Engineering psychology is the science of human behavior and capability applied to the design and operation of systems and technology. The field studies how the design of tools, machines and interfaces should account for human perceptual, cognitive and physical capacities and limits, so that the systems people operate work with, rather than against, the way people actually see, think and act.
Facts
Central QuestionEngineering psychology asks how systems, equipment and environments should be designed to fit human perceptual, cognitive and physical capabilities, making the relationship between people and machines safer and more usable rather than requiring people to adapt to poor design. 1 Key DebateThe field's own founding tension, visible in the history of human factors and ergonomics, is whether the right response to human error is to select and train people to fit pre-existing jobs and equipment, the older approach, or to redesign the equipment itself around human limitations and capabilities, the shift forced during the Second World War when well trained pilots still crashed well functioning aircraft because of confusing cockpit design. 2 Sources
1. Wikipedia: Engineering psychology
Wikimedia Foundationlead sectionQuote, lead section
Engineering psychology is the science of human behavior and capability applied to the design and operation of systems and technology.
2. Wikipedia: Human factors and ergonomics
Wikimedia Foundationhistory sectionQuote, history section
It was no longer possible to adopt the Tayloristic principle of matching individuals to preexisting jobs. Now the design of equipment had to take into account human limitations and take advantage of human capabilities.
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