Ergonomics offers a particular way of thinking about people at work or play. It places the person (also called a 'user') at the centre of interest. It also takes into account the various interactions between this person, the tasks they perform, and their wider surroundings. These surroundings include the equipment being used, the features of the physical environment, and the social context. If we understand all of these interactions then we may be able to find ways of improving the 'fit' between the person and the various elements. The following diagram will help you to look at these interactions in a systematic way.

Fig 1

Ergonomics places people at the centre In Figure 1, five elements are separated from one another by rings. Each ring represents an area of interaction with the user. Each of the rings can be called a user interface. The most important interfaces are described in the pages linked below. However, before we address these interfaces we need to focus on the central element in Figure 1 - the user.

The User
The characteristics and needs of people must be identified at the outset of any ergonomic design or evaluation. This will help ensure that the design is user-centred.

We may need to consider different groups of users. For example, the designer of a car has to consider not only the driver, but also passengers and those people who may be called on to service and fix the car.
We also need to be aware that individuals within each user group (e.g. car drivers) can be very different. People may differ in terms of physical characteristics (e.g. body size, strength), psychological characteristics (e.g. reaction time, memory, skill), and physiological characteristics (e.g. physical fitness). When products and workplaces are being designed or modified, differences between individuals ought to be taken into account.