1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Ergonomics

Human Factors

By Chris Adams, About.com

Definition: Human Factors is a discipline of study that deals with human-machine interface. Human Factors deals with the psychological, social, physical, biological and safety characteristics of a user and the system the user is in.

It is sometimes used synonymously with ergonomics, but ergonomics is actually a subset of Human Factors.

Also Known As: Human Engineering, Human Factors Engineering

Explore Ergonomics

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Ergonomics
  4. Glossary
  5. Definition of Human Factors

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.