A FURTHER STUDY OF THE USE OF HUMAN FACTORS INFORMATION BY DESIGNERS.
Abstract
The study was performed to verify an earlier investigation which concluded that designers had little or no interest in human factors information and usually failed to apply human factors criteria to design. Ten designers from the Douglas Aircraft Company were presented with 3 4-hour tests in which they were required to develop equipment drawings, solve design problems analytically, rate the importance of design parameters, use MIL-STD-803 and similar documents, and review human factors handbook material. The general conclusions resulting from the earlier study was verified. Design analysis involved primarily the equipment's mechanical/electrical functioning. Subjects showed little interest in or ability to apply human factors data to their design problems. Internal components and equipment structure determined the selection and arrangement of controls and displays. Human factors was not recognized as a distinct discipline, nor were human factors problems in design recognized as such. There was almost no use of human factors specialists to resolve such problems. As was found in the earlier study, human factors information in handbook form is not acceptable to designers because of its academic mode of presentation and because much of the material is non-applicable to design problems. Much of the material in human factors standards is not considered to be mandatory in controlling design. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 16, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0651076
Entities
People
- David Meister
- Dennis J. Sullivan