The ergatic system consists of hand tools and other assistive devices that are associated with the person who controls all operations. The operators of such systems use their own physical energy as the main source. Ergatic systems can range from a person with a hammer to a person with heavy-duty exoskeleton delivery.
What is the point?
The development of a human machine system differs from the more general and well-known areas, such as the interaction of humans, computers, and sociotechnical engineering, since it focuses on complex dynamic control systems that are often partially automated (for example, flying an airplane).
Managing ergatic systems also involves solving human problems in vivo or in simulated environments.
The applications of these systems are limitless, but they have yet to be widely studied. Ways of expanding ergatic systems using machine mechanisms indicate how the body can act outside its biological form and functions, as well as outside the local space in which it lives. The discovery of the mystery of how human movement is transformed into machine movement, and then can be expressed and expanded into virtual performance on the Internet, promises new opportunities in both a conceptual approach and an aesthetic application. For example, the inclusion of the virtual camera's ideas about the ergatic system being performed harmonizes the interaction of its various elements and enhances the final result.
Ergonomics and biomechanics
The muscle machine is a hybrid machine for walking humans and robots. Developed by artist James Stelark (who also created other similar systems), this is an exoskeleton with six robotic legs, which are controlled by the movement of his pilot's leg and arm. Such projects perfectly illustrate the capabilities of ergatic systems.
Consider the effectiveness of these systems on the example of modern exoskeleton projects. Rubber muscles contract when inflated and stretch when exhausted. This leads to more reliable design. The body is on the ground inside the chassis of the machine, which includes the lower exoskeleton body connecting it to the robot. The coders on the hip joints provide data that will allow the human controller to move and guide the machine, as well as adjust the speed at which it will move. The action of a human operator lifting a leg raises three alternating legs of the machine and pumps them forward. By turning the torso, the body forces the car to walk in the direction in which it is facing. Thus, the interface and interaction are more straightforward, allowing you to intuitively understand the interaction of man and machine and, thus, facilitating the use of this system.
The walking system with attached accelerometer sensors generates data that is converted into sounds, which increases acoustic pneumatics and the operation of the machine mechanism. Once a machine is in motion, it is no longer applicable to ask whether a person or machine is controlled when they are fully integrated and moved as one. A six-legged robot expands the body and turns its two-legged gait into a six-legged insect-like crawl.
The influence of mass culture
Ergatic systems were represented in the media in great abundance. Cyborgs seen in films such as Terminator and Robocop are fantastic descriptions of how human-machine systems may someday look.
The human factor in ergonomics
The study of human factors and ergonomics is the application of psychological and physiological principles for the design and development of products, processes and systems. The goal of human factors is to reduce human errors, increase productivity, safety and comfort, paying particular attention to the interaction of a person and things of interest to him.
Ergatic system concept
This science is a combination of numerous disciplines such as psychology, sociology, engineering, biomechanics, industrial design, physiology, anthropometry, interaction design, visual design, user interface and user interface design. In studies, human factors use a scientific method to study human behavior so that the data obtained can be applied to four main goals. In fact, this is a study of the design of equipment, devices and processes that correspond to the human body and its cognitive abilities. The term “human factors” was previously synonymous with ergonomics in the English language. Now the terms "ergonomics" are preferred all over the world, however, the human factor is still considered to be one of the important elements of any ergonomic system. By the way, in Germany this science was once called "anthropotechnics."
Subspecies of science
Ergonomics includes three main areas of research: physical, cognitive and organizational ergonomics.
There are many specializations in these broad categories. Specializations in physical ergonomics may include visual ergonomics. Specializations in cognitive ergonomics may include usability, human-computer interaction, and user engineering. All this somehow relates to the study of ergatic systems.
Social role
Some specializations can cross these areas: environmental ergonomics is associated with human interaction with the environment, characterized by climate, temperature, pressure, vibration, light. The emerging area of human factors in road safety uses the principles of the human factor to understand the actions and capabilities of road users - drivers of cars and trucks, pedestrians, cyclists, etc. - and use this knowledge to design roads and streets to reduce road collisions. . Drivers ’error has been identified as contributing to 44% of fatal collisions in the United States, so a topic of particular interest is how road users collect and process information about the road and its surroundings, and how to help them make the appropriate decision.
Areas of Specialization
Despite the constant scientific discoveries and, accordingly, the emergence of new terms (including in the field of ergonomics), specialists in this field are still in demand in the development of equipment, systems and working methods in order to improve comfort, health, safety and productivity during all areas of human life. The studies that underlie such developments are usually dealt with in the institutes of ergatic systems.
According to the International Association of Ergonomics, within the framework of ergonomics there are two main areas of specialization:
- Cognitive ergonomics is associated with mental processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning, and motor reactions, as they affect the interaction between people and other elements of any system. Relevant topics in this area include mental workload, decision making, skilled productivity, human reliability, stress and training, as they may relate to the design of ergatic systems and human-computer interaction.
- Organizational ergonomics is associated with the optimization of socio-technical systems, including their organizational structures, policies and processes. Relevant topics in this area include communications, crew resource management, job design, work systems, work design, teamwork, collaboration design, community ergonomics, collaboration, new work programs, virtual organizations, telecommuting, and quality management.
Research and development institutes of ergatic systems
The oldest professional body for specialists in human factors and ergonomists is the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors, previously known as the Ergonomics Society, created in 1946 in the UK. The first recognized basic components of an ergatic system (man, mechanism and control system) were discovered by this organization.
The Society of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFES) was founded in 1957. The mission of the Society is to facilitate the discovery and exchange of knowledge about the characteristics of people that are applicable to the design of systems and devices of all kinds.
The Canadian Ergonomists Association was founded in 1968. It was originally named the Canadian Human Factors Association (HFAC). According to the mission statement 2017, the association brings together and promotes knowledge and skills in ergonomics and human factors to optimize human and organizational well-being. BZD in ergatic systems belongs to the sphere of interests of this organization.
Conclusion
Ergonomics was first discussed in Poland in the 19th century. Later this term was borrowed by the British, and in the middle of the last century in the foggy Albion the first scientific research institute of ergatic systems appeared. Now these systems exist around the world in various fields: in management, advanced pedagogy, cybernetics, design, etc. Ergonomics is called the science of the future, and the systems that it studies are gradually being introduced into all spheres of human life. Ergatic systems quietly become an integral part of our everyday life, and will soon become as familiar as the Internet. The mutual integration of psychology and management, the fusion of man and machine, the rationalization of labor and social processes - all this is largely the merit of systems associated with ergonomics.