Welcome

The International Ergonomics Association (IEA) defines cognitive ergonomics as being “concerned with mental processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response, as they affect interactions among humans and other elements of a system.” Relevant topics in this area include mental workload, decision-making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work stress and training as these may relate to human-system design.

Biomechanics and work physiology are disciplines within the field of Physical Ergonomics which IEA defines as being “concerned with human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics as they relate to physical activity.” The form of biomechanics practiced in the Center for Ergonomics is consistent with what is commonly referred to as “Functional Biomechanics”. It was defined by Frankel and Nordin (1980) as using “laws of physics and engineering concepts to describe motion undergone by the various body segments, and the forces acting on these body parts during normal daily activities.”

Research at the Center for Ergonomics is concerned also with the development of frameworks, methods, and models for analyzing and preventing mishaps and complex system failures in a variety of domains. Using a systems approach and/or epidemiology, we examine the contribution of cognitive/perceptual, technological, and organizational factors to incidents and accidents. The overall goal of this work is to develop tools that help prevent and manage erroneous actions by end users as well as increase resilience and create a safety culture at all levels of an organization.

Du, Na and Zhou, Feng and Pulver, Elizabeth and Tilbury, Dawn and Robert, Lionel and Pradhan, Anuj and Yang, Jessie, Examining the Effects of Emotional Valence and Arousal on Takeover Performance in Conditionally Automated Driving (January 12, 2020).

Du, Na & Tilbury, Dawn & Robert, Lionel & Zhou, Feng & Pradhan, Anuj & Pulver, Elizabeth & Yang, X. Jessie. (2020). Predicting Takeover Performance in Conditionally Automated Driving.

Georgarakis, A.M., Sonar, H.A., Rinderknecht, M.D., Popp, W.L., Duarte, J.E., Lambercy, O., Paik, J., Martin, B.J., Riener, R., and Klamroth-Marganska, V. “Age-dependent asymmetry of wrist position sense is not influenced by stochastic tactile stimulation.” Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2020.

Kostyniuk, Lidia P., and Clive R. D’souza. “Effect of Passenger Encumbrance and Mobility Aid Use on Dwell Time Variability in Low-Floor Transit Vehicles.” Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, vol. 132, 2020, pp. 872–881.

Lim, Sol, and Clive D’souza. “A Narrative Review on Contemporary and Emerging Uses of Inertial Sensing in Occupational Ergonomics.” International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, vol. 76, 2020, p. 102937.

Manary, M.A., Flannagan, C.A., Reed, M.P., Orton, N.R., and Klinich, K.D. “Effects of Child Restraint Misuse on Dynamic Performance.” Traffic Injury Prevention, 20:8. 860-865, 2020.