Abstract
An attempt is made to define the metamorphosis of the human factors area since World War II. While excellent work has been accomplished on problems relating to the detailed design of systems components, there is a significant lack of information relating to the gross problems of systems design. The need for research in this important area is emphasized.
A plea is made for relating future work to the fine foundation that exists in the behavioral and biological sciences. The problems associated with one important area, space travel, are discussed from the point of view of solving them by extending investigations already completed or underway in relevant areas of the behavioral and biological sciences.
The problem of applying available principles to actual design problems is discussed. Investigations that would disclose the generality of the basic principles already available would be of enormous benefit to those engaged in the application of human factors knowledge to the design of components and systems.
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