Ergonomics is a derivative of the Greek words “ergon,” or work, and “nomos,” meaning laws. While the term work has been traditionally associated with occupation, a broader sense of the term can be applied to any unplanned activity requiring skill or effort. In 2000, the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) defined ergonomics or human factors as: “The scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.” In design, ergonomics attempts to achieve an optimal relationship between humans and machines in a particular environment. The goal of ergonomics, according to Tayyari and Smith, is to “fit (adapt) work to individuals, as opposed to fitting individuals to the work.”
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(2009). Ergonomics. In: Li, S.Z., Jain, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Biometrics. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73003-5_312
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