The History Of Ergonomics And Why It Is Of Particular Importance Today

Though ergonomics is a science that we mostly associate with the modern work place, it is something that has been around since ancient times.

There is evidence so to support the fact that the ancient Greeks were mindful of ergonomic principles and that their tools, and work places were in keeping with those.

For instance, Hippocrates wrote about how the work area of a surgeon and his tools should be arranged. Even the ancient Egyptians were aware of ergonomic principles, as seen in the design of household equipment and tools of that time.

In the 20th century, experts began to make conscious effort to make the king of design alterations that could result in improved productivity and efficiency while cutting out superfluous actions and steps.

At the time of the World War II ergonomic principles were applied to machines and weaponry. For instance changes made in airplane cockpits that resulted in more logical control mechanisms were seen to greatly reduce pilot error.

And now in today’s information age when digital devices of all kinds are inextricably part of our lives, with daily interaction with computers being inevitable, ergonomics has come into its own.

Not only in the work place but also in the design of consumer goods, the principles of ergonomics are constantly being employed to make products more consumer friendly.