Usability of Human Factors Research in Design Advice from Users of Science to Producers of Science

There exists a disconnect between users of the science of human factors, that is, designers and practitioners, and producers of the science, that is, human factors researchers. Research results are primarily disseminated by articles published in scientific, peer reviewed journals, that are often targeted to other scientists, not designers or practitioners. Human factors standards and guidelines are intended for designers and human factors practitioners, but finding and accessing standards relevant to specific design problems is difficult as well. We convened this panel in order to focus on designers’ needs for human factors data, standards, and guidelines, and to seek solutions to what appears to be a communication problem between human factors researchers and the users of their results.