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Abstract
In the central Indian context, there are some pictograms used in almost all the pesticides packages. The objective of this study was to evaluate the existing pictograms used on pesticide packaging in the Indian context and redesign the same in tandem with the ergonomic attributes of the local users. Twelve frequently used pictograms were selected for ergonomic analysis and redesign in tandem with the local context. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 focused on the evaluation of the existing pictograms for comprehensibility and their adherence with different ergonomic principles of familiarity, compatibility and standardization. Experiment 2 focused on the redesigning of these pictograms and further evaluation of the redesigned pictograms similar to that of experiment 1. Experiment 1 indicated that the mean Comprehension level for the existing pictograms was at 52.2% (SD ± 30.8). The mean score of the existing pictograms for Familiarity was at 6.4 (SD ± 1.8), Compatibility at 6.2 (SD ± 1.8) and Standardization at 6.1 (SD ± 1.9). Correlation between the Comprehension level and the ergonomic principles were significant (p < 0.05 for all), r = 0.85 between the Comprehension level and Familiarity, r = 0.84 between the Comprehension level and Compatibility, r = 0.84 between the Comprehension level and Standardization. Experiment 2indicated that the mean Comprehension level of the redesigned pictograms was 82.2% (SD ± 11.9). The mean score of the redesigned pictograms for Familiarity was at 8.0 (SD ± 0.3), Compatibility at 8.2 (SD ± 0.3) and Standardization at 8.2 (SD ± 0.3). Correlation between the Comprehension level and the ergonomic principles were significant (for p < 0.05 for all) and r = 0.62 between the Comprehension level and Familiarity, r = 0.74 between the Comprehension level and Compatibility, r = 0.8 between the Comprehension level and Standardization). Results indicated a significant improvement in the comprehensibility of the redesigned pictograms. The findings of this study might be helpful to the researchers working in the visual ergonomics of pictograms in the agriculture sector.