@PhDThesis{	  itlic:2003-003,
  author	= {Inger Boivie},
  title		= {Usability and Users' Health Issues in Systems
		  Development},
  school	= {Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University},
  department	= {Division of Human-Computer Interaction},
  year		= {2003},
  number	= {2003-003},
  type		= {Licentiate thesis},
  month		= mar,
  abstract	= {The figures of reported health problems in
		  computer-supported, administrative, work are alarmingly
		  high and increasing. The main health problems are visual
		  discomfort, repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and
		  stress-related disorders. Some important risk factors are
		  poor workstation design, constrained work postures,
		  repetitive work and long hours of computer use every day.
		  Others are high demands, poor control over workload and
		  work pace and poor relations to management and colleagues.
		  There is also evidence that poor design and usability of
		  the computer systems as well as technical problems with the
		  computer add to the pressure perceived by the user, which
		  may in its turn cause stress-related disorders.
		  
		  Systems (software) development is often technology-driven
		  and the design and contents of the resulting system shapes
		  the work situation, including factors affecting the users'
		  health and well-being. There are numerous examples in the
		  literature describing how poorly designed systems fail to
		  support the real work practices, introducing new ones that
		  are inadequate and more time-consuming. Thus these,
		  supposedly supporting, computer systems get in the way of
		  efficient and effective work, adding a burden on the
		  workers rather than helping them out.
		  
		  This thesis tries to describe some of the relations between
		  the systems development process and users' health
		  complaints, in a work context. I also discuss whether or
		  not the concepts of usability and user experience can be
		  used to address users' health issues in the systems
		  development process. The main results indicate that
		  although usability must be addressed, it is not sufficient.
		  Occupational health issues must be explicitly integrated in
		  systems development, and be given priority. This thesis
		  also describes some potential methods and techniques for
		  doing that. }
}