Understanding Systems Engineering: Designing with Human Emotions in Mind

Feb 25

This article will discuss systems engineering and its fundamental differences from design. Systems engineering is a multidisciplinary approach to a system's design, technical management, and operations. It originated from NASA and encompasses everything from hardware, equipment, facilities, personnel, processes, and procedures.

The Role of Systems Engineering in Design

Designing a system or a process requires a comprehensive approach that considers the human element. Systems engineering provides excellent tools like human-centered design and ergonomic design. For example, the ISO requirements for 11064 outline the design considerations for control centers. Similarly, other ISO standards deal with ergonomics and the study of how people can work effectively.

However, systems engineering falls short when designing for human emotions. A system that solves all technical problems may not consider the emotional states of the people who will interact with it.

Designing for Emotional States

When designing a system, it is crucial to consider the emotional states you want to evoke in users. For instance, in control rooms, the design should aim to create a calm and trustworthy environment. This approach differs from an engineering perspective, which focuses on providing users with all the necessary tools and making them easily accessible.

Human Factors in Control

Humans are susceptible to fatigue and decision-making problems, which can result in accidents. For instance, in the London Tubes, accidents occurred after they introduced automation and split tasks for the operators. The operator's role was to check that the system was safe to operate. They would check the screen that monitored the train and then press the button that said, "Okay train, you're clear to go." However, this repetitive task led to decision fatigue, and operators missed crucial details. As a result, accidents occurred.

To prevent decision fatigue, it is crucial to effectively design the workplace and system. The task split must be correct, and the design should account for emotional states and decision fatigue. While functional requirements are essential, it is equally important to consider the human element in the design.

The Intersection of Systems Engineering and Design

While systems engineering focuses on technical solutions, design approaches the system or process from the end-user perspective. This approach allows designers to consider emotional states and other human factors that systems engineering may overlook. When systems engineering and design come together, they create a comprehensive approach that considers both functional requirements and users' emotional states.

Conclusion

In conclusion, systems engineering provides a multidisciplinary approach to designing a system, process, or industry. However, it needs to improve when anticipating human emotions—design, on the other hand, centers on people and their emotional states. When designing a system or a process, it is essential to consider the emotional states you want to evoke in users. The design should create a calm, trustworthy environment while accounting for decision fatigue and other human factors. By doing so, we can ensure that the system we design is functional and user-friendly.

Reflections

In systems engineering, requirements are essential, and the human element may be overlooked. However, when systems engineering and design come together, they create a comprehensive approach that considers both functional requirements and users' emotional states. Design practices center on empathy with the users and stakeholders, considering human factors that systems engineering may miss, ensuring that the system or process created is both functional and user-friendly.

As I reflect on my experience in the field, I realize the importance of considering human emotions in the design of a system. Creating a system that meets all technical requirements but fails to evoke the desired emotional state in users may lead to reduced adoption rates and user satisfaction. Taking a holistic approach that accounts for technical requirements and human emotions is crucial.

Have you ever thought about the emotional states of the people who will interact with the system or process? This is where design comes in.

Design focuses on people and the emotions they experience when using a system, process, or workspace. While systems engineering is excellent for providing tools relating to ergonomic design, it needs to improve when it comes to designing for human emotions, considering the possible feelings of the operators, stakeholders, and end-users involved.

For example, the design of a control room under systems engineering includes considerations like the concept of operations, task flow analysis, ergonomic requirements, and human factors requirements for the mitigation of accidents. However, design processes take it a step further by considering the emotional states of the operators, such as the need to feel calm and trust their situational awareness.

Calmness and trust are not easy requirements to test for, but they are essential qualifiers that can be improved in a circular design process. It's crucial to consider the technical specifications of a system or process and the emotional states of the people involved. By doing so, we can ensure that the system we design is functional and user-friendly.