ABSTRACT
The notion of activity tends to be more and more central in ergonomics. One of its origins can be found in Russian psychological research (Bedny and Miller 1997). It became very important in European ergonomics, first in the Frenchspeaking countries, then in the Scandinavian countries. American research, influenced by the trend called “situated action” accords it a growing interest. In France, a wellknown ergonomist, Wisner (1995), wrote that “the central and original part of the ergonomic analysis of work is the analysis of activities.” This ergonomics of activity is well illustrated into a French manual of ergonomics (Guérin et al. 1997). In a recent “Vocabulary of Ergonomics,” de Montmollin (1997) distinguishes this ergonomics of activity from the ergonomics of human factors. Schematizing the difference a little, it can be said that the latter views ergonomics as the application of general knowledge to human functioning, which knowledge is, for the most part, acquired outside of the work situation. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of this general knowledge: its application is not considered as a preferred object of research. Ergonomics of activity is centered on the activity of the person in his/her work situation, on what s/he really does. This activity is viewed as a complex process, which comprises essential dynamic and temporal aspects and which integrates the effect of multiple conditions. Activity must be distinguished from behavior that only constitutes the observable facet of activity: activity includes behavior and its regulating mechanisms.
