Anna-Lisa Osvalder

Anna-Lisa Osvalder is professor in Human Machine Systems, senior lecturer in Ergonomics and has a Ph.D. in traffic safety (biomechanics and injury prevention). She is responsible for the human-machine research group, which focuses on the interaction between users and technology as well as human factors engineering design. Evaluation of use errors, usability problems and comfort aspects are of high interest. Application areas are complex socio-technical systems with safety aspects in focus (process control in nuclear power plants & process industries, vehicles, medial technology, aviation and shipping) as well as various ergonomic products (office chairs, computer devices, working tools, sport equipment and child restraints). Regarding complex systems, control room design is in focus; operators’ information needs of relevant process data as well as ergonomic features in the working environment. Emphasis is also made on methods for evaluation of safety aspects, design of alarm and automation systems with a resilient engineering approach. In the area of traffic safety attention is on children’s motion behaviour, comfort and safety issues during car riding, where methods for objective and subjective evaluation of sitting postures, activities and attitudes have been developed.