Human engineering as it is called in the U.S.A. and ergonomics in Europe, developed as a result of the experience in the use of equipment in World War II. The potentialities of numerous complex, precisely engineered devices could not be realized because the human operators often lacked the necessary capabilities required to operate them. During the past few years there have been significant advances, both in regard to basic concepts, and in the development of the biological and psychological information necessary for the guidance of the designers of equipment, both as the level of product design and at the level of complex systems. Much of this information has been made available in a handbook entitled Human Engineering Guide to Equipment Design. It was compiled under the auspices of a joint committee representing the armed services.
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