What is cognitive ergonomics?

Have you ever wondered why younger children are able to use a cell phone with such ease? These are not super-gifted babies with above-average IQs. The reason behind it is cognitive ergonomics. This is a fundamental concept that allows people to function efficiently in different areas of life.

The health, transportation, electronics and many other sectors rely on this science for their developments.. As a result, it is possible to enjoy safe systems for travel or health care. Therefore, it is present in everyday life, although we do not always notice it.

What is cognitive ergonomics about?

The term “ergonomics” refers to a discipline that studies human-machine systems.. That is, they analyze the way in which individuals interact with certain tools or work spaces. The goal is to observe whether these systems adapt appropriately to the characteristics of individuals. Both on a physiological, psychological and anatomical level.

Following this line, Cognitive ergonomics is a branch focused on the psychological aspects of human-machine systems.. This field of study takes the postulates of psychology and its different areas. In this way, it applies its bases in the study and improvement of tools, work spaces, machines, etc.

Cognitive ergonomics and occupational health

According to González (2013), this is a key aspect in the health of workers.. The machines and systems with which subjects interact must be well designed to protect their health. At the same time, ensuring that work spaces are ergonomic on a psychological level, efficiency and safety are guaranteed.

To illustrate this, we can cite the case of air traffic controllers. Osorio et al. (2013) conducted a study to evaluate the stress and mental health of these workers at a Colombian airport.. They found high levels of stress and behavioral disturbances as a result.

In this sense, cognitive ergonomics would participate in studying the qualities of different professional environments. In this way, ways could be found to optimize the real ones, making them more adapted to our abilities. For example, modifying the way information is transmitted on flights.

As a consequence, fatigue levels would be reduced or we would be able to react sooner in an emergency situation. Besides, If the systems fit the edges of our abilities, the probability of an error occurring is reduced human.

5 basic concepts of cognitive ergonomics

It is easy to see that cognitive ergonomics is a complex scientific field, just as our nature is. Within this, studies on basic psychological processes, emotions, cognitive abilities, etc. are involved. Below are some basic terms that help you understand it better.

Mental workload

It is the relationship that exists between the amount of work assigned to a person and their psychological resources. In other words, it has to do with the balance between the workload and the mental abilities of the employee.

Other factors intervene here such as motivation, self-esteem, mood, age and knowledge.. As well as physical elements such as lighting, noise, weather, smells, etc. And everything that can have a positive or negative impact on the mind.

Human reliability

Human reliability is an aspect of systems reliability that studies the subject as part of them. That is, it evaluates the extent to which people are part of a system and their influence on them. Thus, The risks of human participation within the production processes are examined.

human error

The concept of human error has to do with unfavorable events generated by people. Just as a machine can fail and cause accidents, individuals are also prone to making mistakes.

If said accident is not associated with a machinery failure, nor with behavioral alterations, it is considered human error. Along these same lines, cognitive ergonomics evaluates the psychological factors involved in the accident to find solutions.

Work stress

Work stress is understood as a group of physical and psychological consequences caused by harmful elements in the organizational environment. These can be related to the organization, tools, environment, etc.

Human-computer interaction

The study of the interaction between human individuals and computer systems is key in cognitive ergonomics. Within this field, the design and implementation of these tools and their influence on the subjects are evaluated.

The goal of this discipline is to optimize systems so that they are efficient and easy to use. For this, We must ensure that the exchange of information between machine and human is as precise as possible.

Returning to the example from the beginning, the reason why a child can use a mobile phone is cognitive ergonomics. These devices are designed so that anyone can manipulate them and that is where their usefulness comes from.

Importance of cognitive ergonomics

Once the concept is explained, its importance can be seen more clearly. However, it should be mentioned that the study of psychological aspects in ergonomics is relatively recent. Therefore, there is still much to explore.

One area where this discipline is applied is in the health sector. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals often have long work hours. These can be from 18 to 24 hours. In addition to this, they are constantly exposed to stressors. Here, cognitive ergonomics is used to design schedules and spaces that are more adjusted to the mental capabilities of workers.

It is also very relevant in road safety. The gauges and controls of a car are designed to adapt to how our attention works. This is one of the reasons why, for example, turn signals are lights that flash – changing situations are very attractive to our attention.

In conclusion, Cognitive ergonomics is key to our well-being, job security, productivity and organizational efficiency. Likewise, due to the speed with which technology evolves, differences in this dimension are increasingly important for the consumer. Likewise, psychology as a science continues to advance; a fact from which the field itself draws.

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