The Intersection of AI and Human Factors: A Story of Error Prevention standard
By: Francois Aubin. The story of human factors engineering begins in 1949, with a pioneering researcher named Alphonse Chapanis. Tasked with investigating a troubling trend—the high number of accidents involving B-29 aircraft—Chapanis uncovered a critical insight that would forever change how we design systems. At the time, the United States alone experienced about 30 incidents per year, a staggering number that demanded urgent attention. Determined to uncover the root cause, Chapanis decided to observe pilots during takeoff and landing. What he discovered was both simple and profound. The Problem: Design Flaws Leading to Human Error During his observations, Chapanis noticed a critical design flaw: the landing gear and flap controls were placed side by side, with identical shapes. Both controls ...
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