1.1 Introduction

This chapter can be taken to be the overture to an orchestral piece. The chapters that follow are the movements of the work; each movement or chapter has a particular theme or subject that is a part of the overall piece known as human factors . The first group of chapters deals with important techniques, including Task Analysis, a review of HF Methods and Tools, Automation, Human Error and Human Reliability. This is followed by a trio of topics dealing with important design areas, Control Room Design, Interface Design and Usability. Finally the third group deals with Verification and Validation, Simulation and Safety Assessment.

This opening chapter sets the scene for the reader by examining the subject matter coverage of human factors and its close cousin, ergonomics. It then introduces and defines the concept of user-centred design and, most importantly, places human factors within a far broader context. This context is systems engineering and the goal of truly integrated systems, in which users, equipment and the operating environment are appropriately matched for optimal, safe and effective use and performance.

Perhaps not surprisingly, examples of systems in which this goal of true integration has been met tend, almost by definition, to go relatively unnoticed by users and others. This frequently gives rise to the completely erroneous belief that good human factors is only the application of common sense. On the other hand, there are systems that are poorly integrated, or complicated to use, or just badly designed,...