Human Factors in System Design, Development, and Testing describes engineering system design as a behavioral process, a process which raises questions the designer must answer. It focuses on the concepts underlying the design process, culminating in a behavioral theory of the design process. Special effort has been made to depict human facto
Human Factors in System Design, Development, and Testing describes engineering system design as a behavioral process, a process which raises questions the designer must answer. It focuses on the concepts underlying the design process, culminating in a behavioral theory of the design process. Special effort has been made to depict human facto
There is no shortage of available human factors information, but until now there was no single guide on how to use this information. Human Factors Methods for Design: Making Systems Human-Centered is an in-depth field guide to solving human factors challenges in the development process. It provides design and human factors professionals, sys
Computer programs and processes that take into account the goals and needs of the user meet with the greatest success, so it behooves software engineers to consider the human element inherent in every line of code they write. Human Factors in Software Development and Design brings together high quality research on the influence and impact of ordinary people on the software industry. With the goal of improving the quality and usability of computer technologies, this premier reference is intended for students and practitioners of software engineering as well as researchers, educators, and interested laymen.
In April 1991 BusinessWeek ran a cover story entitled, "I Can't Work This ?#!!@ Thing," about the difficulties many people have with consumer products, such as cell phones and VCRs. More than 15 years later, the situation is much the same-but at a very different level of scale. The disconnect between people and technology has had society-wide consequences in the large-scale system accidents from major human error, such as those at Three Mile Island and in Chernobyl. To prevent both the individually annoying and nationally significant consequences, human capabilities and needs must be considered early and throughout system design and development. One challenge for such consideration has been providing the background and data needed for the seamless integration of humans into the design process from various perspectives: human factors engineering, manpower, personnel, training, safety and health, and, in the military, habitability and survivability. This collection of development activities has come to be called human-system integration (HSI). Human-System Integration in the System Development Process reviews in detail more than 20 categories of HSI methods to provide invaluable guidance and information for system designers and developers.
Like the first edition, the revision of this successful Handbook responds to the growing need for specific tools and methods for testing and evaluating human-system interfaces. Indications are that the market for information on these tools and applications will continue to grow in the 21st century. One of the goals of offering a second edition is to expand and emphasize the application chapters, providing contemporary examples of human factors test and evaluation (HFTE) enterprises across a range of systems and environments. Coverage of the standard tools and techniques used in HFTE have been updated as well. New features of the Handbook of Human Factors Testing and Evaluation include: *new chapters covering human performance testing, manufacturing ergonomics, anthropometry, generative design methods, and usability testing; *updated tools and techniques for modeling, simulation, embedded testing, training assessment, and psychophysiological measurement; *new applications chapters presenting human factors testing examples in aviation and avionics, forestry, road safety, and software systems; and *more examples, illustrations, graphics and tables have been added. The orientation of the current work has been toward breadth of coverage rather than in-depth treatment of a few issues or techniques. Experienced testers will find much that is familiar, as well as new tools, creative approaches, and a rekindled enthusiasm. Newcomers will discover the diversity of issues, methods, and creative approaches that make up the field. In addition, the book is written in such a way that individuals outside the profession should learn the intrinsic value and pleasure in ensuring safe, efficient, and effective operation, as well as increased user satisfaction through HFTE.
The report describes three 4-hour tests developed to determine how human factors information is utilized by designers. It is assumed that greater knowledge of the design process will enable human factors (and other) specialists to communicate more adequately with design personnel and in particular will improve the characteristics of human engineering handbooks written for designers. An appendix to this report presents a theory of design activity in behavioral terms. The tests consist of a series of design problems to which designers must respond by developing conceptual sketches and answering questions concerning the manner in which they use available information. In the first type of test (Design Product Tests I and II) the subject is given system requirements and asked to lay out an equipment which will satisfy those requirements. In the second type of test (Design Input Test) the subject is given a series of design problems and asked what information he needs and how he would use that information to solve these problems. The difference between the tests is largely a matter of the approach taken; the Design Product Tests represent a longitudinal attack on the designer's behavior, since they cover all of the latter's activity from presentation of the problem to its resolution. The Design Input Test concentrates on individual aspects of the design problem and the designer's analysis of pertinent information. The tests are given individually.
The purpose of PSS (Personnel subsystem) development is to provide the performance required of personnel in the system. The PSS developer must satisfy the system requirements for human performance and insure that the system is compatible with man's capabilities and limitations. The objective is to assure the availability of qualified military personnel concurrent with the availability of system hardware to the user. PSS processes and products support human performance for the system and must be evaluated in terms of their contribution to reliable and efficient human performance. Some of the areas of consideration are: the inter-relationship of functions performed by system people and system hardware, human engineering, personnel requirements, training and training equipment, life support, and test and evaluation. (Author).
