A definition:

"My definition is that: ergonomics or human factors is a body of knowledge about human abilities, human limitations and other human characteristics that are relevant to design.

I define what we do in this way: ergonomic design or human factors engineering is the application of ergonomic information to the design of tools, machines, systems, tasks, jobs and environments for safe, comfortable and effective human use.

The significant word in those definitions is design because it separates us from such purely academic disciplines as anthropology, physiology and psychology. We study people, but we study them not because we merely want to add to our store of basic information. We study people in special circumstances because our aim is to apply what we know or what we find out to the design of practical things of things that we have to do or have to use because of our occupations, or things that we want to do or want to use because or our inclinations.".

(Chapanis, 1995)

What is the result of the addition "ergonomics plus design"?

"If an application of ergonomic principles into the process of design is achieved, the result mkust be na attractive as well userfriendly product. Machines, equipments, workstations and work environments integrating Ergonomics into Design contribute to quality of life, enhance well-being and performance.".

(Grandjean ,1984)

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