Human Factors and Ergonomics
I’m currently taking a class titled “Introduction to Human Factors and Ergonomics.” This is the first class leading to my major in Engineering Psychology also known as Human Factors Engineering. You’re probably thinking to yourself, “Is Human Factors Engineering the process of designing a person?” While that’s a totally reasonable guess to make, Human Factors is all about the way that people interact with the physical and technical world around them. It’s an extremely versatile field that is an important concept to account for in every existing field of engineering. For a guy who is drawn to engineering for it’s ability to assist with and enhance people’s lives, Human Factors Engineering is an exciting area of study.
Most engineering classes focus on very specific information pertaining to various subjects. The vast majority of the time, this information is not widely applicable. In my Human Factors class we actually learn information that we are able to put on our resumé. From UI and CAD design to physical prototyping, every assignment and project is something that I could see myself needing to do in my working career. A large reason for this innovative class structure is because of Professor Hannon who teaches the class. Dr. Hannon is a professor of the practice meaning that he is a professional in the field that he teaches. Because of his firsthand experience with the field of Human Factors Engineering, he has been able to create a curriculum that tailors to the needs of professionals.
We meet for class once a week during a three hour block. This might seem like a lot, but Professor Hannon effectively switches between lectures and hands-on activities to keep the class interesting and enjoyable. Also, a huge benefit of taking the class is that we are given access to the many maker spaces on the Tufts campus. To complete our final project we must design a device that allows two people to hold an iPhone and play a two-player game that we will program. Not only will we need to use technical skill in wire-framing and software development, but we will need to build an actual device. To build the phone-holder we have 3D printers, CNC machines, and laser cutters at our disposal. As somebody who loves to design and build things to make my life easier, access to all of these resources is simply amazing.
Most people who are considering majoring in Engineering haven’t thought about or even heard of Human Factors Engineering. When I learned about it during my first semester of college I was immediately hooked, and taking the introductory Human Factors class continually reassures me that I made the right choice. Engineering and Psychology aren’t things that most people will normally group together, but they make an incredible pair.