This chapter describes how the overall objective of the human-centric approach is to provide guidelines to those who conceptualize, design, build or construct, implement, maintain, repair, use, or evaluate (forensics) a system so that the system ultimately presents itself to the human interface population with the maximum level of durability and functionality possible, with elevated emphasis on efficiency, safety, and satisfaction. The system should perform in the most efficient manner possible in order to maximize the preservation of natural resources, minimize the physical and mental effort required by the human interface population, and perform its designed functions in the most efficient manner possible. The system must, at a minimum, conform to all applicable laws, codes, and standards propounded for the safety of the probable human interface population. In addition, a reasonable effort must be made by those responsible for system design and manufacture in order to ensure the safety of the probable human interface population and the environment with respect to identified and foreseeable hazardous conditions that result from the exposure of the human to the system - even if these hazardous conditions are not identified within published laws, codes, or standards. That is, under human-centric approach principles, the duty is placed upon the designers, developers, and manufacturers of a system to reasonably ensure that all reasonably identifiable or reasonably foreseeable hazards have been eliminated from the system including those that may have been created by conformance with applicable laws, codes, and standards. Implementing and adhering to human-centric approach principles, from system conceptualization through system recycle, will significantly reduce the liability exposure of all parties who might affect or be affected by the technological components of the system, including the end users.
Abstract