Doctor's degree Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors - Michigan Technological University

Doctor's degree Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors from Michigan Technological University is a Campus Ph.D Cognitive degree that prepares you for a Science career. Applied cognitive science addresses a diverse array of contemporary human phenomena, resulting in practical solutions for many real world problems. Through the application of cognitive psychology's principles, applied cognitive scientists investigate diverse topics such as effective modes for the delivery of instruction, eyewitness memory, artificial intelligence, and human factors considerations in the design of systems. Human Factors (HF) is the multi-disciplinary science within the purview of cognitive science that focuses on the needs of the human in the design of products, work processes, and technology systems in an effort to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. HF is concerned with the design and evaluation of technological systems from the perspectives of human needs, abilities, and limitations. HF professionals may examine human-machine interactions from cognitive , social, biological, physical, or other perspectives. From an Applied Cognitive Science perspective, Human Factors is involved in conducting research regarding human cognitive abilities and limitations with respect to the design, operation, or use of products or systems. It is a subfield of applied cognitive science that focuses upon human-machine interactions. Overall goals include optimizing human performance, health, safety, and/or habitability. Thus, the proposed program in Applied Cognitive Science and Human Factors will integrate the knowledge of human experts (psychology and cognitive science) and built systems experts (for example, technology and engineering). Human Factors is a critical area of research because of (a) human safety concerns, (b) market forces, and (c) environmental sustainability. Human operators are often critical contributors to lapses in overall system safety. Human errors, for example, have been attributed as the cause of up to 98,000 preventable patient deaths a year in US medical practice. Despite our desire for automated, faultless systems, our current technological knowledge is not capable of foolproof technological fixes to problems of human error. Substantial funding has been allocated to research on machine intelligence, pattern-recognition technologies, and expert systems, but there is only one alternative for many complex systems: human operators. Although they have limitations, humans are excellent pattern recognizers and, unlike current automated systems, are immensely flexible. HF is concerned with understanding human abilities and limitations, information critical to the prevention of human-related errors and the preservation of human life and well-being. Critical to understanding market forces, HF researchers are motivated to assess customer needs and desires in order to increase customer satisfaction by improving the usability of products. User-centered design is a widespread paradigm in information technology and consumer products. The success of a human factors perspective in improving customer satisfaction in these industries suggests wider application. Human Factors is not only important for human safety, well-being, and the economy, but it is also a critical component in forming a sustainable society. Many environmental disasters, such as the Exxon Valdez incident, are due to poor HF design, task design, and working conditions. Good HF design not only prevents human casualties, it also prevents environmental catastrophes. In addition, HF leads to better consumer products. Customers will discard poorly-designed products as they seek products they can actually use. Throwing away products because of poor user design is not a sustainable practice. Therefore, HF design is sustainable design. View more details on Michigan Technological University . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Cognitive courses.