Presentation
Beyond the Jargon: A Fresh Take on Explaining Human Factors Engineering
DescriptionHave you ever struggled to explain exactly what you do as a human factors engineer? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. We know Human Factors Engineering (HFE) is about designing systems, products, and environments that work well for people while combining principles from engineering, computer science, anthropology, psychology, design, and many other fields. However, technical jargon, complex concepts, and the multidisciplinary nature of this field often create confusion and can make it difficult to give a concise, straightforward explanation of what HFE is. When human factors engineers describe their work, it can be overwhelming to their audience and obscure the value that human factors provides.
To evaluate a method for explaining human factors, a multi-tiered approach was developed and implemented, targeting a range of professional audiences. It began with small sessions involving researchers and specialists familiar with human factors concepts, allowing for a detailed exploration and refinement of the explanation's clarity and effectiveness. The next phase expanded to broader audiences, including professionals from various departments like design and management. These larger, multi-disciplined sessions offered diverse perspectives, revealing where the explanation needed simplification or additional context to connect with those less familiar with the field. The approach was continuously refined based on feedback collected at each level, ensuring that the explanation remained accessible while effectively conveying the importance of human factors work. The aim was to develop a versatile communication framework that could be adapted across different professional settings, allowing individuals with varying levels of expertise to understand and appreciate the value of human factors.
This presentation offers a new approach for explaining Human Factors Engineering and demonstrating the real benefits it brings to different industries. By presenting human factors through the lens of various disciplines, this field can become more relatable and approachable. This fresh take can help explain HFE processes, showing how our work contributes to designing safe and effective products and systems.
At its core, human factors contributes to making things easier and safer for people to use—so why shouldn’t our explanation of the field do the same?
To evaluate a method for explaining human factors, a multi-tiered approach was developed and implemented, targeting a range of professional audiences. It began with small sessions involving researchers and specialists familiar with human factors concepts, allowing for a detailed exploration and refinement of the explanation's clarity and effectiveness. The next phase expanded to broader audiences, including professionals from various departments like design and management. These larger, multi-disciplined sessions offered diverse perspectives, revealing where the explanation needed simplification or additional context to connect with those less familiar with the field. The approach was continuously refined based on feedback collected at each level, ensuring that the explanation remained accessible while effectively conveying the importance of human factors work. The aim was to develop a versatile communication framework that could be adapted across different professional settings, allowing individuals with varying levels of expertise to understand and appreciate the value of human factors.
This presentation offers a new approach for explaining Human Factors Engineering and demonstrating the real benefits it brings to different industries. By presenting human factors through the lens of various disciplines, this field can become more relatable and approachable. This fresh take can help explain HFE processes, showing how our work contributes to designing safe and effective products and systems.
At its core, human factors contributes to making things easier and safer for people to use—so why shouldn’t our explanation of the field do the same?
Event Type
Oral Presentations
TimeWednesday, April 211:30am - 12:00pm EDT
LocationPier 9
Simulation and Education (SE)