The Human-Machine-Environment Matrix And Use Cases

By Gareth Digby, Vitech Principal Systems Engineer Summary Eliciting the requirements for a system is an important first step in the system’s creation. Use cases provide an effective means of capturing the stakeholder’s understanding of the system’s needs. This post demonstrates how Chapanis & Fitts’ “Human-Machine-Environment” Matrix can provide a …

Plucking Power from Thin Air

By Zane Scott, Vice President of Professional Services Paleobiologist Meredith Perry dreamed of a battery charger that could recharge batteries without a wired connection to the power source from which the power was drawn. That technology existed but was severely limited to very short distances because the electromagnetic power driving …