The Factor of Significance in the Operator's Activity

Abstract

Activity theory has important applications in Russian engineering psychology and ergonomics. From the point of view of the activity approach, the operator is considered a subject who acts voluntarily within a man-machine system. The operator does not simply react to different stimuli, but considers updated input information to form different goals, according to personal motives, and then develops particular strategies to achieve these goals. The major units of analysis become actions performed by the operator. The factor of significance is important for the selection and development of various strategies for the operator.