The irruption of new technologies: a new challenge for ergonomics and anthropotechnology

The irruption of New Technologies in South-East Asia has dreadful social effects such as unemployment and the rejection of former worker skills, but is also an opportunity to show that ergonomics has resources which have been neglected so far in this part of the world. The outstanding feature of these resources, which are vital for the successful transfer of these New Technologies, is that they are both technically and economically indispensable. Although the well-being, health and safety of workers may be sadly overlooked without drastic economic effects, this is not the case when using New Technologies, since costly mistakes may arise if the operators are unable to use computerized systems properly. Cognitive ergonomics associated with situated cognition may then make a great contribution. Since New Technologies are generally imported from Europe, the United States or Japan, they include special features which originate from these industrialized societies. Thanks to Ergonomic Work Analysis, we can discover the difficulties encountered in the importing country and find solutions based on anthropotechnology concepts, methodologies and knowledge.