SYSTEMS

D170 Systems Design

System
A central and fundamental concept in human
factors/ergonomics
An entity that exists to carry out some purpose
Composed of humans, machines, and other
things that work together (interact) to
accomplish some goal which these same
components could not produce independently
Creates a structure in approaching the
development, analysis and evaluation of
complex collections of humans and machines

The concept of a system implies that we
recognize a purpose;
We carefully analyze the purpose;
We design the systems parts to accomplish
the requirements;
And we fashion a well-coordinated system that
effectively meets our purpose.
Human-Machine Systems

Combination of one or more human beings and
one or more physical components interacting to
bring about, from given inputs, some desired
output
Active human involvement and interaction is
essential for the fulfilment of a systems design

person with a hammer
automobile
bottling machines
highway and traffic systems (amorphous)

Classes of Systems
Characterizes degree of manual versus
machine control

Manual Systems
Consists of hand tools and other aids which
are coupled by a human operator who controls
the operation
Operators use their own physical energy as a
power source

Classes of Systems
Mechanical / semi-automatic Systems
Consists of well-integrated physical parts, such as
various types of powered machine tools
Designed to perform functions with little variation
Power source is provided by the machine; operators
function is to control the device

Automated systems
Fully automated systems perform with little or no
human intervention
Require humans to install, program, reprogram, and
maintain them
Characteristics of Systems
Systems are purposive
The purpose of a system is the system goal, or objective, and
systems can have more than one

Systems are hierarchial
A given system may be composed of more molecular
systems (subsystems)
Boundary of the system logical considerations of what does
and does not belong to a system
Limit of resolution analysis of the extent of each system
(how far does it go?)
- A component (lowest level) of one
analysis may be a subsystem in another analysis that sets a
lower limit of resolution)

Systems operate in an environment
The environment of a system is everything outside its
boundaries
The environment can either impose certain constraints on
human behaviour or can predetermine certain aspects of
behaviour
Immediate environment: workstation, lounge chair, typing
desk
Intermediate environment: office, factory, school
General environment: neighbourhood, community, highway
system

Components serve functions
Every component in a system serves at least one function
that is related to the fulfilment of one or more of the
systems goals
Basic functions of components
Sensing (information receiving) receiving information
outside of a system or from the system itself
Information storage memory of learned material
Information processing and decision
- manual components - results in a decision to act
- mechanical/automated components information
processing must be programmed
Action functions
- operations that occur as a consequence of the decisions
made
- physical control action activation of control mechanisms or
handling of materials
- Communication action voice, signal, record


Components interact
Components work together to achieve the systems goal
Systems, subsystems, and components have inputs and
outputs
Outputs of one subsystem are inputs of another subsystem
As system receives inputs from the environment and makes
outputs to the environment
Inputs can be physical entities (such as material and
products), electric impulses, mechanical forces or information
Closed loop system performs processes which require
continuous control and requires continuous feedback for its
successful operation
Open loop system when activated, needs no further control
or at least cannot be further controlled; feedback can only
improve subsequent system operations
System Reliability
characterizes the dependability of a system or components
performance in carrying out an intended function
Probability of a successful performance
Ex. If an automated teller gives out the correct amount of
money 9999 times out of 10,000 withdrawal transactions, the
reliability of the machine to perform the function is .9999
(mechanical devices = 4 or more decimal places; humans =
not more than 3 decimal places)
If a system includes two or more components (machine or
human or both), the reliability of the composite system will
depend on the reliability of the individual components and
how they are combined within the system
Reliability changes as a function of time

Components in series
arranged in series (or sequence) in such a manner that the
successful performance of the total system depends on
successful performance of each and every component,
person or machine
Failure in any given component results in system failure,
and the component failures are independent of each other
The reliability of a system for error-free operation is the
product of the reliabilities of the several components
More components added into a series = decrease in
system reliability
The maximum possible reliability in a series system is
equal to the reliability of the least reliable component (often
the human component)

Components in parallel
Two or more components are in some way
performing the same function
Backup or redundancy arrangement
In order for the system to fail, all the components
in parallel must fail
Adding components in parallel increases the
reliability of the system
Systems Design
The basic stages or processes in the design of
systems (including equipment, facilities, and
other physical items used)
Various depictions of the major stages in
systems design
Each aspect of the design process must be
examined to determine if it is relevant and if
appropriate attention should be paid to it
for the very complex systems that often
include major hardware components
comprehensive, systematic approach used in
the design of major military and space systems
in designing simpler systems or products,
some aspects of the process may be
considered irrelevant

Characteristics of the Systems
Design Process

- in the design of a system, decisions in later
stage often affect, modify and refine the
information and decisions from early stages
- Stages often overlap and perform in iterative
fashion
1) Molecularization process works from Broad
functions to more molecular tasks and subtasks
2) Requirements are forcing functions design
options are developed to satisfy system
requirements (e.g. formal behavioural
requirements in initial design specifications)

3) System development is discovery the
design process identifies, clarifies and
addresses the unknowns about a system
4) System development involves
transformation transformation from physical
requirements to behavioural implications of
those requirements, then to the physical
mechanisms (e.g. controls, displays) required
for implementing the behavioural implications

5) Time systems design analyses, studies
and tests are often constrained by time
6) Cost costly design effort and behavioural
recommendations are often rejected
7) Iteration activities are repeated as more
detailed information about the system
becomes available

8) Design competition large systems are
designed by groups or teams of specialists, so
less influential groups must function under
constraints established by the dominant group
9) Relevance relevance to design is critical
for the acceptance and judged value of
behavioural inputs