Definitions: (1) having to do with the practical, industrial, or mechanical arts; (2) showing technique <a technical skill>; (3) concerned with the applied and computer sciences
Observation: The following table, “Man versus Machine,” is from Human Engineering Guide for Equipment Designers by Wesley E. Woodson and Donald W. Conover
MAN EXCELS IN:
• Detection of certain forms of very low energy levels
• Sensitivity to an extremely wide variety of stimuli
• Perceiving patterns and making generalizations about them
• Detecting signals in high noise levels
• Storing large amounts of information for long periods
• Recalling relevant facts at appropriate moments
• Ability to exercise judgment where events cannot be completely defined
• Improvising and adopting flexible procedures and alternate solutions
• Ability to react to unexpected low-probability events
• Inductive reasoning
• Ability to profit from experience and alter a course of action
• Ability to perform fine manipulation, especially where misalignment appears unexpectedly
• Ability to continue to perform even when overloaded
• Original problem solving
MACHINES EXCEL IN:
• Monitoring people and machines
• Performing routine, repetitive, or very precise operations
• Responding very quickly to control signals
• Exerting great force, smoothly and precisely
• Storing and recalling large amounts of information in short time periods
• Perform complex and rapid computation with high accuracy
• Sensitive to infrared, radio waves, et cetera, beyond the human range
• Able to do many different things at one time
• Deductive processes
• Insensitivity to extraneous factors
• Rapid, continuous, and/or precise repetition of operations the same way over a long period
• Operating in environments which are hostile or beyond human tolerance