special interest groups

ARASIG (Anthropometry Resource Australia Special Interest Group)

ARASIG is a new SIG of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society of Australia. The group already has over 45 members and the Committee had its first meeting in February 2008.

ARASIG is for anyone interested in the collection, analysis or application of anthropometric data. The main aims of the group are to:

Gain access to international anthropometric databases and application tools for HFESA and ARASIG members. Research and data from the World International Anthropometry Resource (WEAR) are of particular interest.
Facilitate exchange of information, tools and techniques among ARASIG members.
Make connections between HFESA and other organisations with an interest in applied anthropometry

Priorities established by the committee for 2008 are:

Establish an ARASIG web page
Report information to members about the WEAR project (Committee member Daisy Veitch is a member of WEAR)
Plan an anthropometry stream and ARASIG meeting in the HFESA 2008 Conference program (in Adelaide, 17-19 November). Please submit your abstract for a paper or ideas for a workshop/seminar/forum!! Look for details of the conference at the HFESA conference website: www.hfesaconference.org.au.
Publish information about ARASIG members and projects in the HFESA newsletter, Ergonomics Australia and the aus_erg listserv.

Committee members:
Stephen Ward (Chairperson)
Daisy Veitch
Verna Blewett
Contact us at: arasig@ergonomics.org.au

Please contact Pauline Pertel at the HFESA Secretariat if you would like to join ARASIG: secretariat@ergonomics.org.au

CHISIG (Computer Human Interaction Special Interest Group)

CHISIG is concerned with the human aspects of interacting with technology, generally known as Human Computer Interaction (HCI/CHI). CHISIG provides a forum for people working on all aspects of interactive technology; from analysis to design to evaluation and implementation.

CHISIG's objectives concern the optimisation of technology for people in work, home and play. This means helping to create systems that support human activity.

CHISIG has a proud history that began in 1984 when, inspired by the CHI conference, Dr Michael Patkin established a special interest group of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Australia, dedicated to human factors in computer technology.

CHISIG Chair: Cecile Paris chair@chisig.org

Please visit the website for more information:

www.chisig.org

CHISIG Awards

CHISIG presents an award:

GITTE LINDGAARD AWARD
"For the best paper presented during OZCHI, CHISIG's Annual Conference".

· Awarded to individual or joint authorship but not for a keynote speaker.
· The Award is based on both the written paper and the oral presentation at the conference.
· The Award is in the form of a Certificate for each author.

www.ozchi.org

RAILSIG

Formation of a special interest group to represent human factors in rail was approved during the meeting of the Board in May 2008.

Rail Human Factors covers a breadth of topics. As a snapshot, below are some of the "hot topics":

Fatigue and vigilance
Level crossings (road and rail driver behaviours and design of crossings)
Post-incident stress
Rail resource management
Organisational considerations (e.g. "just culture")
Organisational awareness of Human Factors (and impacts thereof)
Risk management, risk taking, etc
Integration of Human Factors into the design of rail systems
General human error and error management

Details of activities will be available in the near future.

Email: railsig@ergonomics.org.au