COGNITIVE

ERGONOMICS
University of Cebu | Ergonomics 2
Cognitive Ergonomics
• It is concerned with mental processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning, and motor
response, as they affect interactions among humans and other elements of a system
(International Ergonomics Association).
• It is interested in what goes in our brains:
• The way our senses perceive information
• The way in which we understand and interpret it
• What determines the decisions we make

Focuses on the fit between human cognitive abilities and

limitations and the machine, task, environment to optimize
human well-being and operator performance.

University of Cebu | Ergonomics 2

University of Cebu | Ergonomics 2
University of Cebu | Ergonomics 2
Need of Cognitive Ergonomics
The way people perceive and act has direct implications on the design of the objects and
environment that they use.

Mind is as comfortable at work as the body.

If physical surroundings reflect and support their natural cognitive tendencies,

➢ Less errors
➢ Performance & productive boost

University of Cebu | Ergonomics 2

 Human-Machine System

University of Cebu | Ergonomics 2

Models of Cognitive Ergonomics

Usefulness Usability Acceptance

Focused on the practical The degree to which a product The action or process of being
benefits of an object or service. or service is easy to use, easy received as adequate or
to learn, and optimized for suitable.
efficiency.

University of Cebu | Ergonomics 1

Human Information Processing Model

University of Cebu | Ergonomics 2

Memory
• Memory is built and retrieved in three different ways:
• Recall
• Recognition
• Relearning

How are information forgotten?

1. We forget to encode it.
2. We fail to retrieve it.
3. Memory suffers storage decay.

University of Cebu | Ergonomics 1

Tricks to build healthy memory
• Mnemonics
• Memory aids especially those techniques that uses vivid imagery and organizational device
• Chunking
• Organizing information into familiar, manageable unit; often occurs automatically.
• These techniques help you to encode explicit memory but how we retain depends on how deeply the
information has penetrated through different levels of processing.
• Shallow Processing
• Encoding information on basic auditory or visual levels, based on sound, structure or appearance of
word.
• Deep processing
• Encodes semantically based on actual meaning associated with word connection to something
meaningful such as some personal or emotional experience.

University of Cebu | Ergonomics 1