Psychology 2990A/B Chapter : Textbook summary of 2990. Perfect complementary to your readings!

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2990A/B
• Professor: Doug Hazlewood

Document Summary

Engineering psychology: the design of machines and equipment for human use, and the determination of the appropriate human behaviours for the efficient operation of the machines. (also called human factors, human engineering, ergonomics) Until the 1940s, the design of machinery and equipment was solely the responsibility of. Adapting the worker to the machine was accomplished through time-and-motion studies. Weapons developed for wwii placed great demands on humans for strength, sensing and perceiving however mistakes were still frequent. The system or interaction of the person and the machine was not functioning properly. A pilot would be used to one type of plane and then sit in another and not know where anything engineers was. No consistency in operating characteristics of aircraft controls. 1979, an accident occurred in a nuclear power plant at three mile island because of lack of attention to human needs issues and equipment design. Human factors are the reason for 66% of aircraft accidents.