Where Human Factors may be Headed: A Personal View

Following a brief review of how the human factors community achieved its present focus and circumstance, the discussion deals with what future preoccupations and opportunities may face human factors practitioners, such as computer software and documentation evaluations, the development of standards and guidelines, the avoidance of exposure to product liability cases, and the presentation of legislative testimony, among other concerns and challenges. Also examined are the roles that human factors funding and organizational structures may play in facilitating or inhibiting the effectiveness of human factors research and acceptance of the results obtained.