The need for trained Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) professionals has increased remarkably over the last few years. The skill sets these professionals need to have vary by industry and changes over time. However, current employers of HF/E new-hires have repeatedly indicated that students are not getting sufficient training and preparation for their positions. This panel will present a case study of how a newly developed program integrated the needs of industry into the academic requirements of the program. Further, the question and discussion part of the panel session will focus on developing a guideline for other programs to utilize to integrate the needs of industry into their academic programs.
The most daunting question of any graduate student may be the decision to pursue an academic or industry career path. Considering the capabilities of a HF/E graduates, both options can provide a very fulfilling career. However, making this decision can have lifelong ramifications resulting in potential anxiety. This discussion panel is aimed at assisting those currently embedded in this decision. Interactive discussions will include what is expected of recent graduates in these careers paths, how one tailors their graduate careers, and how one might determine best career fit.
PANEL FORMATThe structure of this interactive discussion will be that of an informative Q&A session rather than traditional panel presentations. This session will begin with moderated questions aimed at briefly describing the industry and academic environments, how panelists identified their own career paths, and based on their experiences, how individuals can best prepare themselves for the current job market. The majority of time will be reserved for an active debate in response to audience questions. Energetic and dynamic conversations are encouraged as these panelists provide a wide scope of experiences including differing academic institution types, different industry types, career lengths, as well as differing HF/E fields.
The use of computers in the workplace is now commonplace. Correspondingly, injuries associated with computer use have increased. However, little research has been done investigating whether these injuries are associated with the software being used. One reason is the difficulty in measuring muscle strain (a predictor of muscle related injuries). Here we present preliminary results of study on the relationship between objective and subjective measures of muscle strain during computer use. As users completed sets of tasks using MSWord ® , SEMG muscle activity was recorded for the muscles associated with using a keyboard and mouse. After each task set, users completed surveys asking the level of strain they experienced during the tasks. Correlations between the measures suggest that subjective measures can provide reliable information regarding the muscle strain associated with software use. These easily obtained subjective measurements could assist in producing software interaction designs that are better for users.
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