Here's a model definition that I love for its brevity and clarity, from the weblink Michele has just posted:
"Human Factors is concerned with the application of what we know about people, their abilities, characteristics, and limitations to the design of equipment they use, environments in which they function, and jobs they perform." There are other reasonable definitions of the same term that aren't as satisfying to me. One thing I really like about this one is the simple language. Another is "the application of *what we know* ..." because what we know will change with time and practice. That's a nice touch. On the other hand, I'd clarify the same definition by rewriting it like this: "Human Factors [as applied to design, engineering ...] considers what we know about people -- their abilities, characteristics and limitations -- and applies that knowledge to the design of equipment they use, environments in which they function, and jobs they perform." User-center design may be described or defined as a subset of that. You can think of others. Not that there need be a hierarchy as such, but such structure helps with comprehension, acceptance and adoption. Those three factors are as important to me as accuracy, where definitions are concerned. We have a lot in common with related disciplines, and a willingness to adopt longstanding definitions only adds to our credibility. We need not reinvent the wheel if we can just shave off some of the rough edges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=24685 ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
