Human Factors

1
Human Factors

• PSYC 4690

2
Shift Work

• circadian rhythms -- keyed by the sun
•  consequences of shift work
• accidents
• reduced productivity
• Depression
• Alcoholism and drug abuse
• Sleep disorders

3
Shift Work

• Weapons against shift work problems
• Caffeine
• Melatonin pills
• Bright lights

4
Human Factors

• Fatigue
• reduced by job challenge, supervision, job
  control
• Color
• brightness and contrast are more important
• easiest read black and white
• quickest reaction time green
• color and aggression black vs. pink

5
Human Factors

• Lighting
•  Poor illumination inhibits productivity, safety
•  Fluorescent lights vs. incandescent lights
• Overhead vs. indirect lighting
•  Light wall coloring increases illumination

6
Human Factors

• Temperature
•  Maximum comfort between 70 and 80 degrees
•  Humidity is best at about 70 percent
•  Temps between 68 and 70 produce the lowest
  accident rates
•  adjustment time - 12 to 14 days for overly hot
  conditions (85)

7
Human Factors

• Noise
•  Most humans experience hearing loss when exposed
  to gt 67 db on a daily basis
• Federal regulations require noise be less than 90
  db for 8-hour periods
•  Background music can increase alertness but when
  it is continuous it loses its effectiveness

8
Human Factors

• Space
• Open office layouts  
• vs. partitioned or cubicle layouts
• Personal space (1 - 6 feet) is used for most
  social contact
• "comfort zones" vary culturally

9
Human Factors

• Designing controls
• baddesigns.com
• Flight controls see video