ABSTRACT
Human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) as a discipline and profession addresses issues of profound interest to society. But the discipline and its subject matter tend to be represented in a small number of narrow contexts in the news and entertainment media. “Human factors” tends to be associated with failure and “human error,” particularly involving frontline personnel. Narrative strands are woven into powerful stories that present the human as either hero or villain. Some features of a story (usually the “human factor”) are made prominent while otherssuch as system and context inuences-are routinely glossed over or ignored. “Ergonomics,” meanwhile, tends to be associated with physical injury and ofce work. The entertainment media often reect HF/E themes in tales of a fundamental distrust of technological advances. Meanwhile, the actual work of HF/E practitioners in improving system performance and human wellbeing is hardly ever represented. In this chapter, we consider these issues and offer some implications for HF/E practitioners to help minimize the negative consequences of media effects on the perceptions of clients and stakeholders, and take advantage of opportunities.
