The missions of the early space age--when a relatively few, very highly trained, physically fit male, pilot/astronauts operated for short times--will be supplemented in the future by missions where large numbers of nonpilot/astronaut men and women will work in orbit for long periods of time on research and industry-related tasks. The lengthening and changing complexity of space operations requires that the psychosocial, habitat design, food systems, and economic aspects of humans working in space be reviewed carefully. In this volume, an interdisciplinary group of experts addresses these aspects of space work and delineates avenues for future research.

The missions of the early space age--when a relatively few, very highly trained, physically fit male, pilot/astronauts operated for short times--will be supplemented in the future by missions where large numbers of nonpilot/astronaut men and women will work in orbit for long periods of time on research and industry-related tasks. The lengthening and changing complexity of space operations requires that the psychosocial, habitat design, food systems, and economic aspects of humans working in space be reviewed carefully. In this volume, an interdisciplinary group of experts addresses these aspects of space work and delineates avenues for future research.

Man's ability to live and perform useful work in space was demonstrated throughout the history of manned space flight. Current planning envisions a multi-functional space station. that would provide a base for the conduct of scientific experiments, manufacturing, satellite maintenance, large structure assembly, and the dispatch of vehicles to high Earth orbit and deep space missions. In deciding whether to allocate tasks to men or to machines, it is important to understand the capabilities and limitations of both. Man's unique abilities to respond to the unforeseen and to operate at a level of complexity exceeding any reasonable amount of previous planning distinguish him from present day machines. His limitations, however, include his inherent inability to survive without protection, his limited strength, and his propensity to make mistakes when performing repetitive and monotonous tasks. By contrast, an automated system can do routine and delicate tasks, exert force smoothly and precisely, store, and recall large amounts of data, and perform deductive reasoning while maintaining a relative insensitivity to the environment. The establishment of a permanent presence of man in space demands that man and machines be appropriately combined in space-borne systems. To achieve this optimal combination, research is needed in such diverse fields as artificial intelligence, robotics, behavioral psychology, economics, and human factors engineering.

In terms of simple and complex systems, it is a whole new world out there. At the initial publication of this book, fourteen years ago, the web was in its infancy, DVDs did not exist, cell phones were few and far between, and the information superhighway was just a blip upon the horizon. If you used the terms "social engineering," you were most likely a political scientist, and if you were "phishing" you might be listening to a rock band. The second edition of a bestseller, Human Factors in Simple and Complex Systems provides the necessary understanding of the breadth and depth of human factors issues that influence the design, implementation, and evaluation of products and systems. Emphasizing the close relationship between basic theory and application, the authors delineate a framework for the research process, present an integrated view of the current state of knowledge, and examine how these factors can be applied to system design. The new edition addresses such concepts as situation awareness and highlights topics of interest, with a special focus on computer applications and human-computer interaction. See what’s new in the Second Edition New topics, such as situational awareness, that capture the tremendous changes in human factors and ergonomics Tightly integrates basic research and application, strengthening the link between knowledge and practice Each chapter includes a separate box that discusses a topic of current interest related to human interaction with computers and recent technology Demonstrating a general approach to solving a broad range of system problems, the book provides coverage of the theoretical foundation on which the discipline of human factors is built. Structured around human information processing, it covers the full range of contemporary human factors and ergonomics, then shows you how to apply them.