ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we consider how human factors and ergonomics affect the communities within and beyond the system that we are motivated to study. We ask questions about the inconsistencies and inherent conflicts involved in multiple objectives (e.g., system performance and human well-being). For well-being, we ask the most critical question. Exactly whose well-being is this? What, if any, are the bounding conditions that consider the well-being of any one group over that of any other? Also, being human factors and ergonomics practitioners, we consider the definitions of, and our capacity to measure, constructs such as well-being and quality of life. We also consider how these measures have progressed over time. And perhaps we should emphasize that much has been accomplished in this realm without obvious human factors and ergonomics input. Finally, we document and analyze recent data and trends concerning human well-being and ask whether recent beneficial historical trends may be leveling out or even receding. Clearly, we cannot hope to provide definitive answers, in part because many of the answers do not yet exist. Yet, there has been, in our opinion, an insufficient focus by human factors and ergonomics theory and practice on this issue since our beginning. We believe that this relative lack of consideration for global quality of life is incommensurate with the fundamental ethos of human factors and ergonomics, and we hope to begin to rectify this oversight here in light of the urgent planetary issue of sustainability.
