Outline of lecture

This course aims at obtaining knowledge and basic skills about the disciplines
called ergonomics/human factors, their approaches and their applications to actual design
of human-machine systems, work and organisations. Among various contents related
to ergonomics with which people are working, this class focuses on applications of
ergonomic approaches and methods to actual design and evaluation of human-machine
systems and organisational aspects. Contents covered in this class are largely divided
into three categories, for which some case studies are included: (1) Introduction to
ergonomics, (2) Human-machine interaction and usability, (3) Human errors and risk
management.
In this class, in addition to lectures, some group assignments (+ presentation and discussion)
will be made concerning some specific topics for better understanding of ergonomic
concepts and approaches. Simple questions – just one page answer required – will be
also given every week in the end of lecture for the same purpose.

Purpose of lecture

This course aims at obtaining knowledge and basic skills about the disciplines
called ergonomics/human factors, their approaches and their applications to actual design
of human-machine systems, work and organisations. Among various contents related
to ergonomics with which people are working, this class focuses on applications of
ergonomic approaches and methods to actual design and evaluation of human-machine
systems and organisational aspects. Contents covered in this class are largely divided
into three categories, for which some case studies are included: (1) Introduction to
ergonomics, (2) Human-machine interaction and usability, (3) Human errors and risk
management.
In this class, in addition to lectures, some group assignments (+ presentation and discussion)
will be made concerning some specific topics for better understanding of ergonomic
concepts and approaches. Simple questions – just one page answer required – will be
also given every week in the end of lecture for the same purpose.

Plan of lecture

1. Basics in Ergonomics
2. Applications of Ergonomics
3. Ergonomic Approaches and Methods
4. Presentation of group work
5. Human-Machine Systems
6. Direct Manipulation
7. Case study: Eye tracking application to human behaviour analysis
8. Usability Engineering
9. Special ergonomics lecture
10. Presentation of group work
11. Human Error and risk management
12. Safety Culture and Incident reporting
13. Case study: Applications to Railway Safety
14. Presentation of group work

Textbook and reference

Distribute documents by each lecture.

Related and/or prerequisite courses

Desirable to study "Ergonomics" and "Industrial Engineering" by a class subject.

Evaluation

Individual assignments, group assignments and ordinary attitudes in the class,
e.g., participation in discussions and questions (+ attending status in the class)