Some Successful Applications of Human Factors

Abstract

Much of the most successful applied human factors work is unknown outside of the groups which perform the studies because the work is done in an environment which reinforces direct contribution to the efforts of the employer rather than contributions to the professional literature. Propriety considerations often pose problems even when the author is willing to write papers for professional societies. The present paper briefly describes work done at the Bell Laboratories which had significant positive impact on products produced but which is little known to others. The work relates to products and services already released and none is now propriety. The purpose of describing these studies is to show the variety of approaches which have been successful and to demonstrate the potential contribution of applied human factors work. I have tried to give credit to the principal investigators in each study but, of course, there were many others who made contributions to each project.