ABSTRACT
Given that ergonomics is the study of human-system interaction as well as the application of insights from that study to the design of products/systems, the notion of context seems a key-construct in discussing the (future) impact of ergonomics. Focussing on work (workplaces, work practices), Moray (1999) speaks of the design of sociotechnical systems, which should go beyond technical solutions such as better designed interfaces and better training regimes, and should also include organisational, legal, economic and cultural considerations. In addition to the perspective of this broad context in the ergonomics/human factors (E/HF) research area, Moray pleads for openness to and cooperation with other disciplines, particularly ethnography, as an alternative to the traditional research approaches of psychology and engineering.
