Human factors and ergonomics is concerned with the application of what we know about people—their abilities, characteristics and limitations—to the design of products they use, environments in which they live and work and jobs they perform. Primary goals of the field of HF/E are to reduce human error, increase productivity and enhance safety, comfort and enjoyment for all people.
The field is a combination of numerous disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, engineering, biomechanics, industrial design, physiology, anthropometry, interaction design, visual design, user experience and user interface design.
Employment areas may be in academic institutions, industry, military-related research centers and independent consulting. Some job titles include:
- Human Factors Engineer
- Ergonomist
- Usability Engineer
- Safety Scientist
- Cognitive Systems Engineer
- UX Researcher
- Professor
- Industrial Designer
- Human Factors Consultant
- Transportation Safety Specialist
- Human-Computer Interaction Specialist
- Research Scientist
If you are involved with or interested in human factors and ergonomics, explore the benefits of membership and consider joining HFES.