ISyE 349: Introduction to Human Factors

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ISyE 349 - Introduction to Human Factors

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ISYE/Psych 349 Introduction to Human Factors, Fall 2009 Karsh Sections: 305, 304, 301, 001

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Past Semester Courses
ISYE 349 Introduction to Human Factors, Spring09 (1) Sections: 305, 304, 302, 301, 001

ISYE 349 Introduction-Human Factors, Fall08 (1) Sections: 001, 301, 304, 305

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Catalog Description

349 Introduction to Human Factors. (Crosslisted with Psych 349.) I, II; 3 cr. Design for people-machine interaction, including an introduction to the relevant underlying human sciences. Theory, data, and measurement problems in human information processing, anthropometry, training and industrial safety. Laboratories, discussions, and a design project. P: Intro probability or statistics.

Course Prerequisite(s)

Stat. 311 or Stat. 312 or equiv.

Prerequisite knowledge and/or skills

Elementary probability
Use of spreadsheets
Use of wordprocessing software

Textbook(s) and/or other required material

Use of human factors and ergonomics reference books at the Wendt Library is recommended.
Course slides are provided on the course website. Students can use these as course notes.

Course objectives

Student will understand how people fit into technological systems
Student will recognize the limits of human perceptual-motor capabilities.
Student will recognize the limits of human cognitive functioning and why people make errors.
Student will be able to assess workstation and task design for ergonomic deficiencies.
Student will be able to define safety hazards and general approaches for their control.
Student will recognize the human indicators of fatigue and stress.
Student will appreciate the importance of organization and job design factors for performance and satisfaction.
Student will be able to define the ethical application of human factors in designing products and processes.
Student will be able to write reports that describe human performance.

Topics covered

Human sensory perception
Perceptual-motor skills
Information processing and memory
Human reliability
Ergonomics
Safety
Job design
Organizational design
Sociotechnical theory and ethics

Class/laboratory schedule

Two 75 minute lectures per week
One 50 minute lab per week

Contribution of course to meeting the professional component

This course contributes primarily to the students' knowledge of engineering topics, and does provide design experience.

The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.

Economic Environmental Ethical Societal Health and Safety

Relationship of course to undergraduate degree program objectives and outcomes

This course primarily serves students in the department. The information below describes how the course contributes to the undergraduate program objectives.

Applies IE knowledge to solve problems. Uses IE tools to analyze and solve problems. Provides a working knowledge of experimental design, data collection and analysis, including statistics. Provides a basis for students to recognize, describe, predict and analyze system behavior. Provides an understanding of physiological and cognitive aspects of humans as components in complex systems. Provides a systems level perspective. Identifies opportunities for improvements. Establishes knowledge to design human tasks for minimal stress and maximum performance. Contributes to report writing skills. Contributes to teamwork skills. Adds to understanding of contemporary issues and the impact of IE solutions.

Assessment of student progress toward course objectives

Examinations throughout the course.
Laboratory assignments.
Team project presentation.

Person(s) who prepared this description

Michael J. Smith

Copyright 2007 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
Date last modified: 28-Dec-2007
Content by: prpeters@engr.wisc.edu
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