking, and an undo feature to correct entry mistakes.
8. Copy-to-Clipboard commands have been added for simple pasting of results and posture views into text documents.
9. The task entry windows have improved layouts and many new features have been added including re-draw and undo buttons to correct mistakes and quickly analyze the impact of changes.
10. The anthropometry window sports a clearer design and operation. It also includes a feature that fixes the location of the hands and performs a posture prediction when the anthropometry is changed.
11. The joint angles entry window now includes buttons for setting a neutral posture and undoing an unwanted posture.
12. The hand loads window includes a force direction descriptor to confirm the action of each hand.
13. The oblique view lighting controls are improved and camera terminology has been simplified.