I'm not sure if this has been mentioned in this mega-thread, but... I've been involved recently in writing descriptions for activities like usability testing and one thing that makes such a definition difficult is that the optimal definition varies by audience. A definition that appeases the experts (us) is not necessarily going to be helpful to someone who knows very little about the subject.
Paul On Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:58:26, Jeff Seager <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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 > ________________________________________________________________ *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
