Estimation of anthropometric hand measurements using the ratio scaling method for the design of sewn gloves

This paper describes the process for estimating the anthropometric dimensions of the hand, for the purpose of designing sewn leather gloves. Since no detailed information about hands exists in anthropometric studies of the Colombian population, it was necessary to use the ratio scaling method (RS) for estimating 22 anthropometric dimensions. Subsequently, anthropometric measurements were made of a sample of 41 participants (18 female-23 male), in order to compare the measured and the estimated dimensions, with the result that a correlation coefficient of between 0.9396 and 0.9995 for males and between 0.9587 and 0.9988 for females was established. The estimated dimensions were found to be sufficiently accurate for this information to be used in the design of products that involve direct contact with human beings, which means that measurements can be obtained at a lower cost and more quickly than by using conventional anthropometric studies.