1 定义
人因工程（Human Factors Engineering）是一门研究人、机器及其工作环境之间相互作用的交叉学科。其根本目的在于通过理论原则、数据方法、系统设计，优化整体系统性能，并最大程度地保障人的健康、安全与舒适。(来源：国际人类工效学学会（IEA, International Ergonomics Association）的官方定义IEA定义 )
The definition of ergonomics (or human factors) adopted by the IEA in 2000 is _the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data, and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.
Physical ergonomics is concerned with human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics as they relate to physical activity. (Relevant topics include working postures, materials handling, repetitive movements, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout, physical safety and health.) 人体工程学_关注的是与身体活动相关的人体解剖学、人体测量学、生理学和生物力学特征。（相关主题包括工作姿势、物料搬运、重复性动作、与工作相关的肌肉骨骼疾病、工作场所布局、人身安全与健康。）
Cognitive ergonomics is 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 include mental workload, decision making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work stress, and training as these may relate to human-system design.) 认知工效学 关注的是感知、记忆、推理和运动反应等心理过程，以及这些过程如何影响人与系统中其他要素之间的交互。（相关主题包括心理负荷、决策、技能表现、人机交互、人类可靠性、工作压力和培训，因为这些都可能与人机系统设计相关。）
Organizational ergonomics is concerned with the optimization of sociotechnical systems, including their organizational structures, policies, and processes. (Relevant topics include communication, crew resource management, work design, design of working times, teamwork, participatory design, community ergonomics, cooperative work, new work paradigms, virtual organizations, telework, and quality management.) _组织人因工程_关注社会技术系统的优化，包括其组织结构、政策和流程。（相关主题包括沟通、机组资源管理、工作设计、工时设计、团队合作、参与式设计、社区人因工程、协同工作、新型工作模式、虚拟组织、远程办公和质量管理。）
简单来说，人因工程的核心理念就是让机器/系统去适应人，而不是强迫人去适应机器。例如，在日常生活中，如果我推一扇门却发现它是需要拉的（经典的诺曼门），或者总是把 USB 接口插反，人们的第一反应往往是“哎呀，我真笨”。但人因工程学则认为：这不是人笨，而是设计有缺陷。人的生理极限和认知习惯是很难改变的，人因工程的目的就是揪出这些反人类的设计，把产品改造成放心使用的样子。
2 类型
Domains of HFE were also defined in 2000 to include:
Physical ergonomics is concerned with human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biomechanical characteristics as they relate to physical activity. (Relevant topics include working postures, materials handling, repetitive movements, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, workplace layout, physical safety and health.)
Cognitive ergonomics is 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 include mental workload, decision making, skilled performance, human-computer interaction, human reliability, work stress, and training as these may relate to human-system design.)
Organizational ergonomics is concerned with the optimization of sociotechnical systems, including their organizational structures, policies, and processes. (Relevant topics include communication, crew resource management, work design, design of working times, teamwork, participatory design, community ergonomics, cooperative work, new work paradigms, virtual organizations, telework, and quality management.)
Although HFE practitioners often work within particular economic sectors, industries, or application fields, the science and practice of HFE is not domain-specific. HFE is a multi-disciplinary, user-centric integrating science. The issues HFE addresses are typically systemic in nature; thus HFE uses a holistic, systems approach to apply theory, principles, and data from many relevant disciplines to the design and evaluation of tasks, jobs, products, environments, and systems. HFE takes into account physical, cognitive, sociotechnical, organizational, environmental and other relevant factors, as well as the complex interactions between the human and other humans, the environment, tools, products, equipment, and technology.
3 操作要点 / 适用条件
人因工程不是单纯地研究人，也不是单纯地研究机器，而是研究两者之间的接口与交互。虽然人因工程适用于所有涉及人机交互的系统，但在以下三类情境中具有强制性或极高的应用价值：
- 安全关键系统（Safety-Critical Systems）：如航空驾驶舱、核电站控制室、医疗手术设备。在这些场景中，人为错误（Human Error）往往是致命的。
- 信息过载环境：如自动驾驶接管场景、大型雷达监控中心。需要合理分配用户的认知资源，避免注意力涣散。
- 高频消费级产品：如智能手机UI、汽车中控屏。优秀的可用性直接决定产品的商业竞争力。