ABSTRACT
This chapter provides some reection on the development of human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) over time and examines the various conceptions of HF/E that have emerged in terms of its status as “science” and “practice.” The early history and prehistory of HF/E is described, alongside the coverage of developments during the Second World War that ultimately led to the birth of HF/E in 1949. Later sections of the chapter focus on a set of present-day issues for HF/E that have been partly shaped by earlier debates within the history of HF/E. These include how HF/E can be integrated within industry and the wider world of practice, and how HF/E methods should be designed and the trade-offs involved in applying exclusively scientic criteria (e.g.,
Practitioner Summary ..............................................................................................29 Introduction ..............................................................................................................30 The Origins of HF/E within the United Kingdom ...................................................30
