[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 155 (Thursday, October 22, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





     IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HUMAN FACTORS RESEARCH

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                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 22, 2015

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an often-
overlooked field of research, but one that affects all of us in our 
daily lives--human factors.
   For over 50 years, the U.S. federal government has funded scientists 
and engineers to explore and better understand the relationship between 
people, technology, and the environment. Originally stemming from 
urgent needs to improve the performance of people using complex systems 
such as aircraft during World War II, the field of human factors works 
to develop safe, effective, and practical human use of technology, and 
the design of technology for effective human use, particularly in 
challenging settings. Prior to this, considerations of how people 
effectively and safely interacted with machines were not a priority, 
resulting in wasted economic output and efficiency, and more 
importantly, the avoidable loss of human life.
   Today, organizations like the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 
or HFES, which counts over 4,500 psychologists, scientists, engineers 
among its members, are devoted to creating safe and effective human 
interaction with technology in diverse fields such as transportation, 
military equipment, consumer products, energy systems, medical devices, 
manufacturing, farming, health, sports and recreation, and education.
   The group defines ``human factors'' as the scientific body of 
knowledge of how people use technology. It is applied at critical 
points of evaluation and assessment to the design and use of equipment, 
systems, facilities, procedures, jobs, environments, and training, 
leading to safe and efficient operation and implementation.
   For example, based on human factors expertise and research, the 
Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
found that implementing high-intensity activated crosswalks reduced 
total crashes by 29% and pedestrian-vehicle crashes by 69%. Also 
showing positive effects for pedestrian and bicycle safety were the 
implementation of shared-lane markings for bicycles and transverse 
markings for crosswalks as well as cars designed to reduce distracted 
driving.
   Organizations like HFES and its individual members help ensure that 
whether it's the latest model of an American-made car or the tools that 
equip our men and women in uniform, how we interact with technology is 
a critical component of its development. I support the increased use of 
human factors research in new technologies and hope our federal 
agencies like the Department of Transportation will continue to make 
use of these important results.

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