Human Aspects of Systems Design

Copyright  2003 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Industrial Engineering & Human Factors Engineering
 Introduction
• Designing the human element into a system is
paramount to its success
• One human error could bring a major catastrophe.
• Examples
– 3 Mile Island
– Jack Hammers

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Characteristics of a System
Design Process
• Molecularization
• Requirements of the system define options
– Such as height required for legible picture on a
computer screen
• Some Unknowns are addressed during the design
process.
– These are due to limitation and processes of building
that are unsure
– E.g. the budget changing, new members of the team,
innovative ways of manufacturing, or how part A will
interface with part B.

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Characteristics of a System
Design Process
• Transformation
– Physical requirements to behavioral implications to
physical manifestations.
• Time and Cost Constraints
• Iterative Cycle (Design, test, redesign, test…)
• Competition between groups within the design
team
– Between sales, administration, manufacturing, HFE, etc.
– More money/members/power = more influence

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Characteristics of a System
Design Process
• Relevance to the design
– Must convince others of the importance of your
contribution in order to get it accepted.

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
1. Determine the objectives and principles of the
process.
• Purpose of system
• General terms feed into
• System Performance Specifications
• Details what system is to do in order to meet objectives
• Defines constraints
• Bailey (1982) sted that there are two HF activities
appropriate at stage 1

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
• Bailey (1982) sted that there are two HF activities
appropriate at stage 1
– Identify all users of system
– Indentify the activity related needs of users which the
system will be responsible for.
• Example Oven, used by many types of people, families, single
person, elderly, etc. Children may try and use door as a stool.

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
1. Definition of the System
• Define functions of the system to meet the
performance criteria
• This is general at this stage. Not assigned to human
or machine
• Functions could be short or long, simple or complex,
• Aid at this stage is functional flow diagrams (figure 22-
2 in book)
• List function snot the way they are carried out.

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
3. Basic Design
– Allocation of functions to human, computer, and
software
– Sometimes this is considered by economic
considerations or the superiority of one over another
– There are gray areas, where both human and machine
could perform job equally well.

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
• Guidelines for Function Allocation
HUMANS
reason inductively
sense unusual events
develop new solutions
MACHINES
monitor for prespecified events
store and retrieve coded info
exert considerable force
perform repetitive activities reliably

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
• Guidelines for Function Allocation
– 1. Mandatory Allocation
• Allocate functions based on system requirments, hostile
environments, safety considerations, or legal and labor
constraints
• These allocations made first
– 2. Balance of Value (figure 22-3 in book)
• Can the machine or human do it better
– 3. Utilitarian and cost-based allocation
• Functions may be allocated to humans simply because they
are present
• Which costs less?

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
• Guidelines for Function Allocation (cont)
– 4. Affective and cognitive support allocations
• Affective support – the emotional requirements of humans,
such as needing challenging work and feeling personally
secure
• Cognitive support – the human need for the information to be
relevant so that they can be ready to make decisions when
required.

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
4. Interface Design
• This stage is performed concurrently with Stage 5 only
after the proper allocations of functions have taken
place
• This stage deals with designing:
• Spaces
• Displays
• Controls
• Computer dialogs
• Etc.

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
4. Interface Design (cont)
• Primary activities of the HFE Team at this stage:
• Gather and interpret HF and human performance data
• Conduct human performance studies
• Conduct attribute evaluations of suggested designs

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
5. Facilitator Design
• Plan for materials that will promote acceptable human
performance
• Examples : instructional materials, performance aids,
training devices and programs, selection
• Guidelines for Instruction Manuals
• Avoid information overload
• Use only concrete information
• Remember that learning will come from doing
• Users want minimal hassle in setting up

Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University

Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering
 Six Major Stages in the Design
Process
6. Testing and Evaluation
• Evaluation – the measurement of system development
products (including hardware, procedures, and
personnel) to verify that they will do what they are
supposed to do.
• Human factors evaluation – the evaluation of these
products to ensure the adequacy of attributes that
have implications for human performance.
• Special considerations for HF evaluations
• Subjects
• Criteria
• Experimental procedures and controls
• Research setting
Copyright  2001 by Dr. Gallimore, Wright State University
Department of Biomedical, Human Factors, & Industrial Engineering