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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY ?

OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC?

MEMORANDUM

S.g3-3

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To: ?

Senate

From: ?

J.M. Munro, Chair, SCAP

Date: ?

November 9, 1993

Subject: ?

SCAP 93-33 -/Human Factors and Interface Technology Institute

SCAP considered the recommendation of the Centres and Institutes Governing

Committee which forwarded the application for the establishment of the Human

Factors and Interface Technology Institute.

SCAP recommends that

"Senate approve and reçpmmed to the Board of Governors the

establishment of thi-iuman k'actors and Interface Technology -hvWrtata as

outlined in the attachment S 93-63"

A, A"

A. Watt

B. Clayman

SCAP 93 - •33

S ?

MEMORANDUM

OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT, RESEARCH

TO: Alison Watt

FROM: Dr. Bruce P. Clayman

Secretary, Senate Committee

Vice President, Research

on Academic Planning (SCAP)

(Acting)

RE: Human Factors and Interface

DATE. 15 October 1993

Technology Institute (FIFIT)

—new Centre approval—

I attach a proposal from Dr. Ron Marteniuk, Dean, Faculty of Applied

- — -- SciencesTforthefornatio

the Human Fidors and Interface Technology

Institute.

The Governing Committee for Centres and Institutes recommends that the

Institute be granted approval by SCAP at its meeting on November 3, 1993. Once

approved by SCAP the proposal is to be forwarded to the next meeting of Senate,

followed by asubmissionto the Board of Governors.

5 ?

Governing Committee:

Dr. Bruce P. Clayman

Vice President, Research

(Acting)

UAJ'sO

Dr. J hn M. Munro

Vice President, Academic

MEMORANDUM

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

DATE:

September 30, 1993

TO: ?

Jock Munro, Vice-President Academic

and

Bruce Clayman, Vice-President Research

FROM:

Ron Marteniuk, Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences

RE: ?

Proposal for the Establishment of a Human Factors and Interface Technology Institute (HFIT)t

The attached proposal represents the effort of several faculty at SFU and presents the necessary details, called

for by SFU Policy R40.01, for the establishment of HFIT.

I approve this proposal and send it to you for consideration.

Ron Marteniuk, Dean

RM/lc

Enclosure

cc: T. Calvert, Director, Research and Computing, Faculty of Applied Sciences

D. Weeks

VICE

RECEIVS1

CT-4.

FESEARCH

Memo

To: ?

R. Marteniuk; Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences

From: ?

Daniel J. Weeks, School of Kinesiology

Date: ?

September 20, 1993

Subject: - Human Factors and Interface Technology Institute (HFIT)

In accord with Simon Fraser University policies and procedures for Centres and Institutes, a proposal for a

Human Factors and Interface Technology Institute is attached for your review and consideration. A draft

was circulated in the School of Kinesiology and strong support was obtained from the faculty.

CC: Tom Calvert; Director of Research and Computing, Faculty of Applied Sciences

PROPOSAL FOR A HUMAN FACTORS AND INTERFACE

TECHNOLOGY (HFIT)

INSTITUTE

The proposed Institute will stimulate, encourage, and enhance human factors and interface

technology research, by providing a focus and resource base, for collaborative and

multidisciplinary research that will promote technological transfer to a wide array of

applications.

HFIT will be a schedule A centre. The administrative officer will be the Dean of Applied

Sciences.

The Director of the

HFIT, nominated, elected, and recommended by members of the HFIT

- -

- - - thiöuh the Déin of Applied Sciences, will be a full time employee of Simon Fraser

University, appointed by the President, upon recommendation of the Governing

Committee for Centres. The term of the Director shall be for three (3) years, renewable.

The Director shall submit an annual report on

all

HFIT activities, and a financial statement

showing all revenues and expenditures; for the twelve (12) months ending March 31 each

year, no later than June 30 of each year.

•

}{FIT will

act in accordance with all university policies, and in a manner consistent with

the goals and objectives of Simon Fraser University.

Membership shall be by application to the Director, and a majority vote of the

membership, subject to appeal (for Simon Fraser University personnel only) to the

Administrative Officer, whose decision shall be final.

Membership shall be for a three (3) year term, renewable at the discretion of the Director,

subject to appeal (for Simon Fraser University personnel only) to the Administrative

Officer, whose decision shall be final.

An Advisory Board representing a cross section of individuals from university

administration, research, industry, government, and appropriate interest groups, will be

assembled to provide guidance to

HFIT.

PROPOSAL FOR A HUMAN FACTORS AND INTERFACE

TECHNOLOGY (}{FIT)

INSTITUTE

Introduction

Human Factors considers people to be at the centre of any situation. For example, the

design of human-computer interfaces, the redesign of a work area, or the development of

new products, all require human factors input to ensure that the situation systematically

considers the physical, psychological and social characteristics of people.

It is this systematic, human-centered approach that allows human factors to provide a

competitive edge in a tight economic environment.

Objectives

Consistent with the goals and objectives of Simon Fraser University, the specific

objectives of BEFIT are:

To coordinate existing human factors research at Simon Fraser University and to

provide a focal point for human factors researchers in different disciplines.

To establish a high-profile facility for human factors and interface technology at Simon

Fraser University.

To create a network for research and development within British Columbia, Canada,

and internationally, and to promote co-operation with major institutions, organizations,

and industries.

To promote the development of future personnel in research and development, with

expertise in human factors.

To promote the dissemination of knowledge in the community through consulting

services, seminars, workshops, and lectures.

Organizational Structure

Terms of Reference

Membership

Adminstrative Officer

Under Simon Fraser University policy for Centres and Institutes, HFIT will be a Schedule

A centre with the Dean of Applied Sciences as the Administrative Officer.

Director

The Director is a full-time employee of Simon Fraser University, recommended by the

Administrative Officer. The Dean of Applied Sciences will use Simon Fraser University

policy A13.01 as a guide in identifying a person to be recommended as Director. The

principle in appointing a Director will be that the recommended person will be nominated

and elected by members of the Institute, through the Dean of Applied Science, to the

Governing Committee for Centres.

The Director's term will be three years, renewable.

The Director approves all contracts to be undertaken in the name of the Institute, in

conjunction with the Administrative Officer.

The Director submits an annual report on HFIT activities, including a financial statement,

to the Administrative Officer for the 12 months ending March 31, no later than June 30.

At least twice a year, the Director calls a meeting of the membership to discuss policy and

direction of the Institute, and any other concerns of general import.

3. Members

Membership shall be by application to the Director, and a majority vote of the

membership, subject to appeal (for Simon Fraser University personnel only) to the

Administrative Officer, whose decision shall be final.

Membership shall be for a three (3) year term, renewable at the discretion of the Director,

subject to appeal (for Simon Fraser University personnel only) to the Administrative

Officer, whose decision shall be final.

The Institute shall encourage the widest possible membership of qualified researchers, to

promote the application of human factors and interface technology in as many fields and

domains as possible, and to encourage the cross-fertilization of ideas.

Any member may withdraw from the Institute by delivering a written letter of resignation

to the HFIT Director.

4. Advisor

Board

The members of the Advisory Board represent a cross section of university administration,

research, industry, and government personnel assembled to provide guidance to the

Institute.

The primary task of the Advisory Board is to help HFIT grow in size and scope, while

remaining committed to its mission.

All Advisory Board meetings are open, and HFIT members are encouraged to attend.

Advisory Board membership shall consist

the Adminstrative Officer, the HFIT

Director, two corporate members, two external researchers, one provincial government

representative, and one federal government representative. In addition, others that are

deemed capable of making an exceptional contribution to the activities of the Board may

be included. For example, representatives from private societies concerned with the aged

or persons with disabilities.

Invitations for membership are issued at the sole discretion of the HFIT Director, except

for those positions specifically designated for Simon Fraser University personnel.

Membership is for a three (3) year renewable term.

The Advisory Board bears no legal responsibility for the actions of the Institute, and

exercises no direct control over the actions of the Director, Institute members, or staff.

Membership

The charter members of HFIT are listed below. Expansion of the membership through

joint research with colleagues at other institutions and research specialties is a high

Dr. Christine MacKenzie

Kinesiology

Dr. Ronald Marteniuk ?

- Kinesiology - - - - - - -

Affiliations

In order for HFIT to endure it must promote a defining characteristic not met by other

institutions. Since collaboration is a primary goal of HFIT, affiliations with other

institutions will be sought, where such affiliation brings contact with exceptional research.

Preliminary enquiries have been made and interest is evident. Thus, the defining

characteristic will be an overall strategy to use I{FIT as a catalyst in establishing a de facto

centre of excellence in human factors based at Simon Fraser.

The Environment

A decade ago it would have been difficult to find many people outside of the human

factors profession who could tell you what human factors or ergonomics was. However,

today things are quite different. Human factors and ergonomics are frequently in the

news. The current interest in human factors arises from the fact that technological

developments have focused attention on the need to consider the human in such

developments. Most notably,the incident at the Three-Mile Island nuclear power station

highlighted the human factors deficiencies of the control room. Similarly, a common

marketing strategy for new products such as automobiles and computers is to advertize

their ergonomic features.

There is an active and growing concern for human factors and ergonomics-related

research at Simon Fraser University. Current faculty research projects include,

examination of human work in extreme environmental conditions, the cognitive

components of human- machine interactions, the design and use of peripheral devices in

human-computer interactions, and protocol analyses of controller operations in large-scale

industrial control environments, among others. As well, a number of faculty benefit from

the presence of MPR Teltech on the SFU campus by engaging in collaborative and

contract research. In addition to these research activities, the academic presence of human

factors at SFU will soon be formalized by the inclusion of an undergraduate human factors

stream in the School of Kinesiology. Thus, establishing the HFIT Institute at this time will

provide a focal point around which the continued development of human factors research

and teaching at Simon Fraser University can be ensured.

HFIT will enter into an environment of growth and interest in the need for human factors

and ergonomics expertise in a wide range of human-machine systems and work

environments. With respect to human-machine interactions, the ease/dis-ease with which

we can effectively and efficiently learn and use information technology products and

services often reveals a large gap between the currently available technology, and its

understandability, usability, and accessibility by the end users. Individuals experience

difficulties, frustration, and disillusionment as they proceed with their daily activities, e.g.,

using an automatic banking machine from an unfamiliar bank, making menu selections on a

telephone or screen for a novel or first-time use, using available hardware and software to

accomplish daily tasks. Put simply, more human factors considerations of usability are

needed in evaluating, designing and developing user interfaces for effective human-

machine interaction.

With the emphasis on computer technology and the cognitive aspects of work it is easy to

forget that human work activities still often require physical effort. Various occupations

and work environments require workers to engage in demanding physical activity. As a

result back injuries resulting from overexertion account for about

25%

of all occupational

injuries. Interestingly, such injury is not restricted to occupations requiring intense

physical labour. For example, the incidence of back injury among nurses is higher than

most other occupational groups. It is unlikely that all physical labour can be eliminated

and physical work will continue to be a part of the working environment. However, the

risk to which workers may be exposed can be reduced through the application of sound

human factors principles. Thus, an important component of HFIT will be to address the

strength and endurance characteristics of humans as they expend energy to perform work.

Despite the widespread acknowledgement of the importance of human factors expertise, a

fill understanding of the potential of human factors is lacking. Ideally there should be

•

two-way communications between universities and industries in planning for technology

research and development. The industrial "pull" model of technology transfer suggests

that, based on market needs, the desired technology should be developed in collaborations

between university researchers and industry. This is preferable to a technology "push"

model whereby university researchers develop research programs and technology, and

technology transfer occurs through traditional University/Industry Liaison offices, only to

find a lack of fit with market needs from the industry's perspective. Consequently, the

BEFIT Institute will provide an environment in which industrial/academic interactions will

promote effective technology transfer.

The Market

The Information Technology industry makes a significant contribution to-British-

-- - ?

-Columbia's êcöo. Estithates for early 1993 indicate that the industry in BC generates

$1.8 to $2.3 billion in gross annual sales and employs 30,000 to 35,000 people. These

figures include the subsidiaries of BC Tel, but not BC Telephone itself. In addition, BC

Tel, through its provision of telecommunication services, generates $1.7 billion in annual

gross revenues and employs 13,000 people. The products include communications,

electronics, computer hardware and computer software. The products and services

provided by these industries touch the lives of every individual living in BC (of

all

ages,

demographic groups and occupations). The primary focus of the Institute will be to

understand the characteristics associated with the human user of these products and

services.

With the growth of the Information Technology industry in BC and the increased

development of interactive computer systems and user interfaces in communications,

transportation, entertainment, business, and household activities, highlighting human

factors considerations could create a competitive advantage for the BC information

technology industry both in the area of user interface technology and technology products

in general. Applications developers who apply human factors principles and processes,

including usability testing, are producing exciting interactive systems. Conversely, those

who do not quickly find out that "not meeting customer needs" is one of the top three

reasons for new product failure. Further, the United States, Western Europe and the

Pacific Rim are the primary export markets of the BC Information Technology industry.

Consequently, as BEFIT evolves, the probability increases for bringing in industrial partners

from outside the province to join with industrial and academic partners within BC. For

example, based on past interactions between SFU/BC Trade, it appears that a number of

Korean companies (e.g. Samsung, Korean Automobile Technology Center) may be

interested in including human factors considerations in the design of their products and

services.

Other developments should also increase the demand for human factors and ergonomic ?

I ?

expertise. Federal and provincial regulations for ergonomic standards are beginning to

emerge. In 1988 the U.S. Congress passed a law requiring the FAA to expand its human

factors research program to improve aviation safety. Further two growing markets for

human factors and ergonomic expertise include the design of medical devices and products

and services for the older adult. The United States National Research Council estimates

that the demand for human factors specialist will exceed the supply into the year 2000.

Budget

The Institute initially requires only a modest start-up budget to cover some publicity and

administrative costs, since research activities will utilize existing facilities, personnel, and

funding. Initial support will be provided by the CSS office. All subsequent funding for

IHFIT, which is incremental to existing levels of support, should come from sources

external to Simon Fraser University; the exception being the normal internal applications

for funding to which all personnel, groups of personnel, and institutes are entitled.