1st Edition

The Human Factor Revolutionizing the Way People Live with Technology

By Kim J. Vicente Copyright 2006
    368 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    In this incessantly readable, groundbreaking work, Vincente makes vividly clear how we can bridge the widening gap between people and technology. He investigates every level of human activity - from simple matters such as our hand-eye coordination to complex human systems such as government regulatory agencies, and why businesses would benefit from making consumer goods easier to use. He shows us why we all have a vital stake in reforming the aviation industry, the health industry, and the way we live day-to-day with technology.

    Preface; Part 1 Part One TECHNOLOGY WREAKING HAVOC; Chapter 1 A Threat to Our Quality of Life: Technology Beyond Our Control; Chapter 2 Why Is Technology So Out of Control? Walking Around Half-Blind; Part 2 Part Tow TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMANS; Chapter 3 Let's Get Physical: Fitting the Design to the Body; Chapter 4 Minding the Mind I: Everyday Psychology; Chapter 5 Minding the Mind II: Safety-Critical Psychology; Chapter 6 Staying on the Same Page: Choreographing Team Coordination; Chapter 7 Management Matters: Building Learning Organizations; Chapter 8 Political Imperatives I: Technology for Better or for Worse?; Chapter 9 Political Imperatives II: Safeguarding the Public Interest; Part 3 Part Three REGAINING CONTROL OF OUR LIVES; Chapter 10 The Way Forward: Not by Widgets Alone; Acknowledgments; Notes; Index;

    Biography

    Kim Vicente has been the Hunsaker Distinguished Visiting Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT and has acted as consultant to, amongst others, NASA, NATO, the US Air Force, the US Navy, Microsoft Corporation, and Nortel Networks. He lives in Toronto.

    'Vicente does lay out his revolutionary program with a clear, coherent structure of five design factors: political, organizational, team, psychological, and physical. Each is extensively explained and developed with many compelling and detailed examples' - Interantional Journal of Communication

    'I believe in this book - I believe in its motivations and I believe it does an excellent job of trying to achieve them.  We need more messengers like Vicente.  Vive la revolution!' -Ergonomics