Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics

Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) is central to supporting the design, evaluation, operation and maintenance of human-centric systems in a variety of disciplines ranging from and not limited to design, engineering and management. As a realm of knowledge, HFE transcends disciplinary boundaries. However, in its current practice in India, HFE has remained highly fractured in academic settings. HFE’s multifaceted nature is displayed in myriad instances in various silos of individual disciplines of design, engineering, psychology and physiology. The fractured state of HFE is also partly due to the manner in which it is institutionalized in various academic disciplines in India. Typically, HFE thrives under the banner of “applied psychology” in psychology departments, where it is studied as a subset of behavior; as “ergonomics” in physiology departments where the primary insights are from physiological and physical basis of the body; and as “human factors engineering” in industrial and systems engineering departments. While the list continues, a more urgent need is to characterize HFE succinctly as a holistic transdisciplinary sector of knowledge to support design and innovation in human centric systems. The aim of this course is to provide such a comprehensive transdisciplinary and holistic understanding and basic sensitivity towards HFE. This course will have a practical and positive effect on the manner in which HFE is engaged by professional sectors in India. The course is divided into seven modules. Module 1 provides a generic set of ideas that forms a basis for addressing HFE. Module 2 addresses the cognitive basis of HFE and module 3 the physical and physiological basis of HFE. In module 4, we shift our focus towards the physical environment of human performance as well as the design of work spaces. In Module 5, we take a step towards understanding the sociocultural environment and organizational dimension of HFE. In module 6, we comprehended the challenges associated with large scale systems. Finally, we conclude module 7 with ways in which HFE can be successfully integrated in organizations. Thus, this course will provide a holistic basis for engaging HFE and using it for informing designers, engineers and managers alike. In turn, enabling a more humane and sensitive practice of human-centered systems for promoting well-being, productivity and overall systems performance. A central aspect of this course is its transdisciplinary nature and an explicit avowal towards developing a holistic viewpoint for the comprehensive study of HFE. The various modules of this course highlights the dimensions of HFE that will be useful for a broader set of audience comprising of Designers, Engineers, Managers, Psychologists, Sociologists, and other allied health sectors, in order to enable a humane approach to human-centric systems.