This paper discusses the necessity of ergonomics in digital transformation in Japan. While there is a focus on the technical aspects, the lack of consideration for human factors is impeding the progress of digital transformation. This paper organizes the problems in digital transformation in Japan and discusses the importance of ergonomics to address social challenges form the perspectives of organization and leadership, talent management, and program/project management education as research issues.

Advances in the development of wearable devices has made it possible to continuously record individuals’ daily physiological data. Such recorded data are invaluable for individuals. If the information presentation consisting of measurement data meet individual needs, the feedback can help them gain various insights about their condition. This paper discusses the potential of such insights to provide new knowledge on the interpretation of psychophysiological data.

This article describes the historical background and revised “Core Competencies in Human Factors and Ergonomics” skills and examples of an activity using them. As measures to improve these skills organizationally, the following are proposed: 1） Dissemination of the revised core competencies, 2） Revision of the method of certification （re-certification） of Human Factors and Ergonomics （HFE）, and 3） Promotion of collaborative activities with many stakeholders. Creating a mechanism and system that allows members of the Japan Ergonomics Society （JES） and the Board of Certification of Professional Ergonomists, JES （BCPE-J） to improve skills among HFE professionals is exactly the kind of practice of “ bundling science” that is now required in the HFE field. As an executive member of the JES, I would like to contribute to the improvement of the skills of HFE professionals in an organized manner.

The provision of services using digital health technology is rapidly becoming popular. In particular, many digital health technologies are being considered for use in mental health measures. This article summarized the research issues that Human Factors and Ergonomics （HFE） professionals should address regarding the social implementation of voice emotion analysis technology as follows: 1） standardization of analysis for voice emotion data, 2） establishment of a method for determining acute internal responses （stress reactions） based on multiple parameters, 3） development of information disclosure and scientific literacy education against confirmation bias, 4） establishment of guidelines/regulations for handling health information considering the benefits and harms of voice emotion analysis, and 5） response to incidental findings obtained from voice emotion analysis. HFE plays a significant role in disseminating and implementing appropriate voice emotion analysis technology to the general public.

As Japan is surrounded by the sea, many people go diving for leisure or work. However, since diving is an underwater activity in an environment where the human body is subjected to water pressure, there are always risks for divers which in the worst cases can lead to fatal accidents. To avoid such tragedies, a way to monitor the health and movements of a diver in seawater is much desired. In this paper, we have focused on bioelectric ECG and EMG measurements that have the possibility of comprehensively monitoring of diver health and behavior. We have expounded the principles and characteristics of three bioelectric measurement methods in water: 1） isolating all bioelectrodes with waterproof tape in both seawater and freshwater; 2） not isolating all bioelectrodes in freshwater; and 3） isolating some bioelectrodes in seawater （by utilizing its conductivity）. Among these methods, the third was seen to be the most suitable for bioelectric measurements in seawater where the majority of diving is conducted since the number of bioelectrodes can be reduced to around half by using the conductivity of seawater. We have thus introduced an optimal method of bioelectric measurement during dives in an actual undersea environment.

The present study aimed to clarify effective visual searching of railway drivers in recognizing extraordinary events during acceleration at driving velocity of 30 km/h. We used the data of vocational training with a simulator for dealing with extraordinary events. The given driving scenario was to recognize the major extraordinary event, which was a subsidence of a railway track, after dealing with four minor events such as substitute signal by railway company’s staff or instruction of driving slowly. One hundred twenty-eight drivers of a railway company participated in our study. Participants who stopped simulated train before passing the subsidence were identified as part of the Recognizing Group; participants who passed the subsidence were identified as part of the Non-recognizing Group. Visual behaviors of both groups were analyzed. The finding showed that range of visual searching by the Recognizing Group was larger than that by the Non-recognizing Group. The Recognizing Group also gazed at adjacent railway track near own train and scenery outside the railway track as well as railway track in front of them.