Ergonomics and technology transfer

Abstract

There is a mad rush to introduce modern technology all over the world and more so in Developing Countries (DC). Exhaustive studies on the harmful effects of haphazard technology transfer have put emphasis to consider human factors in all stages of a transfer process. There seems to be some concealed human factors overlooked and still seem to be unknown to the transferor of technology. In DC low incomes is a major problem that has afflicted the majority of the working population, which has worsened the quality of working life. The frequent failures in energy supplies, overflowing commuters in public transport and the hot and humid environments have all contributed to sudden breakdowns of the infrastructure. The consequent losses to already poor economies in DC are enormous. The lack of basic educational facilities, pecularities in some religious and cultural norms, absence of the dignity of labour and widely practiced bribery and corruption are some social maladies which the transferors of technology have so far failed to grasp. A technology has a better chance of success only if the transferor has a comprehensive knowledge of the actual conditions of the technology receiver. The science of ergonomics is still in its infancy in DC. Even the few ergonomists in DC today have to depend for this specialization on the Industrialized Countries (IC), as bulk of the ergonomics education, knowhow, literature and techniques are still mainly available in the West. Due to the great variabilities that exist in the environment and people, viz. climates, body sizes, physical strengths, cognitive capacities, working habits, working group dynamics, religious and other customs, etc., between different countries, the priorities of ergonomics disciplines applicable to each country can also differ. As a result of these wide