The Human Factor: Revolutionizing the Way We Live with Technology

by Kim J. Vicente

Book by Kim Vicente

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Business, Psychology, Technology, Engineering, Textbooks

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Sergio · Rating 4 out of 5]

It really gets to the basics (and basis) of human-centered design

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vincente's premise that really there is no such thing as human error only human behaviour is a refreshing way to think of problems across systems, urban planning, user interface and user experiences. His insightful examples range from airplanes to nuclear power plants. Yet, his last example about a water processing plant mishap that led to death and many illnesses doesn't entirely sell the philosophy. He makes the case that presumptions and actions from provincial to municipal government agencies to the facility level combined to create the tragedy of a poisoned water source but like a mini-Chernobyl, not even a clever system of design could stop a couple of idiots being idiots.

This is a well written introduction to the ideas of usability full of illustrative and instructive examples.

[David Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - especially the focus on how tech interacts with different levels of organizational design and horizontal / vertical processes and the importance to adopting an overall system / project perspective.

[Jaskaran Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended by one Professor friend and it worth all the time I spent reading it. Human-tech is the term that is coined by Prof Kim Vicente. Books like this should be required reading in the first year of engineering. One particular thing that I liked about Kim is his emphasis on environment for designing products. The last chapter is the best one which summarises the book ideas well and has advice on how we can look at technology.
I am rating it 5 stars because I never lost interest in the book and it always kept me in the flow state. This book does not get boring or repetitive at any point.

[Theresa Liao · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like where the book was taking us at the very beginning, but in the end it felt too idealistic. Unfortunately human-tech is not the only thing we need to consider when making decisions - what if the company that produces human-tech products also generate terrible pollutions? Or, that the country will need to sacrifice money needed for health care in order the purchase slightly more expensive human-tech products? I think this books has a point, but don't think it breaks out of its box to suggest creative solutions. Great idea, but not sure if it really goes anywhere.

[Nathanael Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed The Human Factor. Well written, engaging, lots of interesting case studies, evidence and frameworks for approaching human-tech design at different levels from physical interfaces and people up to the political domain of policy and regulation and the cascading effect of system design decisions.

[Patriciapayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read about how engineering often ignores the human interaction with technology. It provides vivid examples where human computer interaction has caused death such as nuclear power plant accidents, drugs administered incorrectly, airplane accidents, and ecoli in a local water supply. It also proposes solutions to these issues.

[Hannah Odia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was I forced to read this for class? Yes. But it was dense and interesting and im still counting it.

[Celeste Thayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book - lots of examples. I enjoyed it right up to the last chapter, where it got a bit pushy about the Human-tech revolution, and I just skipped that chapter. I'd read it again (still skipping the last chapter, though.)

[Damien Leri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stories of critical systems, how humans can still make mistakes and how technology can help.

[Cameron Norman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good anecdotes and stories. I liked it, just something didn't draw me in as I would have thought.

[Bernie May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Human error or design error? How design affects our lives, and how we blame ourselves for designing bad systems. Read this, then read "The Checklist Manifesto"

[Yana Mtl]

great book.