Ergonomics(Human Integrated Systems)

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Aim of Lecture• To introduce the ergonomics approach – its

breadth of coverage• To understand the guiding principles and theory

of ergonomics. • To present the systems nature of ergonomics

and the centrality of human beings.

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What is Ergonomics?• Ergonomics (Human Factors in the United States)

has many definitions – FTTTTH.• Aims to study the ‘fit’ between people and ‘the

things they do’ in order to improve performance, well-being, safety and health.

• Prevents bad things (errors, stress etc.), creates good things (performance, satisfaction)

• Typically applied at work, but can be leisure, home or in public areas (e.g. sport).

• Can be applied to many aspects of our lives.

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Fit the task to the human• Did the example affect performance? Would it

lead to fatigue, stress?• People are adaptable, but have their limits• Driving and Mobile Phones• 3 mile island• Kings Cross Underground Fire• Fitting the task to the human is ergonomics.• To do this need knowledge of human

characteristics.

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Scope of Ergonomics• The scope of ergonomics is immense.• Consider all the tasks people perform from the mundane to

the critical - Opening a jam jar, internet banking, using a mobile phone, surgery, flying a plane, office work, manual work, skilled work.

• Consider where these tasks take place - At home, in the library, on a train, at work in nuclear power stations, tanks or hospitals.

• Where it’s hot, cold or noisy, during the day or night. Alone or in teams.

• The tasks and environments are endless.

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More on Ergonomics• The only scientific subject that focuses on the interaction

between people and the things they do. • Takes a human or user-centred approach • Involves the application of scientific principles, methods

and data drawn from a variety of disciplines.• It considers physical, psychological, organisational and

environmental factors – knowledge base.• Applied to practical problems ideally in the early stages of

task design to prevent problems• Also employed to analyse tasks after problems have

been identified.

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Who employs ergonomists?• Transport – TRL, Rail, aerospace.• Government & agencies - Defence industry, HSE

– Nuclear• Large companies – consumer products (Nokia,

Phillips, BT) and worker health (BP, Shell)• Universities & research centres• Consultancies – supporting all the above• Usually degree in Psychology or Ergonomics

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Previous Work• console design• workspace layout• HCI design• user trials• hearts and minds• workload measurement• health and safety

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Ergonomics Knowledge Base• To evaluate interactions between tasks and

people we must understand:• The human - the anatomical, physiological and

psychological characteristics of people – the ergonomics knowledge base.– Psychology is fundamental part of this knowledge –

psychology major factor in physical issues (ie pain)

• The task – ergonomics methods such as task analysis.

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New Demands - Spitfire Cockpit

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Systems Ergonomics

• People’s activities are not carried out in a vacuum

• Interaction between the user and their work often involves equipment or technology.

• This takes place in some form of workspace, which itself is located in the wider environment and work organization.

• All of which affect task performance.

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System Types• A system has parts and a function with inputs and

outputs. • There is an interaction between the parts of a system. • Systems can be small with closed boundaries (a person

using a coffee pot) • Or larger, open systems, with unknown boundaries, for

example a hospital. • The human is part of a system and interacts with it.• The human takes information from the system, processes

it and responds and therefore must be fully integrated into the system.

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Fitting systems to people• Human requirements define system requirements for:• Safe and usable equipment.• Tasks that are compatible with the users mental abilities

and limitations• An appropriate environment in which the task is

performed.• Work organization that recognises the users social

needs.• Compatibility during interactions between the human and

the system. • Ergonomics can be applied to a coffee pot or hospital

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System Interactions• Ergonomics aims to improve systems by improving the

interactions between users and other elements in the system.

• Complexity of systems can be seen if we consider a simple system with three elements, a human, a piece of equipment and an environment.

• Human > Equipment - Human control of the equipment - Skill, workload etc.

• Equipment > Human - Feedback & display of information - Display design, info load etc.

• Environment > Human - Environment may affect humans work - Noise, lighting, temperature etc.

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In your spare time...

• Consider your knowledge of psychology in relation to every task you do and mistake you make.