The Human Factor investigates every level of human activity - from simple matters such as our hand-eye coordination to complex human systems such as government regulatory agencies, and why businesses would benefit from making consumer goods easier to use.

Kim Vicente was Hunsaker Distinguished Visiting Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT from 2002 to 2003. In 1999 he was chosen by TIME magazine as one of 25 Canadians under the age of 40 as a "Leader for the twenty-first Century who will shape Canada's future." In 2003 he won one of six Steacie Fellowships - a top Canadian science and engineering honour from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. He lectures widely around the world and has acted as consultant to, amongst others, NASA, NATO, the US Air Force, the US Navy, Microsoft Corporation and Nortel Networks. Based in Toronto, he is also a professor of engineering at the University of Toronto.

Preface; Part 1 Part One TECHNOLOGY WREAKING HAVOC; Chapter 1 A Threat to Our Quality of Life: Technology Beyond Our Control; Chapter 2 Why Is Technology So Out of Control? Walking Around Half-Blind; Part 2 Part Tow TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMANS; Chapter 3 Let's Get Physical: Fitting the Design to the Body; Chapter 4 Minding the Mind I: Everyday Psychology; Chapter 5 Minding the Mind II: Safety-Critical Psychology; Chapter 6 Staying on the Same Page: Choreographing Team Coordination; Chapter 7 Management Matters: Building Learning Organizations; Chapter 8 Political Imperatives I: Technology for Better or for Worse?; Chapter 9 Political Imperatives II: Safeguarding the Public Interest; Part 3 Part Three REGAINING CONTROL OF OUR LIVES; Chapter 10 The Way Forward: Not by Widgets Alone; Acknowledgments; Notes; Index;