ABSTRACT

In comparison with other disciplines, the science and practice of ergonomics, or human factors as it is also known in North America, is very young. Ergonomics does, however, have at least several distinct roots going back to the early 1900s. For example, in the United Kingdom, we can note the classic work of the Industrial Fatigue Research Board between World Wars I and II. These studies greatly contributed to our understanding of environmental effects on human work performance. In the United States, the development of “scientific management” by Frederick W. Taylor and “industrial psychology” by Hugo Munsterberg and others are among the factors that have contributed to the formation of ergonomics as a distinct discipline. Russia has distinguished histories in psychology, mathematics, and engineering that have helped shape the field of ergonomics. Similar precursors of modern ergonomics can be found in a number of other countries (Hendrick, 1993).