Control Automation & Human Factors

With respect to how most automated systems are currently designed, Sarter and Woods* astutely observed, "What is needed is a better understanding of how the machine operates, not just how to operate the machine." Indeed, this understanding is essential to forming a correct mental model of the system. This also holds true for human factors in system design.

There are many excellent references and standards available to assist in the selection and positioning of controls and displays. Two such are the FAA Human Factors Design Standard (HF-STD-001) and the Department of Defense Design Criteria Standard, Human Engineering (MIL-STD-1472F). However, standards and guidelines are not enough. Understanding how the system is to function and how this function is to be achieved is crucial to the design of effective human-to-system interfaces in complex, safety critical applications.

* from Decomposing Automation, 1994