From life's first interactions with its environments, the adaptability of the organism has been a key to success.  The introduction of tools into the experiences of humans and other animals allowed for adaptability of the tools to the organism, thereby allowing greater control in interactions with the environment.  Tool improvements appear in archaeological evidence of even pre-humans, indicating design change to increase ease of use of the tools themselves and ease of accomplishment of tasks (Christensen, 1987).

As tools became more complex and more critical to how humans approached survival and success, suitability of design increased in significance as well.  With the advent of the industrial revolution came the science of ergonomics.

The History

• Early Foundations<
• From Ergonomics to Usability<
• Origins of Usability in Computing<
• Fields and Founders<
• Organizations and Publications<
• Usability as a Discipline, Practice, Profession<
• Relationships with other Disciplines<

Next: The Early Foundations<

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