1, ergonomics
Why is the operation of a video camera one of the most headaches of home appliances? Why do certain automobile seats give people back pain after a long drive? Why do workers in certain computer operation centers suffer from eyestrain and physical exhaustion? Can't these human headaches and inconveniences be overcome? Ergonomics is one way to solve these problems by integrating human needs and abilities and working to design well-crafted systems whose purpose is to ensure that human beings achieve complete harmony with technology, i.e., to achieve the unity of equipment and tasks with the characteristics of human beings.
Ergonomics, in addition to its widespread use in people's everyday home environments, has potentially even more important implications for efficiency, productivity, safety, and health in the workplace. For example:
. Careful configuration of equipment and systems (including computers) so that they are easier to operate with fewer errors. Particularly important are operations where high levels of mental stress and lives are at stake, such as control rooms.
. Detailed planning of tasks and jobs to make them more efficient. Consider human needs such as rest breaks and reasonable shift patterns, as well as other factors such as pay for the work.
. Rationalize the design of equipment and work to improve people's working posture and reduce physical strain to alleviate symptoms of repetitive strain injury or work-related upper extremity disorders.
. Rational planning of information resources so that manuals, symbols, and displays are easier and less error-prone to interpret and utilize.
. A well-developed training program that covers all important aspects of work-related issues and takes into account the human desire to learn.
. Military and space facilities are designed to place the highest demands on humans.
. Planning the work environment includes lighting and heating systems to meet the needs of the user as well as the work itself. Where necessary, personal protective equipment (PPE) is designed for specific jobs and unfavorable work environments.
. In developing countries, there is a considerable increase in the acceptance and productivity of even relatively basic technologies. The multidisciplinary nature of ergonomics (sometimes referred to as the "human factor") is immediately apparent. Ergonomists often work in tandem, involving a wide range of specialties, such as design engineers, process engineers, industrial designers, computer specialists, physicians, safety and health specialists, and human resource specialists. The overall goal is to apply knowledge of human characteristics to solve practical problems encountered at work and at rest. We know that human beings are often capable of adapting to adverse environments, but this adaptive behavior often leads to inefficiency, error-prone behavior, unrelenting stress, and physical and mental exhaustion.