The United States parades itself as the citadel of democracy and free and fair elections, so the hanging chads, dimpled ballots and challenged results of the 2000 presidential poll exposed the country to ridicule. The discomfort of being laughed at has a way of prompting action in Congress, and ergonomists were among the experts called in for advice on reforms. Were they heeded? It’s a question the 2006 mid-term election may answer.
“We often hope for the best and fear the worst, and find ourselves in the middle with some sort of compromise,” said Peter A. Hancock, D.Sc., when asked by The Ergonomics Report
This article originally appeared in The Ergonomics Report™ on 2006-11-01.