What does ergonomics mean? What is ergonomics? Books on ergonomics and usability

Economic dictionary of terms

(from Greek ergon - work and nomos - law) ergonomics

a science that studies human behavior and the movement of his body organs during work in order to create conditions in the workplace that provide convenience and comfort, increase productivity, and reduce energy costs.

Dictionary of medical terms

ergonomics (ergo- + Greek nomos law)

a scientific discipline that studies labor processes in order to optimize tools and working conditions to increase its productivity and quality; in many aspects it is closely related to physiology and occupational hygiene.

Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998

ergonomics

ERGONOMICS (from the Greek ergon - work and nomos - law) is a branch of science that studies a person (or a group of people) and his (their) activities in production conditions with the aim of improving tools, conditions and the labor process. The main object of ergonomics research is the “man-machine” system, incl. etc. ergatic systems; The research method is a systematic approach.

Ergonomics

(from the Greek érgon ≈ work and nómos ≈ law), a scientific discipline that comprehensively studies a person (a group of people) in the specific conditions of his (their) activity in modern production. E. arose in connection with the significant complication of technical means and the conditions for their functioning in modern production, a significant change in human labor activity, and the synthesis of many labor functions in it. E. was formed at the intersection of sciences - psychology, physiology and occupational hygiene, social psychology, anatomy and a number of technical sciences. In the conditions of the scientific and technological revolution, the cost of technical equipment and the “price” of human error in managing complex systems have sharply increased. Therefore, when designing new and modernizing existing equipment, it is especially important to take into account in advance and with the greatest possible completeness the capabilities and characteristics of the people who will use it. When solving problems of this kind, it is necessary to coordinate between the departments. recommendations from psychology, physiology, occupational hygiene, social psychology, etc., correlate them and link them into a single system of requirements for one or another type of human labor activity.

Man, machine and their environment are considered in ergonomic studies as a complex system. The main object of E.’s research is the “man and machine” system; Economics studies the characteristics of man, machine, and the environment that manifest themselves in specific conditions of their interaction (see Human Factors), develops methods for taking these factors into account when modernizing existing equipment and technology and creating new equipment, and studies the problems of the expedient distribution of functions between man and machine and the functioning of humans. -machine systems, determining criteria for optimizing such systems, taking into account the capabilities and characteristics of a working person (group of people), etc. A number of ergonomic problems are associated with the tasks of producing technically complex consumer goods, as well as with the design of workplaces and working conditions for people with reduced ability to work. E. not only studies, but also designs appropriate options for specific types of human activity associated with the use of new technology.

The methodological basis of economics is a systematic approach. It makes it possible to use in one or another combination in ergonomic research the methods of various sciences, at the intersection of which qualitatively new problems in the study of “man and machine” systems arise and are solved. Economics is based on a complex of sciences whose subject of study is man, and develops in close interaction with engineering psychology, cybernetics, systems engineering, operations research, technical aesthetics, as well as with the scientific organization of labor and labor protection. E. is organically connected with artistic design. E. problems are developed by teams of specialists, which, depending on the nature of the problems being solved, may include psychologists, physiologists, hygienists, anthropologists, sociologists, economists, mathematicians, designers, architects, and engineers.

The first studies directly associated with the origin of E. date back to the 20s. 20th century, when in Great Britain, the USA, Japan and some other countries, physiologists, psychologists, doctors and engineers attempted to comprehensively study a person in the process of work in order to maximize the use of his physical and psychological capabilities and further intensify work. The term “E.”, proposed back in 1857 by the Polish naturalist W. Jastrzembowski, became widespread after 1949, when a group of English scientists led by K. Marell organized the Ergonomic Research Society, which is usually associated with the formation of E. as an independent scientific discipline. Since the mid-50s. Ergonomics is developing intensively in many countries of the world: the International Ergonomic Association was created (1961), in which over 30 countries are represented; International congresses on ecology are held every 3 years; V International organization The technical committee “Ergonomics” was formed for standardization. In Great Britain, the journal Ergonomics has been published since 1957, which has become the official organ of the International Ergonomics Association, as well as the journals Applied Ergonomics (since 1969) and Ergonomics Abstracts (since 1969); Ergonomic magazines are also published in Bulgaria, Hungary, the USA, and France. In the UK, Canada, Poland, Romania, USA, France, Germany and Japan are being developed learning programs and specialists in the field of ecology are being trained at universities and other higher educational institutions.

In the USSR, the development of ecology is associated with the emergence and formation in the 20s and 30s. 20th century scientific organization of labor (A.K. Gastev, P.M. Kerzhentsev, etc.). Based on a comprehensive study of individual types of human labor activity, V. M. Bekhterev and V. N. Myasishchev developed the first meaningful concept of energy, which was then called ergology or ergonology, and formulated a position on the main tasks of energy in a socialist society. In socialist production, a person is considered not only as a worker, but also as a creative person. Therefore, the tasks of economics in a socialist society are determined not only by the need to increase labor productivity and improve the quality of industrial products, but first of all by the social need to preserve the health and development of the worker’s personality. Since the 60s in the USSR, research is being conducted in all main areas of energy; The development of ergonomic issues and the solution of its practical problems are carried out in many organizations and manufacturing enterprises countries. A set of standards for general ergonomic requirements for man-machine systems has been developed. A monthly newsletter “Technical Aesthetics” is published, which covers issues of theory, history and modern practice of E. The All-Union Research Institute of Technical Aesthetics publishes scientific works and guidelines in electricity. In 1974, the CMEA member countries signed an agreement on scientific and technical cooperation in the field of energy.

Lit.: Introduction to ergonomics, M., 1974; 3inchenko V.P., Munipov V.M., Smolyan G.L., Ergonomic principles of labor organization, M., 1974; Lomov B.F., Man and Technology, 2nd ed., M., 1966; Singleton W. T., Introduction to Ergonomics, trans. from English, (M.), 1974; Ergonomics, trans. from Polish, M., 1971; Harris D. N., Chaney F. V., Human factors in quality assurance, N. Y., 1969; Glivický V. (a kolektiv), Úvod do ergonomie, Prague, 1975; Meister D., Behavioral foundations of system development, N. Y., 1976.

V. M. Munipov.

Wikipedia

Ergonomics

Ergonomics- in the traditional sense - the science of adaptation job responsibilities, workplaces, objects and objects of labor, as well as computer programs for the safest and most effective work of the worker, based on the physical and mental characteristics of the human body.

A broader definition of ergonomics, adopted in 2010 by the International Ergonomics Association, is: “ The scientific discipline that studies the interaction of humans and other elements of a system, and the scope of application of the theory, principles, data and methods of this science to promote human well-being and optimize overall system performance»..

Examples of the use of the word ergonomics in literature.

He fought for thirty years to ensure that aviation ergonomics worked not for fashionable groveling before the West, but for flight safety.

Ergonomics is a science based on the physiology, engineering and psychology of how people interact with their work environment. The purpose of this science is to provide recommendations for increasing efficiency and comfort when arranging the work environment.

In simple words, ergonomics is a science that studies:

• how to properly organize a workplace;
• how to design comfortable and practical furniture;
• how to design tools and gadgets in such a way that they are easy to use, taking into account all human characteristics.

A striking example of the work of ergonomics specialists can be the designs of modern smartphones or joysticks for computer games. All of these devices have what's called an "ergonomic design" that allows them to fit comfortably in your hand. From which we can draw a simple conclusion that ergonomics is the science that makes objects more convenient, efficient and useful.

What is Ergonomics?

The word "ergonomics" means human engineering. Ergonomic design, focused on people and the ease of use of surrounding objects. It aims to ensure that human limitations and capabilities are satisfied and supported by design options.

Why ergonomics is an important step when creating a product.

Mass-produced products often don't take into account that people come in all shapes and sizes. For example, when producing an ordinary chair that does not have an ergonomic design, the creators do not take into account the fact that its height may not be suitable for everyone. In addition, it may be uncomfortable for overweight or very thin people to sit on. This is where ergonomics comes to the rescue. The ability to adjust the height or tilt of the backrest can be added to the design of the chair. Various fixing elements can also be added that will “encircle” the human body, fixing its position.

What you need to create an ergonomic design.

A thorough understanding of the specific tasks for which an item is intended is central to achieving an ergonomic design goal. When developers are given a list of all possible manipulations with an object, they begin to develop with the help of which various tests will be carried out. Based on these experiments, and after making many changes and edits, the final design of the item is formed.

When did the need for ergonomics and ergonomic design begin?

The need for ergonomic design is believed to have arisen during World War II, when it became apparent that military systems could be more effective if they took into account the needs of soldiers. With the inclusion of ergonomic changes in some military systems, the efficiency and safety of their use has been improved. Businesses and manufacturers quickly embraced this trend and adopted ergonomic design principles, which in turn improved the quality of their products.

Ergonomics(from the Greek ergon - “work”, nomos - “law”, or “law of work”) is a field of knowledge that comprehensively studies human labor activity in the “man - technology - environment” system in order to ensure efficiency, safety and comfort of work activities. Therefore, ergonomics research is based on determining the patterns of mental and physiological processes that underlie certain types of work activity, studying the features of human interaction with tools and objects of labor.

The emergence of ergonomics was facilitated by problems associated with the introduction and operation of new equipment and technologies in the twentieth century, namely the increase in injuries at work, staff turnover, etc., as scientific and technological progress began to gain momentum, and this required a new unification of sciences with the active involvement of psychology, hygiene and much more.

Modern ergonomics acts as an integral science of labor activity, which makes it possible to increase labor efficiency by optimizing working conditions and all processes associated with it. Labor efficiency in this case is not only high labor productivity, but also a positive impact on the worker’s personality and satisfaction with his work. Data obtained through ergonomics are used to develop recommendations in the system of scientific labor organization. Ergonomics solves the problem of optimizing work activity, promotes labor protection, ensuring occupational hygiene and safety. And if occupational health in ergonomics is organized on the basis of the requirements of physiology and medicine, then the ergonomic aspect of occupational safety is solved mainly with the direct intervention of psychology.

It should be noted that ergonomics deals not only with improving working conditions with existing technology, but also with developing recommendations for the design of new equipment and new organization labor from the standpoint of the requirements of this science. Based on psychological, hygienic and other working conditions, it develops appropriate requirements for equipment, including technical means of labor safety.

Modern ergonomics studies not only the improvement of working conditions with existing technical equipment, but also the development of recommendations for a new organization of work from the standpoint of the requirements of this science.

The history of the formation of ergonomics as an independent discipline

The first prerequisites for the development of a new science of labor were laid in 1857 and are based on the study of the laws of the science of nature proposed Wojtech Jastrzembowski .

Subsequently, many other scientists put the same meaning into the concept of “ergonomics” ( V. M. Bekhterev, V. N. Myasishchev and etc.). Domestic scientists back in the 1920s. it was noted that labor activity is not given due attention and there is no science that fully devotes its research and development to human labor. 1949 is considered the year of the birth of a new science.

The active development and establishment of ergonomics as an independent scientific discipline occurred in the 50s. XX century and contacts the organization of the Ergonomic Research Society of C. Marella. It is from this moment that the active development of ergonomics begins in many countries. In the USSR, the development of ergonomics is associated with the emergence and formation in the 20-30s. XX century scientific organization of labor. Many prominent scientists have studied human labor activity - A. K. Gastev, P. M. Kerzhentsev and others.

Soviet ergonomics focused not only on increasing production efficiency, but also on preserving the health and development of the employee’s personality, developing corporatism, the ideological component of production and the corresponding system of norms and values.

Subject of ergonomics

The subject of ergonomics is the study of the human-machine-environment system and its action. Ergonomics considers the distribution of labor between man and machine, monitors compliance with labor safety when interacting with mechanisms, analyzes and distributes the responsibilities of operators, develops the design of workplaces taking into account anthropometric data, including for people with disabilities. Ergonomics is based on psychology, sociology, physiology and medicine, occupational hygiene, general systems theory, theories of management and labor organization, labor protection, some technical sciences and technical aesthetics.

Methodological basis of ergonomics

Methodological basis of ergonomics is a systems theory that provides a comprehensive understanding of production process and suggests ways to improve it, which includes taking into account the inclinations, character of each employee, job satisfaction, which undoubtedly affects the efficiency and quality of work.

The purpose and objectives of ergonomics

Purpose ergonomics is the study of the patterns of labor processes, the role of human factors in work activities and increasing production efficiency while maintaining labor safety conditions.

In addition, ergonomics includes the study of conflict situations, stress in the workplace, fatigue and workload, taking into account the individual characteristics of the worker.

Ergonomics pays special attention to the process of selection, training and retraining of specialists.

The creation of an information base, communications, and workplace design directly affects the production process and relationships.

The development of uniform standards and criteria for work activity for each profession in such conditions is important for safety, minimizing emergency situations and optimizing working conditions.

Based on the above goals, several main theoretical tasks can be formulated:

1. development of specific categories of ergonomics that reflect the specifics of the subject, content and methods;
2. search and description of the connection between human labor and the ergonomic parameters of technical systems and the external environment;
3. development theoretical foundations designing the activities of a human operator taking into account the characteristics of technical systems;
4. research into patterns of interaction between humans and technical systems, etc.

Reliability of a person as a part of the ergatic system

Under human reliability is understood as maintaining the quality of products and an adequate attitude towards the employee’s labor process. An error in a person’s production activity can be caused by the worker’s fatigue, making the wrong decision, failure to take into account external factors in the labor process, or a defect in the mechanism with which the worker interacts.

A person’s reliability depends on health status, working conditions, age, work experience, work motivation, involvement in the work process, etc.

Workplace

Several definitions can be given to the concept of “workplace”. Let's look at a few of them.

A workplace is understood as an area that is equipped with all the technical items and tools necessary for work that are necessary for a particular employee to perform his or her job duties.

Workplace - part of the workspace, functionally organized for the performance of production activities by an employee or team.

Workplace requirements:

1. availability of sufficient work space for work activities;
2. availability of main and auxiliary production equipment;
3. ensuring sufficient physical, visual and auditory connections between production employees;
4. availability of convenient approaches to equipment;
5. compliance with safety regulations (availability of means of protection against hazardous production factors);
6. carrying out activities aimed at maintaining the employee’s tone;
7. compliance with working environment standards (permissible noise levels, air pollution, temperature conditions, etc.).

A distinction is made between the workplace of management personnel, middle managers and key workers. The organization of the workplace depends on working conditions, the organization of labor and production at the enterprise, and the status characteristics of the employee. The workplace must correspond to the psychological type of the employee, contribute to his most effective functioning, preservation of his health and improvement of the employee’s personality, in connection with which the recommendations of the psychological service of the enterprise must be taken into account, personal characteristics employee, factors of maintaining health and recommendations on occupational health, requirements of ethics and aesthetics of the organization.

Working posture

When assessing labor intensity, working posture plays an important role. A normal working posture is one in which the worker does not have to bend more than 10–15 degrees. and it is supported by minimal muscle tension. It is believed that a sitting posture is more comfortable and more functional than a standing posture, but in some industries a standing posture is necessary, since it gives more freedom to movement and allows you to react more dynamically to the conditions of the work process.

Also in the workplace, when performing work duties, tension can be considered in three aspects, namely as tension of analytical functions, emotional tension and intellectual tension.

Let's take a closer look at all three types of tension:

1. tension of analyzer functions. Usually occurs when there is a voltage of signals of various modalities, such as vision, hearing, smell, and tactile sensitivity. These signals can be divided into several types of physical force of occurrence:

   a) weak – below the operational threshold;
   b) optimal – within the intervals of the operational threshold boundaries;
   c) irritating – above the operational threshold.

   Another approach to assessing the degree of load on analyzers is to compare the degree of load with a category of standard indicators.

   The degree of visual strain can be characterized depending on the category of work. There are six categories of visual work depending on the size of the object in the field of view. The degree of hearing strain is more difficult to assess, since it can be determined by the audibility of speech and by the standards of permissible sound levels directly for a specific workplace;

2. emotional stress. Emotional tension in modern enterprises is the main factor in determining the success of work activity. Emotional tension can be assessed by production criteria that arise during unfavorable emotional states. Such criteria include temporary (work on an individual schedule or work under conditions of acute time shortage) and motivational factors (emergency situations, responsibility for safety);
3. intellectual tension. The magnitude of intellectual intensity cannot be divided into categories. It is possible to determine the degree of intellectual tension only by such factors as work associated with the need to develop activity algorithms of varying complexity; work related to decision making at various levels; work related to the need for the participation of non-standard, creative components of the activity.

The monotony of work

Monotone– monotonous repetition of work operations. The danger of monotony lies in reduced attention to the production process, rapid fatigue and decreased interest in the work process, which affects labor safety in general. One of the forms that predisposes to the formation of monotony is automatism- activity carried out without the direct participation of consciousness. It is formed as a result of several factors: many years of experience, routine work, lack of involvement in the work process, imagination and creativity, physical overload. This is of particular importance in complex industries or industries with hazardous working conditions, where accuracy and attention are crucial. Monotony is accompanied by boredom and apathy towards performing work activities. But it cannot be precisely determined that performing these particular actions is a monotonous and boring task. Each person determines for himself the type of his activity and gives it his own objective assessment. For example, one employee working on an assembly line considers his work monotonous and boring, while another, on the contrary, considers it very interesting. Many people engaged in dynamic, active work, which cannot be called monotonous, consider it boring and uninteresting.

In such cases, a lot depends on motivation.

Therefore, strict adherence to occupational safety precautions, control of the labor process, and alternating periods of work and rest (physical minutes and others) are of decisive importance.

Measures to combat monotony

The most the best way The fight against boredom is to expand the range of responsibilities, complicate the work or enrich it with such functions and responsibilities that can act as incentives for a particular employee.

The manager needs to pay attention to the mode and schedule of work of employees, to the social and physical working conditions:

1. pay attention to the noise level in the room where the main work takes place, since if the noise level in the room exceeds the norm, then it is difficult for the employee to concentrate on performing his work duties; noise in the room also leads to certain psychological consequences, such as depression or loss hearing It should be noted that sometimes a noisy environment is a cost of certain professions and there is no escape from it. However, hearing loss in such cases is equivalent to a work injury, and the employer is obliged to pay compensation;
2. The color scheme of the room is also very important for working employees. Of course, the color of the walls does not affect the psychological microclimate in the team, labor productivity, or reducing the level of defects and accidents. But a certain color can add coziness to the interior of the room, giving it a more pleasant work environment. The color of the walls also affects the perception of a person, an employee, and the size of the room. For example, painting walls in light colors visually makes the room more spacious, while walls painted in dark colors visually make the space smaller.

   Interior decor experts say that red and orange colors are warm, and blue, green tones are cold. For example, if the walls are painted in bright, rich red-orange colors, then in the summer, employees will psychologically feel that the room is very hot, even if the air conditioning is on. And if the walls of the room are painted in lighter, calmer shades, then during the cold period the employees of such a room will feel that it is very cold in it. And this means that if you just choose the wrong color tone for the walls, the performance of the team may decrease, and the manager will have to listen to complaints from employees instead of working;

3. Recently, many scientists have conducted studies on the effect of lighting on human performance, and have found that prolonged engagement in small work or reading a book in dim lighting affects vision and significantly reduces it. Very bright, dazzling light or, conversely, dim lighting negatively affects labor productivity. You can also pay attention to the rational organization of the labor process; increasing employee interest in the work task; ensuring visual productivity of work for the employee; attraction of machines to facilitate the work of workers; alternation of work activities; establishing optimal working hours; development of a system of material and moral incentives.

Working conditions

The study of the influence of working conditions began at the end of the 19th century. and has since been an integral part of the labor process. K. Marx And F. Engels studied the situation of the working class in England and drew conclusions about the dependence of labor efficiency on working conditions, living conditions of the worker, length of the working day, and others. At the moment, the main aspects of organizing an employee’s workspace are legally established, for example, the length of the working day, vacation regimes, additional payment for hazardous production, and the amount of the minimum wage. In addition, there are certain standards for production activities, which include certain dimensions of the workplace, compliance with hygienic requirements and workplace comfort.

Working conditions largely depend on the status of the employee, but should not be discriminatory. Working conditions directly affect production efficiency, employee motivation to achieve goals, stimulation of a creative approach to work responsibilities and comfortable psychological relationships in the team.

Psychophysiological foundations of ergonomics

This branch of ergonomics studies, first of all, the individual characteristics of human labor behavior, both mental and physiological.

Mental activity is represented by three factors - cognitive, emotional and volitional. Physiological characteristics are manifested in brain activity, physical readiness for work, ability for long-term stress and recovery period motor activity, breathing parameters and speech function.

Pros and cons of machines in production

Advantages. Today there are almost no enterprises left that use manual labor. Technological progress has led to the emergence of a huge number of enterprises that have fully or partially switched to production automation. The advantages of machines over humans are as follows:

1. machines can perceive colors in a spectrum inaccessible to humans;
2. reliable monitoring over time;
3. fast execution of accurate calculations;
4. storage large quantity information;
5. great power;
6. long-term use with a certain level of effectiveness;
7. reduction of defective products;
8. no vacations or illnesses, the exception may be a machine failure or breakdown, etc.

It is also impossible not to say about disadvantages of machine production:

1. lack of flexibility;
2. impossibility of independent program corrections;
3. lack of improvisation;
4. even the latest equipment cannot work without human intervention;
5. lack of creativity and new ideas;
6. glitches in the program, technical problems, etc.

the general name of a group of sciences involved in the comprehensive study of man in production activities and the optimization of means and working conditions. Ergonomics includes applied sections: engineering psychology; psychology, physiology and occupational health; anthropology; certain aspects of scientific labor organization, technical aesthetics, cybernetics, general systems theory, automatic control theory, etc. Ergonomics is closely related to the design (artistic design) of equipment, workplaces, interiors, means and systems of transport, visual communications, etc. The subject of ergonomics - study and optimization of human-machine-environment systems. Its methodological basis is formed by a systems approach, which allows one to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the labor process and ways to improve it. Ergonomics, together with engineering psychology, solves the following problems:

1) assessment of the reliability, accuracy and stability of the human operator;

2) distribution of functions between man and machine;

3) study of the influence of mental tension, fatigue, stress, emotional states on labor efficiency;

4) development of methods and means for selecting and training specialists.

Ergonomics

ergo + gr. nomos - law) is the science of the organization of work, the conditions for effective work activity, the “compliance” of work and people with each other, the characteristics of the body and psychology with the requirements imposed by certain types of work.

ERGONOMICS

from Greek ergon - work + nomos - law) is a scientific and design discipline formed at the intersection of psychology, physiology, occupational hygiene, biomechanics, anthropology and a number of technical sciences. The interdisciplinary study of a person or group of people in the conditions of their activity using technical means constitutes the content of economics as a scientific discipline. Ergonomic research is subordinated to design tasks and is oriented to the city. on transformative-project action, and not on cognition. The main object of E.'s research is the "man-machine" system. E. studies certain properties of this system, determined by the place and role of man in it and called the “human factor” in technology. These properties are not reduced to individual characteristics of a person, a machine, an object of activity and the environment. Human factors in technology are integral indicators of the connection between man, machine, object and environment; they exist “here and now”, they are specifically manifested during the interaction of a person and technical system. Therefore, they are classified as virtual reality with its properties: generation (design), relevance and interactivity. The mechanical combination of knowledge from different sciences about human capabilities and characteristics for the purpose of using them in the design of technology and the environment turns out to be not only insufficient, but also impossible in practice. There is a need for interdisciplinary research based on a systematic interpretation of human factors in technology and opening up the possibility of their holistic representation in the design and use of machines, equipment and technically complex consumer products. On the basis of such research, the problems of not only adapting technology and the environment to a person (group of people), but also developing the abilities of workers in accordance with the requirements that technology places on them are solved.

The design of "man-machine" systems, aimed at optimizing the activities of a person (a group of people) in their development, management (use), maintenance and repair in normal and extreme conditions, became an independent direction and was called "ergonomic, or human-oriented, design". It fills the missing link in the overall design process, as a result of which man-machine systems are developed from the very beginning, and not just technical means, which only at the stage of their practical “fitting” to a person become components of this system.

Ergonomic research and design have their own specifics. Firstly, the focus of economics on the design of activity, its means and environment requires the use of not only experimental, but also design methods, as well as techniques with the help of which it is possible to formalize what was previously specified only descriptively. Secondly, operating with generalized indicators of activity, tension and comfort of activity determines the procedures for obtaining integral criteria based on a set of partial indicators. Third, ergonomic research, design and evaluation involve the simultaneous application of different methods. The study of human activity appears in economics as the beginning, content, and completion of ergonomic analysis, organization, design, and evaluation.

Modeling is of particular importance for electronics, since many complex human-machine systems cannot be studied under real conditions. It is necessary to organize such studies and present their results accordingly in order to identify the relationship between numerous characteristics of human activity and the parameters of the functioning of the human-machine system. For these purposes, ergonomic modeling stands are created.

There are micro- and macroergonomics. The first is focused on the study and design of human-other work system component interfaces (including human-work, human-machine, human-software, and human-environment interfaces). Macroergonomics focuses on the study and design of the work system as a whole. Conceptually, the approach of the theory of sociotechnical systems is used, i.e. the study and design of the work system is carried out from its upper level through subsystems to the level of the human worker. This approach permeates all design characteristics of the work system, including micro-ergonomic design of interfaces, and ensures the integrity of the work system and its harmonization. The latter characteristic means that all subsystems and components of the system are synchronized and act as a single whole.

E. as a scientific and design discipline was formed in the 1940-50s, but its origins go back to the times of primitive society, which learned to consciously make tools, giving them a form convenient for a particular job and thereby expanding the capabilities of human organs. In prehistoric times, the convenience and exact fit of a tool to human needs was a matter of life and death.

Previously, each new version of the tool was tested for centuries and gradually underwent changes. There is no time for such selection now. Over the past decades, several generations of computers have changed and the development of new models continues.

The development of technology places increased demands on people, often forcing them to work at the limit of their psychophysiological capabilities. Thus, during the Second World War, when there was a qualitative leap in military technology, even carefully trained and selected military personnel could not use it effectively. When the possibilities of professional selection and training were exhausted, the problem of adapting technology and working conditions to people came to the fore.

The term "E." originated in England in 1949, when a group of English. scientists, led by K. Murrell, laid the foundation for the organization of the ergonomic research society. It later turned out that this term was proposed in 1857 by the Polish naturalist W. Jastrzembowski.

In 1921, at the 1st All-Russian Initiative Conference on the Scientific Organization of Labor and Production, in the reports of V. M. Bekhterev and his student V. N. Myasishchev, the idea of ​​​​creating the scientific discipline of ergology was put forward, the name of which was clarified a year later as ergonology. In the 1920-30s. A. A. Bernstein, S. G. Gellerstein, N. M. Dobrotvorsky, N. V. Zimkin, N. A. Epple and other scientists developed ideas of ergonomic content and were among the first in world practice to carry out applied work in this area .

The second birth of E. in Russia occurred in the beginning. 1960s During these years, national ergonomic associations or societies began to form in industrialized and many developing countries, and in 1961 the Int. Ergonomics Association, which publishes the Ergonomics magazine in England, etc. See Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Ergonomics, Human-Machine System Reliability, Human-System Interface, Human-Centered Approach, Participatory Ergonomics. (V. M. Munipov.)

Ergonomics

Also known as "human factors", ergonomics is the discipline that studies the relationships between professional requirements and work environment. Ergonomic specialists use knowledge of human anatomy and productivity to design workplaces where people can perform at their best with minimal harm to health.

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It received further development in the 1920s, due to the significant complication of technology that a person must control in his activities. The first research in this area began to be carried out in the USSR, Great Britain, the USA and Japan.

Recently, ergonomics has been moving away from classical definition and ceases to be directly related to production activities.

In the direction of research, the following periodization of the development of ergonomics as a science in various decades of the 20th century has been adopted:

Ergonomics studies a person’s actions during work, the speed of his mastering new technology, his energy expenditure, productivity and intensity in specific types of activities. Modern ergonomics is divided into microergonomics, midiergonomics and macroergonomics.

In the study and creation of effective human-controlled systems, the systems approach (also called "system-centric") is most often used in modern ergonomics. Previously, anthropocentric, machine-centric, etc. were used. What is new is the environment-oriented approach.

To optimize human-controlled systems, ergonomics draws on research in psychology, physiology (especially neurophysiology), occupational health and safety, sociology, cultural studies, and many technical, engineering, and information science disciplines.

Some ergonomic terms have become widely used in everyday life, for example, man-hour(a measure of the time capacity of an activity). Currently, the discoveries of ergonomics are used not only in