HFTAC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is "human factors?"

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society calls the field "the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of systems and devices of all kinds."  Human factors scientists and engineers study "the assignment of appropriate functions for humans and machines" and work to "achieve compatibility in the design of interactive systems of people, machines, and environments to ensure their effectiveness, safety, and ease of performance."

In the Human Factors Team-Atlantic City (HFTAC), we are called "engineering research psychologists," though our profession is known by many names, including engineering psychology, human-computer interaction, user-centered design, usability engineering, cognitive ergonomics, and information architecture.

2. What is the typical background for a human factors professional?

Human factors is multidisciplinary, drawing heavily on psychology, industrial engineering, and computer science.  Others working in human factors have backgrounds in biomechanics, workplace safety and health, information and library science, cognitive science, software engineering, graphic design, education, sociology, and management.  These divergent fields are brought together by their interest in improving human endeavor by designing effective equipment and processes.

3.  How can I obtain assistance from the HFTAC regarding my program or project?

Our work is coordinated by the HFTAC manager, Dr. Earl Stein, and the Human Factors Research and Engineering Group at FAA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

4.  How can I obtain reports, standards, or other human factors-related documents?

Our Products & Publications page contains all our published reports since the early 1980s. Unpublished reports can be obtained by contacting the author, the program lead, or the group manager.

5. What other organizations do human factors research and development related to air traffic control or FAA technical operations?

• FAA Human Factors Research and Engineering Group
• Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) Human Resources Research
• DOT Volpe Center Operator Performance and
  Safety Analysis Division
• NASA-Ames Human Factors Research & Technology Division
• EuroControl Experimental Centre

6.  What is the best color to use for...?

Color is an extremely complex human factors issue.  Finding the best colors for a particular application requires careful analysis of the task, the equipment, and the environment.  We encourage you to examine the Human Factors Design Standard, particularly Chapter 8, and to consult with a human factors professional. Some important factors to consider are:

• Readability & Legibility: Is this color sufficiently different from its background so that users can easily read or interpret the information?
• Confusability & Discriminability: Is this color sufficiently different from other colors used in the system such that users are unlikely to mistake one color for another?
• Nameability: Does this color correspond to people's expectation for that color?  For example, is the selected red color truly red or would some people call it "reddish orange" or "dark pink" ?
• Consistency: Does the selected color always mean the same thing?  If a color is given more than one meaning, what might happen if a user assigns the wrong meaning to the color when it appears? 
• Redundancy: Is the information provided by the color coding also provided by some other means?  This is to mitigate situational, environmental, or user factors that may make the color information difficult to use.
• Conventions: Red typically means "stop" or "failed" whereas green means "go" and "healthy."  Violating these and other established conventions is not recommended.

7.  What is the difference between usability and accessibility?

The word "usability" commonly refers to the process of making systems easy and effective to use by people in general.  The term "accessibility" commonly refers to making systems usable for people with disabilities.  Accessibility is mandated by law and federal regulation, such as the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and Section 508.  "Universality" or "internationalization" are related concepts referring to making systems usable by people of all ages or cultures.

8.  How do I make my website more usable?

There are many general guidelines and recommendations for improving website usability available online or from bookstores or libraries.  Some of this information has been consolidated and applied to FAA websites in the Web-Based Portal Computer-Human Interface Guidelines, written by Vicki Ahlstrom and Kenneth Allendoerfer from our group.