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Product Design
and Development
All accidents
occur due to a
combination of
three
interacting
factors: the
machine, the
environment in
which the
accident occurs,
and the
user/operator.
There are
volumes of Human
Factors design
guidelines
dealing with a
wide variety of
different
products. These
are augmented by
considerable
applied research
dealing with
particular
products and
application
environments, as
well as
consensus
national
standards. An
in-depth
knowledge of
this material is
necessary to
adequately
evaluate the
design of
particular
products.
Experts in the
Human Factors
domain are
routinely
involved in the
design and
evaluation of
products to
insure that they
are readily
understandable
by potential
users and that
they comply with
such factors as
sizing,
population
stereotypes, and
other norms
expected by the
general
population.
Products which
are awkward to
use, function in
unusual
fashions, or
operate contrary
to expectations
routinely lead
to confusion on
the part of
users,
potentially
contributing to
accidents or
injuries.
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