Human factors (ergonomics)

Human factors, also known as ergonomics (the terms are interchangeable) emerged as the leading domain dedicated to adjusting the design of physical products to fit the human body and mental states. Over the years, the domain has contributed to significant understanding of the human physical and cognitive condition under stressful conditions.

Stressful conditions do not necessarily mean extreme conditions. On the contrary, often the circumstances appear on the surface to be relaxed and easy. Like using a computer's keyboard and mouse, for example, which, after an epidemic of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the 1990s, has led to research into the causes of the ailment, and product designs that attempted to eliminate or reduce the problem.

The term ergonomics first appeared in the 1950s, a mashup of the Greek word "ergon", which means "work", and the English word "economics". The latest definition of the term, according to the International Ergonomics Association, is:

"The...