Ergnoomika

Ergnoomika is a multidisciplinary field that studies the interaction between human cognition, behavior, and work systems, with the goal of designing tasks, tools, and environments that accommodate human capabilities while reducing risks and cognitive strain. Proponents describe it as a broader or differently focused counterpart to ergonomics or human factors, emphasizing mental processes such as attention, decision making, memory, and workload management as core design criteria.

Origins of the term are informal; in some contexts it is used interchangeably with ergonomics or cognitive engineering, while others treat it as an emergent specialization within human factors. The scope typically includes analysis of tasks, workflows, user interfaces, and organizational structures to optimize safety, productivity, and well-being.

Common methods combine qualitative fieldwork with quantitative modeling: cognitive task analysis, hierarchical task analysis, workload assessment, usability testing, and ergonomic simulations; physiological and neuroergonomic measures may be used to assess cognitive load. Case studies appear in manufacturing, healthcare, aviation, and software design.

Applications span product design, control room layout, hospital informatics, industrial automation, and software ecosystems. Education programs often reside in departments of industrial engineering, cognitive science, or human factors engineering. Researchers aim to bridge gaps between cognitive theory and practical design, addressing challenges such as cognitive load, fatigue, teamwork, decision support, and cross-cultural usability.

Critiques of ergnoomika point to terminology confusion and the difficulty of establishing universal standards across industries. Nevertheless, it remains a topic in multidisciplinary discussions on making work more usable, safe, and humane.