bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of An “Appropriate” Drowsy Driver Detection Interface for Commercial Vehicle Operations
Authors: Ayoob Ellen M. , Steinfeld Aaron , Grace Richard
Published: January 2012

Considerable progress has been made in measuring drowsiness and understanding its effects upon human performance in the laboratory and in simulated and operational driving conditions. This work builds upon previous research and identifies an appropriate design for a drowsy driver detection interface. A participatory design process was used that included both design experts and drivers in separate focus groups. One expert activity, evaluations of candidate interaction flow models, and two driver activities, critical incident interviews and a design exercise, are described here. The conflict that arose between the drivers' desires and the desires of the scientific community is that the drivers viewed the system as a loyal servant that would alert the driver when he became drowsy, while the scientific community viewed the system as a trusted advisor that would encourage the driver to stop and rest. The final design has many features to address both of these views.
Effects of Cell Phone Conversations on Younger and Older Drivers
Authors: Strayer David L. , Drews Frank A.
Published: January 2012

Our research examined the effects of hands-free cell phone conversations on simulated driving. We found that driving performance of both younger and older adults was impaired by cell phone conversations. Compared to single-task conditions, cell-phone drivers' reactions were 18% slower, their following distance was 12% greater, and they took 17% longer to recover the speed that was lost following braking. These cell-phone induced impairments were equivalent for younger and older adults, suggesting that older adults do not suffer a significantly greater penalty for talking on a cell phone while driving than their younger counterparts. Interestingly, the net effect of having younger drivers converse on a cell phone was to make their braking reactions equivalent to those of older drivers who were not using a cell phone.
Taxonomy of Mitigation Strategies for Driver Distraction
Authors: Donmez Birsen , Boyle Linda , Lee John D.
Published: January 2012

Driver distraction can be described as the diversion of driver's attention from the primary task of driving and is one of the most common causes of crashes. Complex technologies that have either been introduced to the driving domain or are planned to be, raise the concern of high levels of distraction, by placing additional demands on drivers. Different mitigation strategies (e.g., warning and vehicle control) have been implemented in the vehicle to reduce driver distraction. However there has not been a clear definition or categorization of these strategies. This paper, therefore, proposes a taxonomy of mitigation strategies for driver distraction and relates the strategies to accumulated research in the areas of automation and adaptive aiding to define important design tradeoffs with each strategy. This taxonomy provides a framework that can guide research and address the driver distraction problem systematically.
The Effect of Secondary Tasks on Drivers' Scanning Behavior
Authors: Zheng Xianjun Sam , McConkie George W. , Tai Yu-Chi
Published: January 2012

A study was designed to investigate the effect of cognitive task on drivers' visual scanning and driving performance in a single monitor, PC-based driving simulator. Twelve college student drivers' eye movements and driving performance were recorded as they drove in three types of environments (i.e, highway, rural, and urban) under three secondary task condition (none, verbal task and spatial-imagery task). The eye movement results replicate those of Recarte and Nunes (2000), indicating that extra cognitive tasks reduce the time and frequency of such safety-related behavior as checking the speedometer and rear view mirrors. Pupil diameter increases significantly when performing secondary tasks, confirming the usefulness of that measure as an indicator of processing load. The cognitive task also has an effect on driver's performance, such as reducing lane-keeping accuracy, and increasing variation in speed.
Impact of Task Complexity on Hybrid Inspection System Performance
Authors: Jiang Xiaochun , Khasawneh Mohammad T. , Kaewkuekool Sittichai , Bowling Shannon R. , Taylor William , Bankers Sarah , McLendon Catherine , Gramopadhye Anand. K. , Melloy Brian. J.
Published: January 2012

Recently, 100% inspection using automated systems has seen more frequent application than traditional sampling inspection using human inspectors. Nevertheless, humans still outperform machines for most attribute inspection tasks. Since neither humans nor automation can achieve superior inspection system performance, hybrid inspection systems where humans work cooperatively with machines merit study. In response to this situation, this research was conducted to evaluate the impact of task complexity on inspection performance in a hybrid environment. Results from the study showed that task complexity has a significant effect on inspection performance. Furthermore, the study looked at the impact of human intervention in such a hybrid inspection system and indicated that human inspector will continue to play a vital role in future hybrid systems.
Criteria of Performance Tests for Fitness-for-Duty Assessment
Authors: Jones Marshall B. , Kennedy Robert S. , Kennedy Robert C.
Published: January 2012

Fitness for duty (FFD) tests can be used in workplace settings to identify performance impairment due to alcohol/drugs, fatigue, illness, etc. Accordingly, FFD tests must be both sensitive (able to detect impaired individuals), and more importantly, specific (very few false positives). However, high specificity for performance tests can be achieved only at the price of low sensitivity. A formula for the “sensitiveness” of FFD tests (the proportion of impaired persons detected by the test) is provided to permit comparison of performance and chemical tests based on the test's “sensitivity” and the rate at which persons are tested. An illustrative study is also provided to show that performance tests can meet the requirements of FFD testing. Results of four performance tests, which showed unequivocal deterioration when repeatedly administered to participants over a 24-hour testing period, are provided to demonstrate calculations of the sensitivity and specificity of the tests to fatigue effects.
Using a Web-Based Test to Measure the Impact of Noise on Knowledge Workers' Productivity
Authors: Lewis Elaine , Sykes David M. , Lemieux Peter H.
Published: January 2012

An important goal of both management scientists and human factors researchers is practical, objective measurement and comparison of changes in knowledge-worker productivity that result from proposed workplace improvements. But the cost of disrupting employees to measure their performance is often prohibitive when longitudinal field studies are used. Drawing on work done in the early 1980's the research team developed and administered a brief, standardized, web-based test that measures cognitive operations typical of knowledge work instead of actual workday tasks. The test was administered to 136 experienced knowledge workers in the Boston area using an experimental design with speech privacy technology (SPS) as the independent variable. The team collected data on subjects' performance with respect to speed, accuracy, retention and several self-reporting measures. The results of this short, web-based test are consistent with earlier longitudinal studies on the impact of speech privacy technology and demonstrate that knowledge worker productivity can be accurately and precisely modeled and measured in a non-disruptive manner using web-based, surrogate tasks in a manner that is useful to decision makers.
Empirical Measurement of Human Factors Research Themes
Authors: Meister David
Published: January 2012

This study describes a content analysis of research themes of papers presented at the annual meetings of the Human Factors Society (HFS) during 1969–1985. HF research during this period was very wide ranging, but except for new technology (e.g., space vehicles and computers), largely a continuation of interests developed by a predecessor discipline, psychology.
Viewpoint Optimisation for Virtual Environment Navigation Using Dynamic Tethering - A Study of Tether Rigidity
Authors: Wang Wenbi , Milgram Paul
Published: January 2012

Much research has been carried out on providing navigational aids and improving users' wayfinding ability across a variety of navigation related tasks. In this study, we focus on investigating users' navigational performance with respect to the display frame of reference in a large scale virtual environment. Dynamic viewpoint tethering is proposed as a means to improve user control and reduce the need for mental rotations, thus facilitating the acquisition of configurational knowledge about the virtual space.

The modelling of dynamic viewpoint tethering is explained and recent research findings are presented. Twelve volunteers participated in an experiment in which they were instructed to control an aircraft-shaped cursor flying through a set of virtual tunnels (local guidance) and to answer questions about the environment (global awareness). Experimental results showed that neither the very loose dynamic tether nor the completely rigid tether supported the best control performance. Rather, an optimal tether configuration lies at the centre of the rigidity continuum. Research results are discussed from the point of view of design of navigational system interfaces.
Hud Use Improves Landing Performance in a Full-Motion Simulator
Authors: Goteman Örjan , Smith Kip , Dekker Sidney
Published: January 2012

The operational community has assumed that using a head-up display (HUD) rather than conventional head-down displays will increase safety margins in approach and landing operations. This paper discusses a pair of experiments that test that hypothesis. Using a Boeing 737-700 full-motion simulator and commercial airline pilots as subjects, we explored the effects of (1) HUD use, (2) ambient visibility, and (3) length of approach lighting on the size and location of the touchdown footprint. HUD use reduced the width of the touchdown footprint in all tested visibility and lighting conditions including visibility below the minimum allowed. HUD use had no effect on the length of the touchdown footprint. These are empirical data that could inform the writing of regulations regarding HUD-supported commercial aviation operations.
Development of Novel Measures to Assess the Effectiveness of Commercial Airline Pilot Situation Awareness Training
Authors: Banbury Simon , Dudfield Helen , Hörmann Hans-Jürgen
Published: January 2012

The present study took a novel approach to the assessment of a commercial airline pilot Situation Awareness (SA) training programme developed under the European Commission Framework V ESSAI project. Two measures of SA were developed specifically for the present study; the Situation Awareness Knowledge Test (SAKT) and the Situation Awareness and Workload In-flight Measure (SAWIM). Thirty-two aircrew participants took part in this study; half received standard Line-Oriented Flight Training (LOFT) and half received the bespoke ESSAI SA training. The results of the study provide evidence for the validity of these tools to detect improvements to aircrew SA afforded by the novel training programme.
Establishing the Psychophysiological Variables that can Identify & Predict Operator Subjective State
Authors: Venables Louise , Fairclough Stephen H.
Published: January 2012

Biocybernetic adaptation describes a system wherein automation is regulated by the operator's physiology. The identification of real-time psychophysiological variables capable of detecting and predicting operator subjective states is an important requisite for biocybernetic control. The present study investigated how psychophysiology may index negative subjective states, namely, task-disengagement, distress and worry.

To encourage negative states, 35 participants performed the (high demand) Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MATB), for 100 minutes in total. Subjective state was assessed using the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (DSSQ). The psychophysiological measures recorded included: GSR, EOG, EEG, ECG, and respiration. Analysis of the data revealed performance was sustained throughout the task although subjective states became more negative over time. This was accompanied by various psychophysiological changes, e.g. increased respiration rate. Regression analyses indicated that psychophysiological changes were predictive of changes in subjective states. The results and implications for biocybernetic systems are discussed.
Experiments on Language Errors in Aviation Maintenance
Authors: Drury Colin G. , Ma Jiao
Published: January 2012

The Federal Aviation Administration has raised many issues concerning the outsourcing of maintenance to foreign repair stations and recommends establishing a method for determining whether language barriers result in maintenance deficiencies. This work addresses concerns that non-native English speakers may be prone to an increased error rate that could potentially affect airworthiness. This paper presents Year 2 of the project. We used the seven scenarios of language error developed in Year 1 as the basis for our data collection effort to quantify the frequency of error. An intervention experiment has been designed and tested on two groups of participants: English-speaking maintenance personnel and Chinese speaking engineering graduate students. Neither is the final target group, but the methodology needed to be verified before on-site data collection. The analysis of the data from these two experiments is presented here.
Flight-Test of a Tactile Situational Awareness System in a Land-based Deck Landing Task
Authors: Jennings S. , Cheung B. , Rupert A. , Schultz K. , Craig G.
Published: January 2012

The National Research Council of Canada and Defence Research and Development Canada flight-tested the U.S. Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory's Tactile Situational Awareness System (TSAS) in a dynamic task. The TSAS vest uses small pneumatic actuators or ‘tactors’ to transmit information to the pilot. Eleven pilots used the TSAS to cue horizontal axis performance in a land-based deck landing task flown in the NRC Bell 205 helicopter. Pilots tracked a vertically moving target with and without the TSAS in good and degraded visual conditions. The TSAS effectively cued longitudinal fore/aft drifts and reduced RMS error. It had less effect on lateral positioning error, possibly due to the presence of strong visual cues. Pilot situational awareness during degraded visual environment conditions in high sea states was significantly improved by the TSAS, as measured by the China Lake situational awareness rating scale. No change in workload, as measured by Modified Cooper Harper Workload Scale, was attributable to the TSAS use. The improvements in situational awareness and the reduction in longitudinal error suggest that the TSAS would be beneficial for helicopter ship deck landing.
Visual Characteristics of Elderly Drivers – Aging Effects on Visual Acuity and Glare Feeling
Authors: Lockhart Thurmon E. , Atsumi Bunji , Ghosh Arka
Published: January 2012

The objective of the study was to investigate age related effects on visual acuity and reflected-glare associated with daytime and nighttime driving conditions. Fifty-six participants (28 young, 28 old) recruited from Virginia Tech student population and Blacksburg Community were tested in the study. Landolt's Circle Method was adopted to assess visual acuity under simulated daytime and nighttime conditions. Although, the age and distance main effects were found to be significant, no differences were reported among all the distances within the young group. The study also examined the effects of reflected headlamp glare on age and mirror types on the basis of angle of incidence, illumination-front-of-eyes and rating scores. The results indicated that with the same glare level (as measured by angle and illumination in front of the eye), elderly adults reported lower glare rating scores (i.e. worse feelings of glare). Furthermore, the young and elderly both reported lower De Boer's rating scores for planar driver-side mirrors than non-planar driver-side mirrors. This result can have practical implications in reducing nighttime discomfort glare for both young and elderly.
Describing Situation Awareness at an Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre
Authors: Wong B. L. William , Blandford Ann
Published: January 2012

In this paper we describe findings on Situation Awareness (SA) from a field study on decision making in ambulance control, or Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD). Triangulating the results from observations and Contextual Inquiry interviews of 18 participants, with 13 Critical Decision Methods in-depth interviews, we found, among other things, that EMD work can be classified as routine operations, start of a major incident, and when an incident is established. Higher levels of SA were exhibited by dispatchers for non-routine or major incidents, than for routine events. Senior dispatchers, or allocators, developed a “picture in the head” of the situation, and used that to plan ahead and to evaluate their plans. They were also found to use an information hub strategy to develop and maintain their SA. Using a combined Wickens (2000) and Endsley (1995) framework, we see allocators interleaving their attention and information handling between routine and major incidents.
Interruption and Reorientation Effects of a Situation Awareness Probe on Driving Hazard Anticipation
Authors: McGowan Alastair , Banbury Simon
Published: January 2012

A driving-based Hazard Perception Test of anticipation (HPT) was applied alongside an interruption-based Situation Awareness (SA) probe to investigate the effects of interruption and reorienting the operator to the task. Content of the SA probe was manipulated in four conditions: No queries, SA queries, orienting queries, and irrelevant queries. The findings were firstly that the HPT scores correlated with the SA probe scores in the SA queries condition. Secondly, there was a negative effect of interruption on HPT scores. Finally, HPT scores increased during SA queries and orienting queries but not during irrelevant queries. The results imply that previous research showing no interruption effects from SA probe methods may be due to the orienting effects of the queries compensating for a decrease in scores caused by interruption.
Cognitive Factors in Homeland Defense: The Role of Human Factors in the Novel Intelligence from Massive Data (NIMD) Program
Authors: Thurman David A. , Gray Wayne D.
Published: January 2012

The Advanced Research and Development Activity (ARDA) funds innovative, creative, and high-risk research to advance the state-of-the-art in information technologies. One program aims to develop methods for supporting intelligence analysts in discovering “novel intelligence from massive data” (NIMD). An important feature of this program is the role it gave to cognitive factors. The call-for-proposals said, “Thus, NIMD is about human interaction with information in a way that permits intelligence analysts to spot the telltale signs of strategic surprise in massive data sources — building tools that capitalize on human strengths and compensate for human weaknesses to enhance and extend analytic capabilities.” This symposium brings together representatives of five of the NIMD teams. While the approaches and projects are diverse, all are focused at improving analysts' ability to extract hidden patterns from massive sources of data.
Supporting Mutual Understanding in a Visual Dialogue between Analyst and Computer
Authors: Chappell Alan R. , Cowell Andrew J. , Thurman David A. , Thomson Judi R.
Published: January 2012

The Knowledge Associates for Novel Intelligence (KANI) project is developing a system of automated “associates” to actively support and participate in the information analysis task. The primary goal of KANI is to use automatically extracted information in a reasoning system that draws on the strengths of both a human analyst and automated reasoning. The interface between the two agents is a key element in achieving this goal. The KANI interface seeks to support a visual dialogue with mixed-initiative manipulation of information and reasoning components. The interface must achieve mutual understanding between the analyst and KANI of the other's actions. Toward this mutual understanding, KANI allows the analyst to work at multiple levels of abstraction over the reasoning process, links the information presented across these levels to make use of interaction context, and provides querying facilities to allow exploration and explanation.
Effect of Error Severity on Human Trust in Hybrid Systems
Authors: Khasawneh Mohammad T. , Bowling Shannon R. , Jiang Xiaochun , Gramopadhye Anand K. , Melloy Brian J.
Published: January 2012

Computerized systems are often employed to support control and decision-making tasks in complex and dynamic environments. Trust or mistrust in these systems has been demonstrated to significantly affect operator performance. Consequently, errors of trust or mistrust may compromise system performance, with potentially disastrous results. Accordingly, trust should be considered in both the design and operation of human/machine systems. In order to do so, metrics and methods for the measurement of trust must be developed along with models of human performance that incorporate trust and related system variables. Current approaches to trust measurement rely solely on subjective metrics, which are based on different theoretical concepts of trust between humans that may not necessarily be as relevant to machines. Although researchers have been able to establish a relationship between trust and behavior, these models lack an analytic foundation. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to develop a quantitative approach that relates trust to changes in system parameters and severity of errors.
Error-Associated Behaviors and Error Rates for Robotic Geology
Authors: Wagner Jacob , Thomas Geb , Glasgow Justin , Anderson Robert C. , Cabrol Nathalie , Grin Edmond
Published: January 2012

Humans are often blamed for errors in complex systems. A number of taxonomies exist for classifying human errors, but recent doubts have been raised as to whether these are actually errors or simply processes involved in both correct and incorrect decisions. A field test was designed to address some of these issues. During the field test, three geologists made assessments about the recent and past environment based on robotically collected data. The decisions were classified based on previous error taxonomy. Each conclusion was then checked for accuracy. From this data, the error rate for specific behaviors could be calculated. The results indicate many of the behaviors describe earlier as erroneous actually produce correct decisions most of the time. One behavior is singled out as producing a majority of the errors and further research is needed to better understand its causes.
Strategies for Bridging the Gap between Analysis and Design for Ecological Interface Design
Authors: Hajdukiewicz John , Burns Catherine
Published: January 2012

Creating effective graphic displays using Ecological Interface Design (EID) can be a challenging endeavor. Thus far, there has been little guidance in the literature to decrease the gap that exists between EID analysis and design. This paper presents strategies to help bridge this gap. First, a visual thesaurus provides alternative graphic objects and display formats for showing single variables, single-variable constraints, multivariate constraints, and structural constraints (i.e., means-ends, part-whole, and causal/topological relationships). Second, a number of lessons learned have been identified to improve efficiency in the process and provide further refinements to the display design. These strategies can decrease the effort involved in creating EID displays, but do not completely remove creativity from the design process. Future research includes further developing generic and industry-specific graphic forms for the visual thesaurus, while embedding effective design practices.
Neural Net and Discrete Event Simulations of C2 Performance in Army TOCs
Authors: Middlebrooks Sam E.
Published: January 2012

This project examines command and control (C2) from a system level viewpoint to study the way Tactical Operations Centers (TOC's) operate and then translates those observations into validated computer simulations using a methodological framework. This approach provides the ability to model TOC operations in a way that not only includes the individuals, work groups and teams in it, but also all of the other hardware and software systems and subsystems and human-system interfaces that comprise it as well as the facilities and environmental conditions that surround it. Datamining procedures, including neural network simulation, are used to screen raw data from naturalistic observation of TOC operations to identify significant relationships for follow-on analysis. Discrete event simulations then utilize mathematical relationships from the neural network analysis to describe TOC operations in a way that can be used for evaluations of new and proposed TOC Systems. The intent of this project is to develop a framework of techniques and procedures that are based upon empirical methods but are usable in real world, uncontrolled environments which can only be approached with naturalistic observation methods.
A Novel Integration of Human Factors Methods to Analyse C4i Activity; A Chemical Incident Case Study Carried Out with the UK Fire Service
Authors: Walker Dr Guy H. , Baber Chris , Stanton Prof Neville A. , Salmon Paul , Green Dr Damian , McMaster Richard
Published: January 2012

This paper presents an integration of seven human factors techniques into a comprehensive task and knowledge based methodology. The case study demonstrates that the proposed methodology can be successfully applied to the analysis of command and control (C4) teams and shows how each of the methods interface with each other to produce; a process based overview using an enhanced form of Operation Sequence Diagram (OSD∗), and a knowledge based overview using a Propositional Network. This paper demonstrates how the methodology enables key constructs within C4 domains to be captured for the purpose of designing future systems.
A Roadmap for Cognitive Engineering in Systems Engineering
Authors: Bonaceto Craig A. , Burns Kevin J.
Published: January 2012

We are concerned with three challenges in the design of military Command and Control (C2) systems, namely: the demand for “smaller” organizations, the demand for “better” coordination (human-system, human-human and system-system) and the demand for “faster” execution. Driven by these demands, we performed a survey of Cognitive Engineering techniques with an eye towards how they can improve Systems Engineering efforts. This paper outlines our three challenges (smaller, better, faster) and reviews three successful applications by other Cognitive/Systems engineers faced with similar challenges. The applications employ Computational Cognitive Modeling (to address a demand for smaller), Cognitive Work Analysis (to address a demand for better) and Goal-Directed Task Analysis (to address a demand for faster). These three successes provide a practical roadmap for using Cognitive Engineering methods to address Systems Engineering problems in C2 as well as other domains.
A Distributed Cognition Simulation Involving Homeland Security and Defense: The Development of Neocities
Authors: Jones Rashaad E. T. , McNeese Michael D. , Connors Erik S. , Jefferson Tyrone , Hall David L.
Published: January 2012

This paper describes a scaled-world simulation developed to conduct empirical research on team cognition, communication, and decision-making within a distributed environment. The NeoCITIES simulation is an advancement of the CITIES task, which was designed to study group decision-making within a command, control, and communications (C3) setting (Wellens & Ergener, 1988). Studying group decision-making is a two-fold problem involving team cognition and team communication. According to McNeese (2003), team cognition is constructed through distributed and emerging activities via several sources. A majority of studies examining distributed decision-making have involved militaristic, battlefield engagement, or urban warfare settings. In that same spirit, NeoCITIES was designed for emergency crisis management teams undergoing terrorist attacks within a college-town. Thus, NeoCITIES is a new and operationally relevant scaled world that emulates the complexities and emergent decision-making attributes resident in a 9/11-type of terrorist scenario. Through the use of NeoCITIES, we anticipate the assessment of a number of cognitive tools to support distributed cognition (e.g., problem-based decomposition) as well as advancing adaptive intelligent interfaces.
Electronic Checklists in the Context of B-2 Pilot Decision Making
Authors: Snead Andrea E. , Militello Laura G. , Ritter Jill A.
Published: January 2012

Anticipating the impact of the transition from paper checklists to electronic checklists is of significant interest to the US Air Force as they consider the development of electronic checklists for use in military aircraft. This paper describes a limited cognitive task analysis (CTA) conducted with B-2 pilots, exploring the current use of paper checklists and other reference materials during flight, particularly during emergency procedures. Results include a description of the reference materials currently used, a discussion of their use in the context of workflow, a depiction of decision flow, and a list of recommendations for designers interested in developing electronic checklists for military aircraft use.
The Designer's Situation Awareness Toolkit: Support for User-Centered Design
Authors: Jones Debra G. , Endsley Mica R. , Bolstad Mark , Estes Gil
Published: January 2012

Designing systems to support SA involves three phases: an analysis of SA requirements, the application of SA-oriented design principles, and the measurement of SA during design evaluation. The Designer's Situation Awareness Toolkit (DeSAT) provides support to the designer for each phase of this process through both tutorials and application specific tools. The tutorials cover the Goal Directed Task Analysis (GDTA) methodology for delineating SA requirements, SA oriented design principles, and the Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique (SAGAT) methodology. The application specific tools include a tool for documenting GDTAs, a Checklist tool to assist designers in evaluating how well a design concept has met the relevant SA requirements, a Design Guidance application, and a tool for creating and administering SAGAT queries (Super SAGAT). Through these tools, DeSAT provides a comprehensive approach for improving the designer's ability to create designs based on sound SA oriented design principles.
Using Pathfinder to Generate Communication Networks in a Cognitive Task Analysis
Authors: Shope Steven M. , DeJoode Janie A. , Cooke Nancy J. , Pedersen Harry
Published: January 2012

As part of a cognitive task analysis performed in the initial design stage of developing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations center, we used Pathfinder to generate communication networks based on four subject matter experts' (SMEs') understanding of the typical communications that occur in different task scenarios (i.e., a strike operation versus a non-strike operation). SMEs provided ratings on three dimensions of communication for each pair of ten team members. Dimensions were 1) importance, 2) volume, and 3) diversity of communications. We developed two methods for merging the ratings of importance and volume into a single network in order to simultaneously represent both dimensions. This application of Pathfinder has allowed us to 1) quantify the extent to which the SMEs conceptualize communications in the same way and 2) generate surrogate communication networks when it is impossible to monitor actual communications.
The Effect of Visual Momentum on Learning Hierarchical Menu Structures in Small Displays
Authors: Olson Heather M. , Gugery Leo , Schumacher Robert
Published: January 2012

Navigating through menu structures to access functions and search for information on small displays in cellular phones and other handheld devices is difficult. Visual momentum is a display technique that may help users integrate information across successive displays, and thus improve navigation performance for devices with small screens. This study investigated the effects of visual momentum and menu structure on the learnability of menus on small displays. Learnability was assessed using a trials-to-mastery measure. Mastery criteria regarding search time and errors were set during a pilot study and the number of trials it took for participants to meet these criteria during the Main Experiment were recorded. It was found that providing preview information in the display did not help users learn to navigate through hierarchical menus, while providing motion in the display did help.
The Effect of Music Choice and Announcement Duration on Subjective Wait Time for Call Center Hold Queues
Authors: Knott Benjamin A. , Kortum Philip , Bushey Robert R. , Bias Randolph
Published: January 2012

An experiment explored the effect of Music Choice and Announcement Duration on the subjective wait time for a call center hold queue. Participants placed calls to a simulated call center and were placed “on hold.” When participants were allowed to choose the type of music they listened to while on hold, they reported higher satisfaction with the wait time compared to a condition in which the callers had no control over the music type. There was also a significant effect for the hold queue announcement duration. The hold queue announcement is a brief message that informs caller that they are being placed on hold. The ‘long‘ announcement resulted in more accurate estimations of on-hold wait time compared to the ‘short’ announcement which resulted in significant overestimation. These findings demonstrate potentially useful design methods for call centers to manage customer dissatisfaction due to hold queue delays.
Selection Accuracy with Pen Selection Slots
Authors: Lewis James R.
Published: January 2012

This paper describes three selection accuracy experiments with the selection slot, a new menu selection device for pen-based computer systems. A selection slot is a slot into which a user places the tip of a pen or stylus for the purpose of selecting an item from a list of items. The results of the first experiment, using a prototype slot for notebook name selection with 3 mm per notebook name, indicated 100% selection accuracy. In a second experiment, the results indicated that with as little as 1.1 mm per notebook name, users could select notebook names with 100% accuracy. A third experiment evaluated page selection accuracy for 55- and 99-page slots using a 73 mm slot (0.74 mm per page for 99 pages). Participants in the 55-page condition used a single-page advance control to reach target pages greater than 55. Considering all targets, participants were slightly but consistently less accurate with the 99-page slots, but their within-slot selection accuracies were equal. All participants preferred the 99-page slot due to the inconvenience of acquiring pages greater than 55 with the single-page advance control.
Keyboard Shortcut Usage: The Roles of Social Factors and Computer Experience
Authors: Peres S. Camille , Tamborello Franklin P. , Fleetwood Michael D. , Chung Phillip , Paige-Smith Danielle L.
Published: January 2012

Previous research (Lane, Napier, Peres, & Sándor, in press) has shown that despite the fact that it typically takes half as much time to issue a command to a computer application using that command's keyboard shortcut, most people issue a particular command by clicking an icon on a toolbar or by selecting the command from a pull-down menu. This study examined reasons why that might be the case with a web survey that focused on demographic characteristics of people who do and do not use keyboard shortcuts, as well as social factors of computer use that might influence use of keyboard shortcuts. Participants' shortcut usage was influenced by social factors, such as working in an environment with other shortcut users and experiential factors, primarily the hours spent using a computer per week.
Evaluation of Two Pen Mouse Designs
Authors: Chao Chia-Chen , Hedge Alan
Published: January 2012

Two pen mouse designs were compared with a conventional mouse design in a laboratory experiment. Sixteen Ss (8 men; 8 women) used each of the mice to perform a series of tasks. Wrist posture was measured while holding each mouse. Results show the pen mice decreased ulnar deviation and wrist pronation, the latter being more reduced for women. However, wrist extension was lowest for the conventional mouse. No significant differences in task performance were found between the 3 designs that were tested. Ss reported that the conventional mouse was easier to use than the pen mice and just over half of the Ss preferred this design. A longer-term study is warranted.
Designing a User Interface for a PDA-Based Campus Navigation Device
Authors: Dorn Brian , Zelik Daniel , Vepadharmalingam Harisudhakar , Ghosh Mayukh , Adams S. Keith
Published: January 2012

University campuses, like many other public and private institutional settings, pose challenges to visitors and newcomers finding their way from place to place. In some cases, such campuses have grown to the size of a small town. Maps and tour guides have traditionally been the means used to assist visitors find their way; however, the recent development of high-power, low-cost mobile computing opens the door to portable electronic navigational aids. This paper focuses on user interface concerns in a personal digital assistant (PDA) based campus guide. Cognitive and visual display engineering principles are used to develop a preferred preliminary design. Subjective feedback and quantitative data on the user interface are gathered in a small pilot study. The appropriateness of the design and its implications for future work are also discussed.
Examining First-Time Usage of the CombiMouse™
Authors: Slocum Jeremy , Thompson Shelby , Chaparro Barbara , Bohan Michael
Published: January 2012

The CombiMouse™ is a new input device for personal computers that combines the functionality of a keyboard and a mouse into one device. The CombiMouse™ consists of two units, much like a split-keyboard, in which the left hand unit (LHU) is a stationary device with keys that are typically used by the left hand, while the right hand unit (RHU) contains keys typically used by the right hand, but is mobile and serves as a mouse. Preliminary results of first-time usage indicate the device to be very promising. Performance was shown to be just as efficient as the traditional mouse and significantly more efficient than the track ball. Typing performance was not as fast as the traditional keyboard; however, the participants showed improvement with more usage of the device.
A Survey of Online Reading Habits of Internet Users
Authors: Shaikh A. Dawn , Chaparro Barbara S.
Published: January 2012

This study evaluated the reading habits of Internet users across five document types. Internet users completed an online survey indicating whether they were likely to read a document online or on paper using five possible choices. Document types evaluated included journal articles, news, newsletters, literature, and product information. Results revealed differences in the reading habits based on document type. Journal articles were reported to be primarily printed while documents such as online news, newsletters, and product reviews were reported to be read mainly online. Users tended not to use online sources for reading literature. Primary factors determining whether a document was printed or read online were size, importance, and intended purpose of document.
Creating Usable Wordless Instructions for Performing Complex One-Time Tasks: Effects of Violating the Rules
Authors: Rodriguez Michael A. , Polson Peter G.
Published: January 2012

We have developed design rules for diagrammatic instructions for initial setup, basic maintenance and troubleshooting (i.e., clearing paper jams) tasks. The study reported here evaluated these rules. Four groups of novice users cleared paper jams in a laser printer using one of four different diagrammatic instructions. Diagrams presented to the first two groups all followed the rules but differed in the number of actions per diagram (one verses 3-4). The remaining groups' instructions contained diagrams that violated one or more rules. Instructions that followed the diagram design rules resulted in no errors. Diagrams that prevented users from correctly identifying the location of a subtask resulted in the most severe errors. Other rule violations resulted in fewer errors of lesser severity so if users were shown the general location of the problem they could perform a subtask. Times to complete each subtask were similar unless the location rule was violated.
Why a Consumer Electronic Device is Difficult to Use
Authors: Diez Melanie
Published: January 2012

This paper describes a cognitive usability analysis of a home stereo as well as an experiment that tests the predictions borne out of that analysis using the RAFIV method of cognitive usability analysis (Sherry, Polson, Fennell, & Feary, 2002). At the heart of this method is a five-stage model that describes a user's cognitive steps as they perform a task. This model provides a framework for analyzing an interface by asking whether or not each stage can be accomplished purely through label-following. The results suggest that the RAFIV technique can be used to predict which tasks might prove difficult for users. Furthermore, it suggests that the number of recall steps within a task can play a negative role in a user's ability to complete that task.
Decision Making in Mass Customization of Mobile Phones
Authors: Helander Martin G. , Li Peng Brenda Tan
Published: January 2012

Mass customization aims at satisfying individual customers, who are given an opportunity to select among several design features and order a unique product. In this experiment four web sites were created where users could specify the design features of a mobile phone. Two web sites were designed to build a mobile phone from scratch: One used a rating agent of design features, and the other had no rating agent. The two other web sites used an existing phone as a basis for design - one used a rating agent and the other had no rating agent. Forty test persons participated in an experiment to evaluate the web sites. Half of them were male and half of them female. The use of the rating agent produced more consistent and better design. The model for mass customization — whether building from scratch or modifying an existing phone — had no impact on the results. There were no differences in results between males and females.
Rapid Prototyping with Microsoft Powerpoint©: Page Linking and Animation
Authors: Silvers Timothy J. , Voorheis Christopher M. , Anders Shilo H.
Published: January 2012

Microsoft PowerPoint© allows designers to create medium fidelity interface prototypes. This paper describes how PowerPoint© can easily be used to create dynamic displays that are interactive and provide animation, when resources do not permit the purchase of computer-based prototyping software and the design requires more than a pencil-and-paper prototype. With PowerPoint©, designers can create interactive displays by hyperlinking objects to connect multiple slides. Additionally, animations can be created by using the same principles that govern children's “flip books”.
An Industrial Engineering Curriculum Renewal Process for the Enhancement of Industrial Engineering Degree Programs
Authors: Mullenix Jacob B. , Regunath Saravanan , Jacob Raja J. , Gramopadhye Anand K. , Leonard Michael S. , Kurz Mary E. , Kimbler Delbert L.
Published: January 2012

The current Industrial Engineering curriculum implemented at most educational institutions in the United States is driven by curriculum reform included in the Roy Report which took place almost 40 years ago. It is clear that if Industrial Engineers are to keep pace with the changing environment we need to address the future of Industrial Engineering curriculum. In response, this paper outlines the development of a new scalable and deployable Industrial Engineering baccalaureate-degree curriculum renewal process. This model will be designed to permit scaling up from an information technology course kernel to a fully integrated Industrial Engineering undergraduate curriculum.
Assessing and Improving User Satisfaction in Higher Education: A Role for Human Factors
Authors: Helton William S. , Neu Jessica M. , Shell Tangy A. , Ramsey Alison J. , Myers Danielle M.
Published: January 2012

The success of a human factors perspective in improving customer satisfaction in other industries is suggestive of application to higher education, which is increasingly regarded as an industry. An initial step in a human factors approach to higher education is to furnish a reliable measure of undergraduate customer satisfaction. The present study outlines two studies exploring the Cynical Attitudes Toward College Scale (CATCS; Brockway et al., 2002) as a measure of higher education customer satisfaction. The first study demonstrates the usefulness of the CATCS as a measure of costumer satisfaction by demonstrating differences between two user groups, traditional and nontraditional students. The second study demonstrates its relationship to an environmental design variable, personalization of living space in college dormitories. The CATCS may prove useful in investigating and improving the design of higher education.
Effects of an Electronic Height-Adjustable Worksurface on Computer Worker Musculoskeletal Discomfort and Productivity
Authors: Hedge Alan , Ray Earnest J.
Published: January 2012

Thirty three computer workers from two companies worked at fixed-height worksurfaces (FHWs) and then at electronic height-adjustable worksurfaces (EHAWs) for 4–6 weeks. Subjects completed survey questionnaires before and after using the EHAWs. Results showed significant decreases in the severity of musculoskeletal discomfort for most upper body segments. In the EHAW condition daily discomfort ratings were lower in the afternoon and productivity ratings improved. There was a strong preference for using the EHAWs. An attempt to assess any placebo effect met with limited success. Further studies are needed.
Sources of Variance in Employee Perceptions of Occupancy Quality
Authors: Smith Thomas J. , Orfield Steve , Role Michael
Published: January 2012

This study addresses the goal of an integrative approach to evaluating the effects on work of environmental design. Results are based on pre-occupancy evaluations of 2 different office workplaces, with many parallels in occupancy design. Methods entailed: (1) measurement of noise, lighting, and thermal conditions at selected work stations; and (2) administration of an occupancy quality perceptual response survey questionnaire. A 2-step, least-squares (2SLS) multiple regression method was used for sources of variance analysis of responses to occupancy quality items on the questionnaire. The major result is that observed variance in major indicators of occupancy quality is not explained by responses to the same questionnaire items for the 2 sites. The findings support the conclusion that, across different occupancy design settings, observed variability in work behavior is not likely attributable to a universal set of design factors.