Most folks are not aware that ergonomics was an engineering strategy of the United States military in World War II. As war planes gained a more important role in warfare, the U.S. government realized that with the hefty investment it was making in the planes, it was critical to reduce pilot error resulting from poorly designed cockpits. The government interviewed pilots about their flight experiences after they landed. They then leveraged ergonomics to re-engineer confusing instrument panels and cockpit arrangements that might lead to accelerated pilot fatigue, rendering the pilots less effective in their missions. Soon, ergonomics was integrated into all military equipment and, eventually, American industry.
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