Some features of the current trends of ergonomic research in Europe are described. Ergonomics in Europe is concerned more with welfare of individual workers than with the integration of man into large systems, which is relevant to the fact that physiological criteria receive much consideration. Several topics suggesting the further development of the specific ergonomic approaches are discussed: (1) application of psychophysiological criteria is systematially investigated, (2) case-diagnostic approach as seen in comprehensive checklists is being made feasible, (3) forming of ergonomic research centres with work physiology emphasis is socially acknowledged, (4) ergonomists try to play a teamwork role in work design from their own independent standpoints.

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Graphic display equipment and computer used to thinking system are powerful. Especially, their function are strong support on creative thinking as C. A. D. So, this paper is to treat on outline as follow,
1. Process of creative thinking
2. Topological thinking and visual perception
3. Images of machine aided creative thinking
4. Mutual relations of man·machine behavior

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The cutaneous sensation can be used as a substitute sensory channel to transmit the information of objects to the brain. A conventional means of cutaneous stimulation is the mechanical vibration method, but it has many faults (the adaptation and the influence of enviroment). So, we explored the possibility of using electric stimulation as feedback signals at the man·machine system.
To begin with, we discussed the determination of appropriate stimulative conditions. the facter producing effect on stimulative sensation. On the basis of such findings, information processing tests were conducted. The dimension of electric stimulation consists of amplitude, frequency and space. Combining these dimensions, we formed multi-dimensional stimulational stimulation and gave it to the human beings.
Consequently, the maximum amount of transmitted information for two-dimensional input information was 3.6bits/symbol and for three-dimensional information was 4.5bits/symbol. Our studies have demonstrated that electric stimulation is more effective as a feedback signal at the man·machine system than vibratory stimulation.

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[in Japanese]

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Ergonomics or human factors engineering is called ningen-kogaku' in Japan. ‘Ningen’ refers to human and ‘kogaku’ to engineering or technology. The past one decade saw formation of ‘ningen-kogaku’ groups on a large scale. They are mainly oriented to equipment and work-place design, but this term seems to imply two features; as engineering it demands optimized systems solution, whereas as one of human sciences individual work and life should be within the scope of study. They emerge also from a historical sketch.
In 1964 the Japan Ergonomics Research Society came into existence. There have been 10 national conferences. Contributors distributed among about 50 university departments, 18 research bodies, 16 enterprises and 4 hospitals. Five research groups which contributed the most are Industrial Products Research Institute, Railway Labour Science Research Institute, Architecture and Industrial Design Departments of Chiba University, Administrative Engineering course of Keio University and Institute for Science of Labour. There follow courses of machine engineering, industrial management or biomedical electronics in universities, national aerospace or aeromedical laboratories, living environment laboratories of women's colleges and industries of automobile and machines. Interenterprise groups are found in automobile, shipbuilding, camera, furniture or steel industries.
J. E. R. S. activities extend from anthropometric projects, posture and work-space studies to display and equipment design and sensory-motor skills, fatigue or safety as well as human control and systems design (Table 2). The systems design projects seem, however, to show still reluctance to make the work really ‘multidisciplinary’. Work-science circles seem to approach the solution for their part by work load assessment. A sample is given in Table 3.
The society's journal ‘Jap. J. Ergonomics’ is one of main publications for research results, but many are found separately in various specified journals as J. Sci. Labour, Ind. Engineering, Operations Res., Jap. J. Ind. Health, J. Soc. Automotive Engineers and others. Reports of independent institutions are also important.
The difficulty of ergonomic work seems to lie both in understanding of man's dynamics and in multiple data analysis. Firstly, we find no universal agreement on ergonomic criteria. There are criticisms that human factors work is too narrow to solve design of work as an individual social activity. Integrated load assessment by work-scientists is not in a position to present a clearer model. In 1969 an ergonomists committee acted as a technical umpire of a labour-management confrontation of locomotive engineers and proposed the single-engineer plan. But criticism arose that there is little scientific basis to back the report in view of dense train operations with frequent night shifts and numerous level crossings. This called for grave reflection on an ‘ergonomic’ judgment.
Secondly, we know technical optimization is often rejected if it lacks cultural considerations. As an example, recent computerization of the sales of American magazines caused complaints among readers when they were requested every month for the subscription fee for the next term. Another example is people's persistence to classical unit of land area, tsubo or 3.3m², which is based on a two-mat size, a feasible unit in Japanese daily life.
Thirdly more severe criticism is that the fixation of working patterns results from an ergonomic solution. The consequencies are easier but fragmentary, comprehensible but skill-killing work. A work that does not exclude the advancement of individual creative skill will be future problem. An attempt is being undertaken by ‘ergologists’ group through understanding of ecological and biological factors in human routines of work and life.
There is strong hope that exchange of ergonomic

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