Building Sustainable Human-Centered Systems: A Grand Challenge For The Human Factors And Ergonomics Discipline In The Conceptual Age

As discussed by National Academy of Engineering (NAE) (2004), technology is both a product and a process involving both science and engineering. Engineering, which seeks to shape the natural world to meet human needs and wants, is a body of knowledge of design and creation of human-made products and a process for solving problems (Wulf 1998). While there has been a relatively weak relationship between scientific advances and technology until the time of the Second Industrial Revolution, today the science, engineering, and technology are making significant contributions to global economic prosperity. For example, it is estimated that about 30–60 % of gross domestic product (GDP) in United States comes from 20–65 % return on investment in science, engineering and technology. According to L. Creighton (2001) of the American Society of Engineering Education, contemporary society is becoming more technologically challenged and more environmentally sophisticated and industry leaders have to stay current in what is happening on all of those levels. In the not too distant future, the convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology will most likely impact every facet of society including medicine, health care, computer, information, communication, environment, and the economy, which will only increase the above outlook (National Research Council 2002; Roco and Bainbridge 2003; Sequeira et al. 2006). According to Henry T. Yang, Chancellor, University of California Santa Barbara, “Nanotechnology will mandate a highly multidisciplinary approach in education and research, cutting across the boundaries of chemistry, biology, physics, materials, and all aspects of engineering”