Jack (CAD software)

Jack is a 3-D interactive ergonomics and human factors CAD package developed by the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Human Modeling and Simulation. Now maintained and distributed by Electronic Data Systems (EDS) (the company that now also distributes Unigraphics and NASTRAN), the package enables users to study and improve the ergonomics of product design and workplace tasks through the positioning of biomechanically accurate digital humans of various sizes in virtual environments. Jack and Jill digital “humans” can tell engineers what they can see and reach, how comfortable they are, when and why they’re getting hurt, when they’re getting tired, and other important ergonomics information. The package’s principal features include a detailed human model, realistic behavioral controls, anthropometric scaling, task animation and evaluation systems, view analysis, automatic reach and grasp, and collision detection and avoidance (The University of Pennsylvania, 2001; EDS, 2003a).