Human Factors

We hope to share our experience and knowledge of the field of Human Factors Psychology with our readers here on the Mindsteps blog. Gerald S. Hawkins used the term "mindsteps" in 1983 to refer to the rapid, irreversible shifts in thinking that can shape humanity. Hawkins described five mindsteps and their associated technologies: the use of imagery, writing, mathematics, and inventions like the printing press, the telescope, the rocket, the radio, the television, and the computer. While technology advances each day, we must remember to design around some of the stable aspects of human cognition, perception, and physiology. Humans are adaptive and resilient to change so we will share some insights about various ways in which humans and technology interact.

Even though you’re a smart person, have you ever struggled with using a website, app, or piece of equipment? Have you ever made a mistake at work because you forgot to do something? Have you ever been confused by a set of instructions? Of course, you have -- but don’t feel bad, it’s probably not your fault. There are many psychological reasons behind the effective (or poor) design of products, environments, methods, and services. Human Factors psychologists aim to be involved in research and design processes to avoid pitfalls that confuse and frustrate users, or even make tasks unsafe.

The field of Human Factors dates back to World War II in the area of aviation. It has since spread into other areas like education, healthcare, and consumer product design. In general, Human Factors is the study of human (body and mind) interaction with technology and work environments. We apply what we know about people -- such as perceptual, cognitive, and physical abilities and limitations -- to the design of equipment, environments, and tasks. Officially, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) defines Human Factors as the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. Ultimately, we want to match human needs and abilities with the proper design of, well, everything. It’s a big job, but if done well, it can lead to happy, healthy, and productive individuals.

Human Factors scientists often build bridges between Psychology and Engineering to better understand how humans interact with technology. To achieve our goals, Human Factors is a multidisciplinary field incorporating contributions from psychology, cognitive science, physiology, computer science, engineering, industrial design, statistics, and anthropometry. We must be able to collaborate well with others (like engineers, subject matter experts, and users) to get to the root of issues and develop appropriate solutions.

So what kind of things do we study? Human Factors psychologists examine a wide range of topics through basic and applied research and through direct involvement in the design and development process, such as:

• How human sensory systems, perception, attention, memory, and decision-making impact interaction with technology
• The design of displays, controls, and interfaces
• Issues such as trust, compliance, safety, and training with alarms, automation and robots
• How we can use virtual environments, simulators, and video games for education and training
• How biometrics, physiology, and anthropometric measures can assist with workplace design
• The impact of stress and fatigue on performance of tasks at work
• Technology-mediated teamwork issues and distributed work environments

Some organizations view Human Factors as a checkbox to complete at the end of a product/system design and development life cycle, but this is not enough. The implementation of Human Factors methods early and throughout the design and development process is invaluable. By considering the user at every step, we can reduce negative outcomes (e.g., error, stress, and fatigue), increase positive outcomes (e.g., safety, comfort, convenience, efficiency, system reliability, and productivity), and improve users’ quality of life and satisfaction.