ABSTRACT
The category of consumer products is incredibly diverse; it ranges from relatively simple products, such as toothbrushes, to complex electronic devices, such as smartphones. Unlike the domains in which human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) was born (i.e., aviation and industrial settings), there are few standards or regulations that mandate the involvement of HF/E. Accordingly, the place for the HF/E practitioner on the development team is far from guaranteed. To gain this place, the additional up-front costs associated with HF/E involvement must be demonstrably offset by an improvement in the quality of the nal design and, in turn, the product’s market potential. This typically involves dening a measure of performance and using a range of tools and techniques to demonstrate how product features or attributes can inuence these values.
