Human factors related to the use of visual display terminals in the European Parliament

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Davies, Garth W.P. | Bianchessi, Pietro

Affiliations: Directorate of Data Processing and Telecommunications, European Parliament, Bâtiment BAK 610, 2929 Luxembourg

Abstract: About two in every three persons employed by the European Parliament now use visual display units (screen terminals) in their daily work. This compares to one in ten only five years ago. Hence most users have recently faced a period of rapid adjustment, during which their working methods have radically changed. Initial difficulties were directly related to the software interface, but gradually the more general implications of a new way of working came to the fore-front. High among these concerns were health and safety considerations, especially in the light of the recent Community Directive on this subject. This article describes how the management and staff of the European Parliament faced these concerns and what problems still remain.

DOI: 10.3233/ISU-1994-14103

Journal: Information Services & Use, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 19-23, 1994