Digital Human Modeling: A Review and Reappraisal of Origins, Present, and Expected Future Methods for Representing Humans Computationally

The effective use of computational modeling and simulation tools early in the design process is arguably becoming a gold standard for modern product development. Compared to many mechanistic computational design approaches, modeling and simulating humans, due to their inherent complexities of physiological and cognitive attributes, provides one of the most challenging undertakings. With the rapidly expanding use of computer, sensor, and visualization technologies, digital human modeling (DHM) emerged as a computerized design support methodology that enables modeling and simulation of humans within a computer-aided design (CAD) or virtual environment (VE). Implementing DHM with physical or digital mockups brings the advantages of running various “what-if” design scenarios early in design; thus, enhancing concept generation efforts by filtering out infeasible ideas and exploring better design alternatives. A modern product development process with DHM can also help to reduce the overall cost and time required in the long run. Although several DHM software packages are available and many companies have been designing with DHM, the domain has not reached maturity in resolving theoretical research questions and fostering simulation-based ergonomics practice. Besides, the growing body of literature, software platforms, and technology integration makes it challenging for newcomers and specialists from disciplines other than human factors engineering (HFE) to recognize the power of DHM tools. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the DHM domain and summarize the evolution, current status, and future trends of the DHM design support tools. We hope this review will provide a guideline for designers and serve as a roadmap for current and future researchers interested in DHM-related research to find out new venues and opportunities for further international collaborations.