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Office Space, The 4 Categories of Ergonomics |
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Most individuals are unaware that there are actual categories of Ergonomics. The International Energy Agency (IEA) categorizes Ergonomics into four categories that exist in office spaces and the workplace. Each category is listed below, with their descriptions of the names as follows:
- Cognitive Ergonomics
- Macroergonomics
- Physical Ergonomics
- Organizational Ergonomics
Cognitive Ergonomics (also referred to as cognitive engineering concerns) focuses on mental processes such as attention, cognition, memory storage, motor control, retrieval, and perception based on the affects of the interaction between humans and elements within the environmental system. Complex, cognitive thought and knowledge-related facets performance within office space systems are focused on, whether performed by human or machine.
The primary goal of cognitive ergonomics is to improve cognitive tasks using different techniques such as:
- The designing of information and technology that is supportive of a variety of cognitive tasks
- The development of specific training programs
- Work that is redesigned to handle the cognitive workload while at the same time improving human reliability factors
Since the goal of psychological engineering is the understanding of the human mind as it relates to the design of office space systems, it is oftentimes associated with the concept of the subject matter. Topics that are considered as relative to the issue are:
- Decision making
- Human-computer interaction
- Human error
- Mental workload
- Skilled performance
- Training
- Vigilance
Macroergonomics concentrates on the issues considered to be sociotechnical systems within office spaces and the workplace, as well as the specific ways in which to optimize them. This includes various entities such as organizational structure, policies, processes, and spaces. The focus of macroergonomics is three-fold in that it analysis, design, and evaluation of the office space into consideration.
Since human activity and effort, including leisure and recreational pursuits are often equated with the term "work", the concept of macroergonomics is concerned with designing work systems that focus on knowledge, modules, skills, and tasks. Also, the design of equipment, hardware, and machinery should adhere and conform to the principles of macroergonomics.
Organizational Ergonomics focuses on organizing office space with the primary focus being on the way that things get laid out to maximize effectiveness and efficiency. The principles of this concept are applicable to most functions within the workplace, and the applications have been shown to reduce errors, frustrations, and stress while at the same time increasing effectiveness.
From something as trivial as organizing canned goods in a cabinet, to something as important as organizing one's desk in their office space, organizational ergonomics knows no bounds. The main focus of organizational ergonomics is the items used more frequently in an office space should be the easiest to find and the most accessible.
Physical Ergonomics is exactly what the name of the category implies. Simply stated this category deals with the way in which an individual's body responds to both physical and physiological periods stress as far as the long-term and short-term consequences. |
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