Cognitive ergonomics
Design information and decisions around how people actually think.
Cognitive ergonomics examines the mental demands created by information, interfaces, procedures, interruptions, time pressure, monitoring and decisions. It is especially important when work is complex, safety-critical or technology-mediated.
Discuss your project ↗
Where we add value
Challenges we help solve.
- Operators monitor multiple information sources or alarms.
- Decision-making is time-sensitive, ambiguous or interruption-heavy.
- Procedures are difficult to follow under real operating conditions.
- Fatigue, sustained attention or cognitive overload may affect reliable performance.
Consulting approach
Rigour that leads to better decisions.
Each engagement is scoped around the decision, operating context and consequence. We combine direct observation, appropriate HFE methods and senior professional judgement so recommendations are proportionate, defensible and practical to implement.
Analyse tasks, decisions, information flow, timing and critical points in the work.
Identify workload peaks, attention-switching, memory demands, alarm burden and error-likely situations.
Review information presentation, procedures, interfaces and escalation logic.
Develop and test design changes that support situation awareness and reliable action.
Client value
Clear direction for implementation.
- Cognitive task analysis and workload findings
- Information, display and alert recommendations
- Procedure and decision-support improvements
- Fatigue and monitoring considerations
- Human-performance requirements for design teams
Context-specific delivery
International HFE, applied to the realities of your operation.
Human Factors & Ergonomics is most effective when it reflects the people, technology, standards, culture and constraints of the actual work system. Our practice is based in Singapore, with engagements structured around the specific context of each client and project location.
WSH Council workplace ergonomics ↗ MOM WSH Risk Management ↗
Client questions
What organisations often ask.
What is cognitive ergonomics?
It focuses on mental processes such as perception, attention, memory, workload and decision-making as they interact with work systems.
Is cognitive ergonomics the same as UX?
They overlap, but cognitive ergonomics is broader. It can address procedures, alarms, workload, fatigue, decision-making and operational reliability in addition to interfaces.
Can you assess mental workload?
Yes. The method depends on the task and project objective and may combine task analysis, observation, interviews, workload measures and review of performance-influencing conditions.