Towards a conception for an engineering discipline of human factors

Abstract

This paper concerns one possible response of human factors to the need for better user interactions of computer-based systems. The paper is in two parts. Part I examines the potential for human factors to formulate engineering principles. A basic prerequisite for realizing that potential is a conception of the general design problem addressed by human factors. The problem is expressed informally as: ‘to design human interactions with computers for effective working’. A conception would provide the set of related concepts which both expressed the general design problem more formally, and which might be embodied in engineering principles. Part II of the paper proposes such a conception and illustrates its concepts. It is offered as an initial and speculative step towards a conception for an engineering discipline of Human Factors.