What to expect from task models in prospective ergonomics ? A theoretical review

Task models are a commonly used tool in Human Factors/Ergonomics (HFE), whether when redesigning an existing system or designing an entirely new system. In recent years, the pressure for HFE professionals to gain a foothold in defining companies' innovation strategies has led to the emergence of a new and distinct form of ergonomic intervention, prospective ergonomics, which attempts to anticipate the future usefulness of innovative technologies to guide design efforts towards relevant projects. There is currently a strong need for tools to support this new form of intervention, and also for theoretical work to clarify its connections and distinctive features with respect to corrective and design ergonomics. In this paper, we describe how this shift in focus has led to a shift in what we might-or should-expect from task models. Even though these models remain hypothetical, they may serve as a basis for stakeholders at the fuzzy front-end of innovation to clarify potential design concepts in terms of their expected value to users. We illustrate our findings with a case study in the French military sector.