NexGen Newsletter - Issue 38

NexGen Ergonomics, founded in 1982, is a worldwide source for software and instrumentation used in ergonomics and biomechanics for analysis, research, design and education.

Over the years NexGen has developed several software and instrumentation products including MannequinPRO, HumanCAD, ErgoIntelligence UEA and MMH, ErgoImager Pro, OrthoImager, VATS, HM-Analyzer, ErgoMaster and other products. We also distribute a variety of products.

NexGen also supplies a broad array of medical products.

Our latest newsletter contains information on our latest product updates, specific technical notes and recent corporate news. Information on all our products is available on our website.

Corporate News

NexGen Ergonomics is proud to be a Nittany tier sponsor of Nittany Motorsports, a college FSAE team at Penn State University. Their Formula Electric SAE program is a member of an international collegiate design series where students design and build a Formula-style race car to compete against other collegiate teams. This car is evaluated during the annual competition at Michigan International Speedway through a series of static and dynamic events.

NexGen is planning on exhibiting at The Association of Canadian Ergonomists (ACE) 2025 annual conference at Quebec City in fall 2025. Conference info will be provided at the Association website: https://ergonomicscanada.ca

Ergonomics and Biomechanics Products

ErgoImager Pro V5

ErgoImager Pro V5 has been released and includes enhanced reporting and file saving options.

Features include:

Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation
Energy Expenditure
OWAS
Snook & Ciriello Tables
Mital, Nicholson & Ayoub Tables
RULA
REBA
Hand strength MAE (Maximum Acceptable Efforts) & AFF (Arm Force Field) methods.
The MAE method is designed for repetitive tasks that use frequency and/or duty cycle (DC) to predict maximum acceptable efforts (MAE) as a percentage relative to maximum voluntary efforts (MVE). The AFF method predicts manual arm strength (MAS) for a wide range of body orientations, hand locations and any force direction. This method uses an artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the effects of hand location and force direction on MAS and includes a method to estimate the contribution of the arm's weight to the predicted strength.
New Liberty Mutual MMH 2021
Revised Strain Index (RSI), Composite Strain Index (COSI) & Cumulative Strain Index (CUSI)
MQ 3D biomechanical model
Interface to the 3DSSPP biomechanical model
Import of a background digital image
Ability to modify a mannequin's anthropometry (using various features from our HumanCAD^® technology)
Calculation and display of the mannequin's Center of Gravity
Posture library with predefined and user defined postures
Forward and Inverse Kinematics movement
Detailed anthropometry and BSIP data

Click here to learn more.

Biometrics Ltd. Products

DataLITE Wireless Solutions & API Integrations

Measure and analyze human movement, muscle activity, forces and more with precision using DataLITE systems in ergonomics, sports science, biomechanics, and rehabilitation.

Multiple system interfaces offer unparalleled flexibility and accuracy:

PIONEER - Perfect for simple real-time analysis.
EXPLORE - Ideal for capturing movement dynamics in field-based environments.
ADVANCE - Seamless integration for synchronized data streaming.

DataLITE can connect up to 16 sensors, utilize a suite of sensors, including goniometers for multi-planar joint movements, torsiometers for rotational assessments, and advanced EMG sensors for muscle activity analysis as well as accelerometers, force plates, dynamometers and more.

Advanced API Solutions

Integrate DataLITE with MATLAB, Python, and more to accelerate research development.

New DataLITE Wireless Ankle Goniometer

The new DataLITE W110A wireless ankle goniometer is now available and is designed for precise gait analysis, biomechanics, and sports science research.

Click here to learn more about DataLITE Wireless Systems.

VATS™ (Vibration Analysis ToolSet)

VATS is available as a complete solution with an 8 channel data logger (expandable to 24 channels), accelerometers, mounting accessories and powerful yet easy to use software. Our unique solution also supports goniometers, torsiometers, load cells, EMG sensors, accelerometers and force sensors. VATS was the first commercial solution to include ISO 2631-5:2018.

VATS is available for either hand-arm or whole body analysis. Hand-arm vibration analysis is based on the ISO 5349 and ACGIH standard for hand arm vibration (HAV). Whole body vibration analysis is based on the ISO 2631-1, 2631-5 (2004), 2631-5 (2018), BS 6841, and ACGIH standard for whole body vibration (WBV) and 8 hours exposure.

Data analysis performed includes:

Fast Fourier Transfer
1/3 Octave band analysis
Weighted and unweighted RMS
Band-pass Butterworth filter
Filtering window
Spectrum plot
1/3 octave band plot
Crest factor
Vibration dose value
TLV/Caution zone value for ISO and ACGIH standards
RMS history and summaries

VATS software can be purchased separately as customers can import data from other accelerometers.

Click here to learn more.

HumanCAD^®

HumanCAD Version 7 development is continuing. An enhanced Animation module has been developed and included in Version 7. Our latest Beta version has been released and is available to customers on annual maintenance.

New in Version 7:

Additional anthropometric databases added:
- US Army Marines 2010 (contains inter-variable correlations)
- US Army Pilot personnel 2012 (contains inter-variable correlations)
- Dutch 1999 Male and Female (contains inter-variable correlations)
- Polish Male and Female 2001
- Malaysian Male and Female 2010
- Canadian Army 2012
- Chinese Elderly 2007 (only for Elderly Module)
The ErgoTools module has been updated to include REBA, LM-MMH 2021, RSI, COSIand CUSI.
The RULA interface has been updated and new reporting options have been added.
The Child module has been updated to include Mexican Primary School Children 2011 (6 to 11 years old).
A new animation module has been added with various new features. Customers who also purchase the ErgoTools module will be able to obtain data on the postures with the highest risk exposures according to 2 biomechanical models.

Click here to learn more about HumanCAD.
Click here to learn more about HumanCAD Modules.

Ergonomic and Biomechanical Instrumentation

Force Gauge and Torque Measurement Products

NexGen distributes a wide range of force measurement products from several manufacturers. These include digital mechanical and hydraulic models of various capacities.

Hand Dynamometers and Pinch Gauges

NexGen sells a large variety of hand dynamometers and pinch gauges from a variety of manufacturers.

HM-Analyzer with Ergo-Analyzer for Xsens MVN and Awinda Systems

NexGen provides complete integrated systems with our latest HM-Analyzer Version 5 and Xsens MVN or Awinda Systems. HM-Analyzer includes the new Ergo-Analyzer module with RULA and OWAS analysis and many new features including Range of Motion scoring for the AAOS convention.

Our powerful but easy to use HM-Analyzer software provides the user with considerable flexibility as to which joints they want to analyze as well as multiple joint angle conventions, pose calibration options and a variety of analysis tools.

Please contact us to obtain quotations for an integrated solution. MVN customers can contact us for software only prices and to obtain a software trial.

Click here to learn more.

Mark-10 Force Gauge Products

Series 2 Force Gauges – Now with USB Output

Series 2 force gauges now include USB data communication. Send or request peak or real-time force data via Mark-10’s included MESUR^® Lite software or optional MESUR^®gauge Plus, or a third-party application. Series 2 gauges now also include a cushioned carrying case. Pricing remains the same.