In a complex world filled with technological devices and systems, the human role remains at the center of all these interactions. How can a system or device be designed to align with human capabilities, limitations, and comfort? This is where human factors engineering comes in as a bridge between technology and user needs, optimizing the relationship between humans and machines. This discipline not only emphasizes efficiency, but also ensures safety and comfort in the modern work environment.
Human factors engineering, the science concerned with the application of information about physical and psychological characteristics to the design of devices and systems for human use. The term human factors engineering is used to denote equally a body of knowledge, a process, and a profession. As a body of knowledge, human factors engineering is the body of data and principles about the characteristics, capabilities, and limitations of humans in relation to machines, jobs, and environments. As a process, the term refers to the design of machines, machine systems, work methods, and environments to take into account the safety, comfort, and productivity of human users and operators. As a profession, human factors engineering encompasses a broad range of scientists and engineers from several disciplines who are concerned with individuals and small groups in the workplace.
The terms human factors engineering and human engineering are used interchangeably in North America. In Europe, Japan, and much of the rest of the world, the common term is ergonomics, a word derived from the Greek words ergon, meaning “work,” and nomos, meaning “law.” Although there are slight differences in emphasis, the terms human factors engineering and ergonomics can be considered synonymous. The terms were used in the 1920s and 1930s to refer to human relations problems in industry, an older connotation that has gradually fallen out of use. A few small, specialized groups prefer labels such as bioastronautics, biodynamics, biotechnology, and manned systems technology; these represent specialized emphases whose differences are far outweighed by the similarities in goals and objectives.
As technology advances, human factors engineering or ergonomics becomes increasingly important. It plays a role not only in creating a safe and comfortable work environment but also in optimizing human productivity and performance in a variety of fields. As a combination of science and the art of design, human factors engineering continues to adapt and innovate to ensure that humans, technology and the environment can work together harmoniously in the future.