Cognitive Ergonomics
Introduction
Cognitive ergonomics "deals with mental processes, such as perception, memory (process), reasoning, and motor response, that affect interactions between humans and other elements of a system. Relevant topics include mental workload, decision making, expert execution, human-computer interaction, human reliability, job stress, and professional training related to human systems design. Cognitive ergonomics studies cognition in work and operational contexts, in order to optimize human well-being and system performance” (International Ergonomics Association — IEA).[1] It is a subset of the larger field of human factors and ergonomics.[2].
Goals
Cognitive ergonomics is an emerging branch of human factors and ergonomics that places special emphasis on the analysis of the cognitive processes necessary for operators working in modern industry and similar environments. Among its objectives are diagnosis, workload, situational awareness, decision making and planning. Cognitive ergonomics aims to improve the performance of cognitive tasks through several interventions, including the following:.
History
The field of cognitive ergonomics emerged predominantly in the 1970s with the advent of the personal computer and new developments in the fields of cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence. Unlike the tradition of physical ergonomics, "cognitive ergonomics is... the application of psychology to work... to achieve optimization between people and their work."[3] Viewed as an applied science, the methods involved with creating cognitive ergonomic design have changed with the rapid development of technological advances over the past 27 years. In the 1980s, there was a worldwide transition in the methodological approach to design. According to van der Veer, Enid Mumford was one of the pioneers of interactive systems engineering who advocated the notion of user-centered design, in which the user is considered and "included in all phases of design."[4] There are several different models that describe the criteria for designing technology that is easy to use. Several models focus on a systematic process for design, evaluating the cognitive processes involved in a given task and thus developing appropriate interface capabilities (task analysis). Task analysis in previous research has focused on the evaluation of cognitive task demands, regarding motor control and cognition during visual tasks, such as operating machinery, or the evaluation of attention and focus through the analysis of pilots' saccadic eye movements during flight.[4] Neuroergonomics, closely related to cognitive ergonomics, aims to improve human-computer interaction using brain activity recording methodologies. For example, neuroergonomic research at the University of Iowa is aimed both at developing protocols to evaluate safe driving and thus improving the mobility of elderly people, and at analyzing the cognitive abilities involved in the navigation of abstract virtual environments.[5] In Spain, the discipline is established with the publication of the book by Cañas and Waern, . (2001) Pan-American Medical Ed.[6].