Musculoskeletal and Performance Effects of Monocular Display Augmented, Articulated Arm Based Laser Digitizing

Processes of capturing solid geometry features as threedimensional data for analysis, simulation, or reverse engineering require the use of laser-based reverse engineering hardware, commonly known as digitizers. The most common digitizers used within manufacturing contexts are articulated arm-based coordinate measuring machines, which have been augmented with a laser-head probe. Typical usage times for the digitizing equipment can range into the hours, thereby placing operators at risk for the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), though exact load magnitudes of exposure to risk factors for MSDs during object digitization are unknown. Further, other technologies (such as monocular/heads-up displays) may be combined with laser digitizers that may reduce load magnitudes. This paper explores the possibility of an occluded monocular display augmentation, results and discussion are presented.