About

Professor Emeritus Alan Hedge retired from Cornell University on July 1, 2019. He continues to engage in consulting work and research through Humanuse. His work is associated with the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, now known as the Human Centered Design department at Cornell University. His contributions include research and class work related to ergonomic design of workplaces, and he has been involved in projects such as the development of tools and information to aid ergonomic workplace design. His expertise and research have been shared through various resources, including videos and transcripts discussing ergonomic assessment methods like RULA.

Research topics

• Physical therapy
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Medicine
• Engineering
• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Medical emergency
• Applied psychology

Selected publications

• 50 Ways to Fool Your User

  2025-06-10

  bookSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• P28-16 Assessment of Motor Activity in Rodents: Positive Control Validation using the VivaMARS Mobile Activity Rack System (MARS)

  Toxicology Letters · 2025-09-01 · 1 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Postoccupancy Evaluation of a Neighborhood Concept Redesign of an Acute Care Nursing Unit in a Planetree Hospital

  HERD Health Environments Research & Design Journal · 2022-04-07 · 5 citations

  articleSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: A comparative study was undertaken to survey nurses working in an acute care nursing unit before and after moving to a new hospital to investigate the impact of a nursing unit designed utilizing Planetree build criteria. BACKGROUND: The physical and emotional demands of frontline practitioners is a serious concern for patient safety and staff retention as the environmental design of nursing units can influence human errors from fatigue and interruption. METHOD: A pre-move survey was conducted with acute care nurses in a conventional design nursing unit who were moving to a new facility. After the move to the new hospital design, the same survey was readministered to obtain comparative performance information. Qualitative responses were analyzed for triangulation with survey responses. Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) and Press Ganey scores were collected over a 5-year period. RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements for most of the survey questions, especially for work efficiency and productivity, the design of the patient room and of support spaces, the information systems, and the environmental conditions. There were statistically significant improvements in the HCHAPS and Press Ganey survey questions. CONCLUSIONS: The postoccupancy survey showed statistically significant improvements in most of the concerns highlighted in the pre-move survey and significant improvements in the workflow and overall satisfaction of nurses. Press Ganey results revealed all but five domains fell in the significantly improved category.

  PublisherDOI

• Airport passenger experiences in concourses with either electrochromic or low-e glass windows

  International Journal of Aviation Management · 2021-01-01 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  A survey of travellers was conducted at a major US airport. A computer-based questionnaire was administered during the daytime to 573 passengers at their departure gate seating areas in either a concourse with low-emissivity glass or a newly constructed concourse with electrochromic glass. Sample sizes and characteristics were comparable for respondents in the two concourses. In the concourse with electrochromic glass, window surface temperatures were significantly cooler and more spatially consistent, and passenger comfort with daylight and positive mood were significantly better; respondents were 68% more likely to report being very satisfied with their gate experience. Overall, results agree with previous research showing that the visual environment and visual experience for airline passengers is improved by using electrochromic glass at airport gates.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Airport passenger experiences in concourses with either electrochromic or low-e glass windows

  International Journal of Aviation Management · 2020-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Inderscience is a global company, a dynamic leading independent journal publisher disseminates the latest research across the broad fields of science, engineering and technology; management, public and business administration; environment, ecological economics and sustainable development; computing, ICT and internet/web services, and related areas.

  PublisherDOI

• Employee Reactions to Electrochromic Glass Windows in a Financial Office Building

  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting · 2020-12-01 · 2 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  A post occupancy evaluation survey of workers in a new financial office building with EC windows was conducted. Results show that those occupants with window views responded more favorably to the effects of the EC windows than those who did not have these views. Most occupants did not report eyestrain or headache. Significantly more occupants with EC window views reported comfortable daylight, better daylight quality, better daylight satisfaction, better alertness, greater energy, relaxation and happiness at work, better sleep quality, and increase productivity. Implications of these findings are discussed.

  PublisherDOI

• Effect of workstation configuration on musculoskeletal discomfort, productivity, postural risks, and perceived fatigue in a sit-stand-walk intervention for computer-based work

  Applied Ergonomics · 2020 · 40 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Physical therapy
  • Psychology
  PublisherDOI

• Effects of a sit-stand-walk intervention on musculoskeletal discomfort, productivity, and perceived physical and mental fatigue, for computer-based work

  International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics · 2020 · 49 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Physical therapy
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation
  • Psychology
  PublisherDOI

• Postural Risks and User Experience of 3D Interface Designs for Virtual Reality-based Learning Environments

  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting · 2019-11-01 · 8 citations

  articleSenior author

  Virtual Reality-based Learning Environments (VRLEs) are an emerging tool for classroom teaching. While VRLEs are increasingly in use, little attention has been paid to ergonomic challenges in use of VRLEs. This study compared two 3D interface designs of a VRLE created to teach the phases of the Moon. Participants ( N = 16) were randomly assigned to either a Hand or Toggle interface design. The interface designs were compared in terms of postural risk (REBA score), task completion time, user experience and environmental presence. Results indicate no significant difference between the Hand and Toggle interface designs for the outcome variables; however, environmental presence was marginally higher in the Hand interface. REBA scores for Hand (3.56 ± 0.89) and Toggle (3.79 ± 1.14) indicate low to medium level of postural risks. Future research should focus on development of 3D interface design guidelines to ensure safe, comfortable and effective use of VRLEs.

  PublisherDOI

• Micro-environmental control for efficient local cooling: Results from manikin and human participant tests

  Building and Environment · 2019-06-14 · 21 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Han Zhang

  China Building Materials Academy

  23 shared

• Sherwood Burge

  14 shared

• Alastair Robertson

  University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

  14 shared

• Zhifeng Qin

  Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University

  12 shared

• Ann T. Lemley

  10 shared

• William Erickson

  Baylor University

  10 shared

• S. Kay Obendorf

  Cornell University

  10 shared

• Flora Gill

  9 shared

Awards & honors

• 2009 Oliver K. Hansen Outreach Award
• 2003 Alexander J. Williams Jr. Design Award from the Human F…