Introduction:

Human Factor Engineering (HFE) accounts for the human perceptual systems in designing or selecting display techniques or technologies in system interfaces. HFE also applies what is known about human cognitive and motor output characteristics to the design and selection of required responses and control technologies used in human-machine systems. In preventing mismatches, HFE improves the communication between the human and the system.

Benefits:

• greater ease of use and efficiency
• improved system performance and reliability
• increased user satisfaction
• fewer operational errors
• decreased operator stress
• reduced training time and costs
• less reliance on operations manuals
• decreased product liability
• reduced user fatigue and incidence of cumulative trauma
• reduced operating costs

Conceptual schematic of human-machine system for microelectronics processing

Capabilities:

• analyze existing designs analysis and support new designs
• design hardware controls and displays
• design human-computer interaction and software
• perform task analysis and function allocation
• design web site and perform empirical evaluations
• design workstations and facility layouts
• develop ergonomic evaluation checklists
• model and predict human performance

Experience and Customers:

1. Nuclear weapons systems, handling gear, and test systems hardware and software interface design and evaluation—SNL, Pantex, KCD

2. Comprehensive workstation ergonomic evaluation checklist for SNL corporate ergonomics program

3. Room layout and office design—-SNL technical library, microelectronics fab gowning area.

4. Control room and master console design—-internal SNL projects, including PBFA-II, Kauai rocket operations

5. Website and application development—-ICADS project, Center for Systems Reliability, SNL Intranet admin. applications

6. Photolithography stepper operating system computer interface design—GCA's XLS
 

Partial view of the main menu display for GCA's XLS stepper using touch-panel technology and employing large simulated shape-coded 3D pushbuttons, icons, menu subgrouping, scrolling message log, and prompt line.
 

References:

1. Miller, D.P., Corporate Cost Avoidance Using Sound Ergonomics Technology and Quality-Based Customer Services, Chapter for The Handbook of Occupational Ergonomics, W.S.  Marras and W. Karwowski (Eds.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, in press.

2. Miller, D.P., Top-Ten List of User-Hostile Interface Design: The ten most frequent mistakes made in human-computer interface design, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A, 13(3), American Vacuum Society, May/June 1995.

3. Miller, D.P., XLS Menus, a video demonstrating good examples of ergonomic HCI design practices, presented at Network Day and AVS Meeting, August and October 1994.

4. Miller, D. P. and H. O. Whitehurst, Preventing User-Hostile Interfaces in IC-Fab Equipment: Ergonomic approaches for preventing ten frequent user-interface problems, SEMATECH Technology Transfer Report 92091299A-ENG, November 1992.