Engineering psychology as a science arose in the 40s. last century. Its founders are D. I. Mendeleev, meteorologist M. A. Rykachev, scientists I. M. Sechenov, V. M. Bekhterev. A.K. Gastev and I.P. Pavlov. It was I.M.Sechenov who was the author of scientific works on man and his role in the rationalization of labor activity and psychological processes. Engineering psychology, or rather, only its foundations, were also formulated by I.M.Sechenov.
His statement about the active rest of a person as the best means of increasing labor efficiency and especially maintaining working capacity has still not lost its relevance and is successfully applied in practice.
What is engineering psychology?
This is science, or rather its industry, which is becoming increasingly relevant in a modern high-tech society, because there are more and more questions studying the "man-machine" system in the modern, rapidly changing world.
What is its essence and what are the foundations of engineering psychology? She studies the relevant relationships and characteristics of the work of modern man in his production and managerial activities.
The result of this study is the optimization of the labor process of people, which is necessary when creating the latest technologies and, of course, directly new technical means. Thanks to them, management systems are improved, and the basic characteristics of the modern labor process are improved.
Engineering psychology considers, in particular, relevant and numerous problems of human interaction with computers. The consequence of this is the establishment of certain requirements for both participants in this process. Such indicators as reliability, efficiency, speed, accuracy are used as indicators.
Very close, the foundations of engineering psychology are located in another science - ergonomics, which studies human labor activity , the creation of safe jobs, and work objects. Based on the findings, new computer programs are modeled. Their goal is to create more favorable working conditions that would increase its effectiveness. The whole system takes into account the physical and mental characteristics of the human body, based on the psychology, anatomy and physiology of the individual.
In turn, engineering psychology, as a branch of science, is an essential part of ergonomics. In the modern world, which is characterized by the rapid pace of development of high technology, complicated production processes and the latest equipment have fundamentally changed the functions of man in production.
A different level of tasks, an increase in the flow of information and high-tech equipment pose new challenges for a person and require higher loads from her. Physical effort is generally reduced, and an individual in the human-machine community becomes a less important link. The reason is the human factor. That is why there is a need to ensure the complete safety of personnel in modern production.
Engineering psychology in combination with ergonomics can solve this problem. Thanks to the knowledge gained as a result of research conducted by scientists in these industries, the successful operation of technology is determined.
Engineering psychology and ergonomics also play a major role in optimizing working conditions. Such a significant indicator as ergonomics is the most generalized criterion for the properties of technology and characterizes the degree of comfort that corresponds to certain types of devices and mechanisms.
What is engineering psychology and ergonomics for? They explore such areas as the creation of new jobs, their design, the provision of technical maintenance of machines, they study the equally important issue of personnel selection and professional training.
Engineering psychology and ergonomics have become the most promising sciences in the development of industrial relations and they have a huge responsibility in connection with the progressive development of society.