Human Factors and Engineering Psychology
Designing for Human Use
Ergonomics and Interaction
Human Factors psychology focuses on how humans interact with machines and technology. The goal is to reduce error and increase safety. A mathematical foundation in human-computer interaction is Fitts's Law, which predicts the time required to rapidly move to a target area: where is time, is distance to the target, and is the width of the target.
Types of Human Error
| Error Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Slips | Action does not go as intended (execution failure). | Pressing the 'delete' button instead of 'save' by accident. |
| Mistakes | The intended action was wrong from the start (planning failure). | Misdiagnosing a system failure and applying the wrong fix. |
User-Centered Design
A design philosophy where the needs, wants, and limitations of end users are given extensive attention at each stage of the design process. It assumes that if a user makes an error, it is often a design flaw, not a user flaw.
Physical vs. Cognitive Ergonomics
Physical Ergonomics
- Focuses on human anatomy, anthropometry, and biomechanics
- Examples: Office chair design, lifting postures
Cognitive Ergonomics
- Focuses on mental processes like perception, memory, and reasoning
- Examples: Software interface design, mental workload in aviation
What does Fitts's Law primarily predict in the context of Human Factors?
Fitts's Law is a predictive model of human movement primarily used in human-computer interaction and ergonomics to predict the time required to point at an object.
Correct answer: The time required to rapidly move to a target area
What type of error occurs when a person's execution of an action does not go as intended (e.g., a typo)?
A slip is an error of execution, whereas a mistake is an error in planning or intention.
Correct answer: Slip