bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety Culture: A Concept in Chaos?
Authors: Zhang Hui , Wiegmann Douglas A. , von Thaden Terry L. , Sharma Gunjan , Mitchell Alyssa A.
Published: January 2012

A growing number of studies have been conducted to define and assess safety culture in a variety of complex, high-risk, industries. The purpose of the present study was to review these efforts in order to gain a better understanding of the “safety culture” concept, along with the highly related concept of “safety climate.” Results suggest that there exists considerable disagreement among researchers as to how safety culture should be defined and whether or not safety culture is inherently different from the concept of safety climate. These differences, however, are not generally due to the uniqueness of the industry or work domain being studied, since many researchers have focused on common domains (e.g., nuclear power). A synthesis of these various perspectives was conducted and hybrid definitions of both safety culture and climate are provided. Perhaps a common nomenclature and set of definitions will enable researchers to better share information and strategies for improving safety culture.
Clinical Evidence at the Point of Care in Acute Medicine: A Handheld Usability Case Study
Authors: Takeshita Harumi , Davis Dianne , Straus Sharon E.
Published: January 2012

The need to design medical information device interfaces for clinical use has been well documented in medical journals. In this study we apply well known usability techniques such as user requirement elicitation and prototype design and evaluation to design an evidence-based medical information retrieval system intended for a wireless environment. Our immediate goal is to make the daily practice of evidence-based medicine (EBM) for frontline clinicians easier by providing relevant, timely information at the point of care (using a wireless PDA device), delivered in a format that is usable and liked by the target group. Our objective is to use this evidence-based information delivery tool as an educational device and to encourage clinicians to consult, as appropriate, the latest best evidence available to support their clinical decision in hopes of improving clinical outcomes. The development of a handheld user interface for clinicians is described, along with results obtained from usability testing with a sample set of scenarios.
Transactive Responsibility Systems and High Reliability Teams: A Tentative Formulation
Authors: Xiao Yan , Moss Jacqueline , Mackenzie Colin F. , Seagull F. Jacob , Faraj Samer
Published: January 2012

Understanding how teams perform successfully in high-risk settings can provide us with insights into the processes by which safety is created. Building upon previous field and laboratory studies, we propose a tentative formulation of a concept, transactive responsibility system, to account for the intricate, complex responsibility system emerged in team interaction. With a transactive responsibility system, a team can deal with the challenges of conflicting goals of training and performing and rapidly changing work environments found in many settings. A set of measurement proposals is made to illustrate the potential practical use of the concept. Potential impact on training is speculated.
Creating Patient Safety with Organizational Learning: A Case-Based Learning Intervention at a Public and Private Hospital
Authors: Eisenlohr Amanda , Render Marta L. , Patterson Emily S.
Published: January 2012

A critical component of a high reliability organization (HRO) is believed to be a safety culture. Historically, healthcare placed the onus on individuals for perfection in performance of complex work. A six-month, case-based learning intervention at a public and private hospital, Safety Minutes™, attempted to shift the focus from the individual to systems. The intervention is organized in rotating modules of a medical and non-medical incident that exemplify a safety concept, displayed via posters in a staff meeting space, followed by a moderated discussion. Moderators asked how the stories resembled or differed from the nurses' experiences and guided participants away from ingrained “blame” responses in order to look more deeply at systemic and organizational factors. We assessed program effectiveness by ethnographic analysis of written transcripts of the moderated sessions and discuss lessons learned.
An analysis of work activity in the operating room: Applying psychological theory to lower the likelihood of human error
Authors: Levy Jonathan , Gopher Daniel , Donchin Yoel
Published: January 2012

We report on our observations in the operating room, where we examined the work activity in hopes of understanding why human errors can occur even with simple tasks (e.g., loading a syringe with the wrong solution). We employed a human factors analysis guided by our understanding of human cognition (memory, attention, action planning, etc.) with the goal of improving safety. By applying psychological theory (human cognition) to this real-world environment, we suggest where human error is prone to occur due to factors such as non-optimal procedures and design layout. We speculate that such weaknesses can contribute to adverse events and offer low-cost solutions aimed at minimizing the likelihood of such errors occurring.
Further Tests of an Abbreviated Vigilance Task: Effects of Signal Salience and Jet Aircraft Noise on Performance and Stress
Authors: Helton William S. , Warm Joel S. , Matthews Gerald , Corcoran Kevin J. , Dember William N.
Published: January 2012

The effects of signal salience and jet-aircraft noise on performance and self-reports of stress were examined in an abbreviated vigilance task (12 min) that duplicates many of the findings with longer duration vigilance tasks (Temple et al., 2000). As is the case with longer vigils, signal detection in the abbreviated task was poorer for low salience than for high salience signals and stress scores, as indexed by the Dundee Stress State Questionnaire (Matthews, Joiner, Gilliland, Campbell, & Falconer, 1999), were generally greater when observers were required to detect low as compared to high salience signals. Unlike longer vigils, however, signal detection in the abbreviated task was superior in the presence of noise than in quiet, and noise generally attenuated self-reports of stress. The beneficial effect of jet-aircraft noise for the abbreviated task differentiates it from longer vigilance tasks and suggests that noise may have short-term positive value in vigilance.
Intrinsic Reference Systems in Map Displays
Authors: Werner Steffen , Jaeger Melanie
Published: January 2012

Within the area of navigation displays, the distinction between track-up display and fixed-orientation displays ( north-up) has received a lot of attention. Theoretically, this distinction has been linked to different spatial frames of reference. Using alignment effects, recent studies on the role of different reference systems in human spatial memory have identified the important role of environmental and intrinsic reference systems for the cognitive organization of spatial information. In the first experiment of its kind, we tested the effects of alignment of an observer with the visible, local environment and the global, large-scale environment depicted in a You-are-Here type of map display while holding the usually emphasized relation between map orientation and observer orientation constant. Our results show that both alignments have a strong and additive effect on memory performance, suggesting a new and important dimension for the design of spatial information displays such as maps.
Visual and Postural Constraints in Coordinated Movements of the Head in Hand Reaching Tasks
Authors: Kim K. Han , Martin Bernard J.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of the present study is to investigate movements of the head spatially and temporally coordinated with hand reach movements simulating industrial assembly tasks. The motions recorded from thirty subjects performing reach movements with the right hand toward eccentric targets indicate that 1) hand movement onset lags head movement onset with a duration proportional to target eccentricity; 2) the head does not aim directly at a target, but travels only a fraction of target eccentricity and often deviates away from the target substantially; and 3) head movements are constrained by the strategy of either controlling the head position in space or controlling head rotation about the torso. These results indicate that head movements are constrained by both visual and non-visual factors. While the major function of the head is to displace the visual gaze toward the target, non-visual constraints, which include postural coordination with whole body movements, also significantly affect head movements.
Over-the-Counter Analgesics: A Survey of the Public's Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs regarding Current Labeling Practices
Authors: Kalsher Michael J. , Wogalter Michael S.
Published: January 2012

A wide variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications are currently available to the general public without a prescription. Among the most popular of these are medicines termed analgesics that have pain-relieving effects. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the significant health risks associated with their use. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether people want to be informed of these risks and whether such knowledge would influence self-reported precautionary behavior. The results showed that 92% of the 330 people surveyed wanted to be informed of the risks of OTC analgesics and nearly 95% percent agreed that this information should appear on the product label or in the materials that accompany these products. When asked about the likely actions they would take if provided with organ-specific risk information, a large majority of the respondents indicated they would take one or more precautionary behaviors to reduce the risks (e.g., take smaller dosages). A majority of respondents admitted having placed themselves at risk by taking more than the recommended dose of an OTC analgesic at one time. These results have implications for improving the quality and effectiveness of risk communications.
Methodological Issues in Testing Comprehension of Safety Symbols
Authors: Lesch Mary F. , McDevitt Jamie R.
Published: January 2012

Safety symbols must be tested prior to use to ensure that they are adequately understood, as failures to communicate can result in injury or death. However, factors other than symbol quality influence assessed comprehension level: These include test method, scoring method, as well as availability of context. Open-ended and multiple-choice test methods are compared and contrasted on a number of dimensions including ease of construction, administration, and scoring. While use of an open-ended test procedure is generally recommended, it is proposed that a modified multiple-choice test, in which alternatives are assessed across multiple trials, is an attractive alternative.
Maximizing your Opportunities in a Competitive Job Market
Authors: Young Karen R. , Shapiro Ronald G. , Andre Anthony D. , Lund Arnold M. , Robertson Michelle M. , Bass Ellen J. , Karsh Ben-Tzion , Lin Jia-Hua (Jim)
Published: January 2012

Welcome to the ninth annual Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Career Panel. The job market in our industry has changed significantly over the last year and the questions addressed by this year's panel speak to the issues that exist in a difficult job market. This year, the panel answered four questions to help readers prepare for a career in Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E), particularly in light of the current economic climate. During the HFES meeting panel session, the panel will focus on questions from the audience.
Using Driver Performance Measures to Estimate Workload
Authors: Hurwitz Joshua B. , Wheatley David J.
Published: January 2012

This study evaluated the impact of the modality of distractor tasks and the difficulty of the driving task on driver control over a vehicle. Driving is a task with a close link between visual information processing and driver performance variables such as lane keeping. Consequently, compared to auditory distractors, visual distractors should have a larger negative effect on vehicle control, but mainly when the driving task also adds significant workload for the driver. In this study, drivers drove around either a curvy or a straight track while occasionally performing either an auditory or a visual secondary monitoring task. Performance of the secondary task was associated with deterioration in steering wheel control and lane keeping, but only on the curvy track and mainly when the secondary task required visual monitoring. These results are discussed in terms of their implication for developing workload managers in in-vehicle driver support systems.
Accessing Multi-Modal Information on Cell Phones While Sitting and Driving
Authors: Fussell Susan R. , Grenville Delia , Kiesler Sara , Forlizzi Jodi , Wichansky Anna M.
Published: January 2012

Multimodal interfaces have been identified as a possible solution for reducing the visual and motor demands of small devices such as cell phones. In a within-subjects factorial experiment, we explored where audio is useful in a cell phone interface that supports database applications. Participants sat at a desk and drove in a car simulator while choosing a hotel from a descriptive long list. We compared participants' performance with and without the option to listen to the information while it was presented in text. Participants rarely preferred or used the audio option while seated. A substantial number preferred and used the audio option while driving, especially when the hotel choice task was more difficult. Those who chose the audio option looked less at the phone, but increased their task time and did not improve their driving performance. We discuss implications of reading and listening for safety and design.
An Experimental Evaluation of Using Automotive HUDs to Reduce Driver Distraction While Answering Cell Phones
Authors: Nowakowski Christopher , Friedman Dana , Green Paul
Published: January 2012

To examine strategies for reducing driver distraction while answering the phone, 24 participants answered calls while driving a simulator. Calls were answered using a center-console-mounted phone or one of several phone designs which utilized a HUD to display the caller ID and steering-wheel-mounted buttons to activate the phone. Driving workload was manipulated by varying the curve radius and by varying the timing of the call, either 1 second before or 5 seconds after the start of a curve.

The HUD-based phones resulted in response times that were 39 percent faster than the conventional center-console phone, and they resulted in up to 62 percent fewer line crossings. Additionally, when using the center-console phone, road curvature had a large influence on response times and driving performance; however, the HUD-based phone were less sensitive to increased road curvature or driving workload.
Alertness Maintaining Tasks While Driving
Authors: Oron-Gilad Tal , Ronen Adi , Cassuto Yair , Shinar David
Published: January 2012

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different alertness maintaining tasks on driver performance. Twelve professional truck drivers participated in five sessions of simulated driving. The first session consisted of driving without any alertness-maintaining tasks. In the following three sessions, three different alertness maintaining tasks were given during the drive. The fifth session consisted of driving while listening to music.

The analysis of the driving performance measures shows that overall alertness-maintaining tasks may have a positive effect on driving, by slowing performance deterioration and maintaining a higher level of alertness (measured by standardized HRV). Yet, not all tasks were equally demanding. Of the three tasks evaluated, the choice reaction time task was the least demanding and failed to prevent performance deterioration. A working memory task caused a decrement in longitudinal speed, perhaps indicating that it was too demanding for most drivers to perform while driving, and was subjectively evaluated by the drivers as the most detrimental task to the driving. A trivia game task did not show any advantage in preventing performance deterioration, but was preferred by 50% of the drivers over the other two tasks.
Designing Better Traveler Information Systems: Cognitive and Task-Related Factors
Authors: D'Orazio Jason , Walker Bruce N.
Published: January 2012

Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) attempt to enhance the navigational performance of drivers. Such assistance is greatly wanted and needed by drivers. In order to create systems that help, and not hinder, individuals, designers of ATIS should consider many aspects of human factors. One important issue of ATIS is the appropriate use and design of displays, particularly auditory displays. The use of landmarks in auditory displays may also augment navigation performance, safety, and cognitive maps. Moreover, an ATIS should be designed so that the user can perform tasks of navigation planning more naturally. Finally, the goals of an ATIS should be aligned as closely as possible to the goals of the user, in order to increase user acceptance. Consideration of the above issues will result in enhanced performance, safety, and usability of ATIS. Pilot questionnaire data has been collected that supports some of the ideas suggested in the paper.
Human Performance Assessment of a Prototype Multimodal Naval Command Center
Authors: Hettinger Lawrence J. , Brickman Bart J. , McKinney James
Published: January 2012

A user-centered design philosophy attaches primary importance to human-machine system performance as the key criterion in assessing the operational utility of complex systems. When the system under consideration is uniquely novel and emphasizes the use of relatively immature technologies, system validation must occur at a number of points in the design process. Particularly in these situations, human-system performance testing must inform engineering development throughout the entire design cycle, and not just at its conclusion. In this paper we describe an empirical effort designed to validate novel technical approaches to the design of a naval command center intended to support high levels of tactical performance in a severely reduced personnel environment. Using a human-in-the-loop simulation, we assessed the initial validity of our design concepts by measuring individual and team performance in realistic simulated tasks. By analyzing metrics associated with operational system performance, operator workload and situation awareness, we were able to identify functional aspects of the design, as well as those that needed further user-centered development
Manpower, Skill and Fatigue Analysis of Future Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Environments
Authors: Walters Brett , Barnes Michael J.
Published: January 2012

Recent military operations conducted by the U.S. have brought to light several human factors challenges in regard to the control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The purpose of this research was to examine the crew environment and soldier performance issues related to future UAV systems. Multiple studies were conducted using a variety of human engineering tools to address UAV crew issues related to: 1) the utility of having rated aviators as crewmembers, 2) supplementing current crews with imagery and intelligence specialists, 3) the use of automation to improve systems efficiency, and 4) the effects of crew size, rotation schedule, and fatigue on crewmember performance. No evidence was found to support a requirement for rated aviators in future Army missions. However, the use of cognitively oriented embedded training simulators was suggested to aid novices in developing the cognitive skills exhibited by experts. The effectiveness of adding imagery specialists to crews is discussed, as well as specific recommendations related to automation and crew size derived from simulation modeling.
Measurement of Trust in Humans in Hybrid Inspection for Different Levels of Error Randomness
Authors: Ginwalla Neville Z. , Kaewkuekool Sittichai , Bowling Shannon R. , Gramopadhye Anand K. , Melloy Brian J.
Published: January 2012

The focus of this research is on the effect of human trust in a hybrid inspection system with different levels of error randomness. The experimental designs were developed to conduct inspection tasks with four levels of error randomness, and subjects were requested to rate their trust at different levels in the system. Each randomness level comprised of stages, and human trust variation for each stage was observed. These levels were administered through the use of a hybrid inspection simulator. Analysis of the results revealed that human trust in the hybrid inspection system is sensitive to error randomness.
Driver Performance Model: I. Conceptual Framework
Authors: Heimerl J. M.
Published: January 2012

A comprehensive model that combines the necessary aspects of vehicle characteristics, manual control theory, and human sensory and cognitive capabilities (and limitations) is needed to efficiently and effectively guide experiments, and to predict or assess overall driver performance. Such a model would enable Army program managers to rank competing workload configurations and scenarios in proposed vehicles, and to focus resources on the most promising. Ultimately such a model would replace or significantly reduce reliance on the current costly process: multiple hardware iterations of “design-test-fix.” Currently no such comprehensive model exists. This paper discusses a conceptual framework designed to encompass the relationships, conditions and constraints related to direct, indirect and teleoperated modes of driving, and so provides a guide or “road-map” for the construction and creation of a comprehensive driver performance model.
An Automatized Method for Human-Operator Error Analysis
Authors: Yemelyanov Alexander M.
Published: January 2012

A method of describing and analyzing of causes for human-operator error is proposed. This method is based on causal analysis, theory of frames and modal logic, and essentially different from commonly used statistical means. Unlike routine methods this one facilitates an analysis operator's characteristics and the situation in which the error occurred. The method makes it possible for every error to reveal its intrinsic sources, which can be used for making recommendations concerning their elimination. On the basis of the suggested method, a computer-aided system SAFE was developed which was implemented in aviation to analyze errors of pilots / crew members and air traffic controllers. The proposed methodology and the associated software may be implemented for the analysis of operator errors in any control system.
Effective Ivis Icon Comprehension Research: Context and Response Scaling Methods
Authors: Richman Joel B. , Campbell John L. , McCallum Marvin C.
Published: January 2012

A refined approach used to determine the comprehension level of in-vehicle information system (IVIS) icons is introduced. This approach provides three primary improvements over classical evaluation procedures (e.g., ISO, 2001). First, this approach recommends the inclusion of context to ensure realistic comprehension scores. Second, the scaling method employed provides concrete, well-defined measurement criteria based on major and minor elements included in the icon message. Third, this approach allows the comprehension testing team to provide better diagnostic information back to the icon designers because it allows for analysis of what element(s) of the icon the subjects seemed to understand and what element(s) may have led to errors in comprehension. We recommend using this approach to provide high quality comprehension information for IVIS icon evaluations.
Quantification of Adverb Intensifiers for Use in Ratings of Acceptability, Adequacy, and Relative Goodness
Authors: Krsacok Stephen J. , Moroney William F.
Published: January 2012

Survey designers often assume the existence of an underlying linear continuum with equal intervals between anchors when they create a scale. However, this is not necessarily the case when labels, such as “somewhat acceptable,” “completely acceptable”, etc. are assigned to these intervals. This study examines numeric ratings assigned by college students to adverb intensifiers.

Numeric ratings (from −5 to + 5) were collected from college males (n=54), college females (n=54) for positive and negative adverb-intensifiers of acceptability (n=50), adequacy (n=50), and relative goodness (n=41). Minimal differences were noted in mean ratings, variability, and order of the ratings assigned by males and females.

Three different scale development strategies were utilized to develop 54 adverb intensifier scales with intervals of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 descriptors for acceptability, adequacy, and relative goodness. Survey designers are invited to use these scales or the raw data to develop their own scales. Those who do so will have the advantage of using data based on a current college population.
Development of the Non-Distributed Flight Reference Off-Boresight Helmet-Mounted Display Symbology
Authors: Jenkins Joseph C. , Havig Paul R. , Geiselman Eric E.
Published: January 2012

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is developing helmet-mounted display (HMD) symbology to support its acquisition development programs that in turn transition the latest advances in crew systems to the operational user. This HMD symbology is being designed to provide aircrew with the ability to maintain spatial orientation and awareness of aircraft state while performing off-boresight tasks across day, night, and all-weather conditions. Requirements dictate that the HMD symbology must perform at least as well as the existing head-up display symbology for off-boresight piloting tasks, as well as target acquisition and designation across air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. This paper summarizes the research conducted by AFRL investigating the non-distributed flight reference (NDFR) HMD symbology. The research describes the necessity of having off-boresight symbology on the HMD, how the NDFR symbology has been evaluated and designed to date, and most importantly, the benefit to the pilot when using off-boresight symbology compared to using the HUD alone.
Contemporaneous versus Retrospective User-Reported Critical Incidents in Usability Evaluation
Authors: Capra Miranda G.
Published: January 2012

The user-reported critical incident technique involves end-users directly in qualitative data collection during formative usability evaluations. An augmented retrospective variation was developed where participants reported incidents while watching a recording of their usability session, rather than reporting incidents contemporaneous to their occurrence during task execution. Retrospective reporting enables controlled comparisons of user-reported and expert-reported methods, since session recordings can be shown to multiple reviewers. It also allows for the collection of incidents without disrupting traditional usability measures, such as time to complete task. A within-subject study with 24 participants found retrospective reporting to be similarly effective to contemporaneous reporting. The study is described and guidelines are provided for the use of both the contemporaneous and augmented retrospective techniques.
Identification and Control of Potential Variables in User Testing of PPE for Industrial Operations
Authors: Ching Cindy R. , Reisdorf Robert P. , McGlothlin D. Susan
Published: January 2012

The user test was designed to control variables in the design, bias by the data collectors and test participants, and inconsistency in data collection. Test validity was also a concern. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the design of user testing to identify and control potential variables to minimize bias in testing and selection. The goal of the user testing was to determine which aprons would meet selected performance criteria and also be readily accepted by workers. The successful design of this apron study will be applied to the design of studies to select other PPE such as coveralls and hoods.
A New and Simple Method and Tool for the Evaluation of Input Devices
Authors: Zuehlke Detlef , Krauss Lutz
Published: January 2012

The known Fitts law model is mainly used in the field of HCI for office applications in order to evaluate interaction devices. This paper presents the new method DEVICE that is also available as free stationary software tool and is applied in the field of HMI for the evaluation of pointing devices. Tests with DEVICE and Fitts' method were conducted with machine operators under industrial environments to determine the suitability of thirty different pointing devices The comparison between DEVICE and Fitts' law model shows, that the results of certain partial tests correlate with each other. DEVICE can be used as substitute for Fitts' law model and offers additional features such as e.g. error rates and pointing deviation. The advantages of DEVICE are shorter test times (only one tenth of the test times required with the Fitts' method), more diverse tests for the test persons, a parameter that can be exactly evaluated by the person who is in charge of the test and the comparability between different studies.
Evaluating the Content and Usability of an Experimental Text Summarization System and Three Web-Based Search Engines
Authors: Kushniruk Andre W. , Kan Min-Yen , McKeown Kathleen R. , Klavans Judith L. , Patel Vimla
Published: January 2012

This paper describes the evaluation of a new automated text summarization system, Centrifuser. This system provides information to patients and families relevant to their specific health questions. Centrifuser accepts queries about health conditions, and produces a summary of information from articles retrieved by a standard search engine that is tailored to the user's question. The evaluation involved audio- and video-recording of all subject interactions with the interfaces in situ at a hospital. Subjects, consisting of friends or family of hospitalized patients, were asked to “think aloud” as they interacted with Centrifuser and three commonly used search engines: Google, Yahoo, and About.com . Results of the evaluation show that subjects found Centrifuser's summarization capability useful and easy to understand. In comparing Centrifuser to the three search engines, subjects' ratings varied; however, specific interface features were deemed useful across interfaces. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for engineering Web-based retrieval systems.
Training a Team with Simulated Team Members
Authors: Schaafstal Alma , Hoeft Raegan M. , van Schaik Martin
Published: January 2012

The process of training teams increasingly occurs in synthetic environments. However, it is often still modeled after live team training, including the disadvantages of live training, for example, the fact that all teammates must be available. This paper explores overcoming the disadvantages of human teammates in training teams in synthetic environments, while keeping the advantages of learning in a collaborative and cooperative fashion. Simulated teammates are a promising alternative because they are always available, may be modeled after experienced training personnel, and may be more cost effective in the long run. This paper details a research approach towards the definition of requirements for simulated teammates. In our approach, we carry out a set of experiments using confederates as simulated teammates, in a well-controlled simulation of a military command-and-control task The results of a first experiment show slightly better teamwork skills for those teams trained with simulated teammates.
Computerized Card Sort Training Tool: Is it Comparable to Manual Card Sorting?
Authors: Harper Michelle E. , Jentsch Florian , Van Duyne Lori Rhodenizer , Smith-Jentsch Kimberly , Sanchez Alicia D.
Published: January 2012

One way to determine training needs and to evaluate learning is to measure how trainees organize knowledge using a card sorting task. While card sorting is a valid tool for assessing knowledge organization, it can be work intensive and error-prone when it is manually administered. For this reason, we developed a software tool that computerizes the card sort task. We present a study that was conducted to determine whether the computerized version of card sorting is comparable to the manual sort. One-hundred eight participants completed two card sorts, either two manual sorts, one manual and one computerized sort, or two computerized sorts. No differences were found between the administration methods with respect to card sort accuracy, test-retest scores, and number of piles created. Differences between the two methods were found in administration time and length of the pile labels. These differences disappeared after one computerized administration. We conclude that a computerized card sorting task is just as effective at eliciting knowledge as a manual card sort.
Introducing Teamwork Training into Healthcare Organizations: Implementation Issues and Solutions
Authors: Morey John C. , Salisbury Mary
Published: January 2012

This practitioner paper describes a variety of training development, assessment, and implementation issues and solutions that emerged from our research to develop behavior-based teamwork training for healthcare providers. These lessons-learned are based on our experiences in adapting aviation crew resource management (CRM) training for healthcare providers in the specialty areas of emergency care and labor and delivery. The discussion covers (a) issues surrounding training content and delivery, (b) methodological issues in conducting training evaluations, and (c) institutional characteristics, cultural change, and sustaining the behavioral intervention.
A “Natural” Independent Visual Background Reduced Simulator Sickness
Authors: Lin James Jeng-Weei , Abi-Rached Habib , Kim Do-Hoe , Parker Donald E. , Furness Thomas A.
Published: January 2012

Several studies indicated that an independent visual background (IVB) reduced simulator sickness (SS) and balance disturbance associated with exposure to virtual environments (VEs) and motion simulators. A recent study showed that an IVB comprised of an earth-fixed grid was less effective in a complex driving simulator than in a simple VE. Subjects' post-experiment reports indicated that the VE motion “induced” motion of the earth-fixed grid IVB. This led to the suggestion that an IVB comprised of clouds would be less subject to induced motion and therefore would alleviate nausea more effectively than a grid IVB. Clouds are “natural” and are usually perceived as relatively stable, whereas a gird has no inherent stability. Twelve subjects were exposed to complex motion through a simulated environment in a driving simulator under 3 IVB conditions: grid, less clouds, and many clouds. They reported less nausea when the many-cloud IVB was used relative to the grid IVB condition.
Motion Sickness Symptoms and Perception of Self Motion from Exposure to Different Wallpaper Patterns
Authors: Kennedy Robert S. , Stanney Kay M. , Rolland Jannick , Ordy Mark J. , Mead Andrew P.
Published: January 2012

Vection refers to the compelling visual illusion of self-motion experienced in virtual environments by stationary individuals when viewing moving visual surrounds. Early research with these perceptions generally employed a vertically striped drum of about 1.5 meters in diameter. The illusion of self-motion or vection generated in these optokinetic drums is particularly useful for studying the effects of optic flow imagery in virtual environments because the subject determines the precise time at which the vection occurs and the nauseogenic experience is stopped; thus problems of motion sickness, nausea, and vomiting can be monitored and/or minimized. This vection, presumably related to the reflexive optokinetic nystagmus (OKN), experimentally presents a non-invasive neural visual response which may be safely used for the investigation of possible motion sickness symptoms ranging from the so called Sopite syndrome to the nausea and vomiting which may be experienced in some virtual environments. Further, to be able to examine the effects of color, texture, and differing scene content, we constructed a vection drum with easily reconfigurable displays. Therefore, for stimulus material, instead of the conventional black and white stripes, we employed differing patterns of household wallpaper. Results showed that, while equal amounts of vection were produced with the wallpaper, one pattern appeared to produce less sickness.
Utilty of a Tactile Display for Cueing Faults
Authors: Calhoun Gloria L. , Draper Mark H. , Ruff Heath A. , Fontejon John V.
Published: January 2012

Tactile displays have been proposed as a multisensory interface technology that can relieve the typically overburdened visual channel of operators. This study compared the ability of operators, while simultaneously completing a tracking task, to detect and identify system faults in a monitoring task with three types of alert cues: tactile, visual, and redundant tactile and visual. For the tactile display, the location and vibration pulse speed of two tactors were mapped to four system faults. Response time was significantly faster with the tactile cue. Also, the tactile cue resulted in less interference with the concurrent tracking task, while not degrading vigilance to an additional concurrent visual monitoring task. These results suggest that further tactile cue research is warranted to examine potential applications in complex systems, such as control stations for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Three Dimensional Tracking in Augmented Environments: User Performance Trade-Offs between System Latency and Update Rate
Authors: Ellis Stephen R. , Wolfram Anthony , Adelstein Bernard D.
Published: January 2012

Three-dimensional tracking performance was measured as a function of system latency (35–335 msec) and update rate (10–30 Hz). Twelve subjects used a custom, see-through head mounted stereo display to control the position of a virtual response cursor with hand and body movements. User performance trade-offs between latency and update rate were measured with objective and subjective measures and a possible performance model was evaluated. The results indicate that earlier findings suggesting that latency influenced tracking performance more than did update rate, could be due to previous studies having tested latency over a larger dynamic range. Iso-performance contours are used to compare objective performance with subjective perception and performance judgments.
Attentive Interaction Techniques for Searching Virtual Environments
Authors: Hughes Stephen , Lewis Michael
Published: January 2012

The ability to manipulate the viewpoint is critical to many tasks performed in virtual environments (VEs). However, viewers in an information-rich VE are particularly susceptible to superfluous data and are easily distracted. Attentive Interaction techniques can address this issue by allowing the viewer to explore freely while allowing the system to suggest optimal locations and orientations. In this study, we examine the effectiveness of two interaction techniques. The first technique, called the Attentive Camera, is characterized by the system automatically aligning the viewpoint with the ideal direction of gaze as the viewer explores the environment. In the second technique known as the Attentive Flashlight, the ideal gaze direction is used to aim a spotlight, illuminating objects of interest. Study participants used these techniques to complete four search tasks in a virtual art gallery.
Comparing Standing Balance at Real and Virtual Elevated Environments
Authors: Simeonov Peter , Hsiao Hongwei , Dotson Brian , Amnions Douglas
Published: January 2012

The study evaluated the efficacy of a surround-screen virtual reality (SSVR) system in simulating heights for studying human postural balance at elevation. Twenty four subjects performed standing tasks at 9-m elevation and ground level, on firm and deformable surfaces, in a real environment (RE) and a comparable virtual environment (VE). The RE was the interior of the high-bay laboratory at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Morgantown, West Virginia; the VE simulated this environment in the SSVR system. Medial-lateral and anterior-posterior body sways and mean velocity of the human center-of-pressure displacement were collected using a force platform. The results indicated that the sway parameters were similar in VE and RE at elevation on both firm and deformable surfaces. At ground level, the sway parameters were significantly increased in the VE compared to the RE on a deformable surface, but not on a firm surface. It appears that visual simulation of elevated environments within a SSVR is adequate for studying the risk factors leading to losing balance and fall incidents.
Effects of Disorientation on Human Spatial Cognition: Object Localization in Virtual Environments
Authors: Brou Randy J. , Carruth Daniel W. , Doane Stephanie M. , Vickery Rhonda J. , Moorhead Robert J.
Published: January 2012

The present research examines the effects of disorientation on human ability to locate objects in space in a virtual environment (VE). Participants were asked to memorize the location of virtual objects. After memorizing object locations, they were asked to indicate where the objects were located while inside a virtual chamber. This procedure was repeated in eyes-closed and disoriented conditions. Subject pointing responses were used to measure memory for the relative location of objects in virtual space. This method was extended from Wang and Spelke's (2000) research in a real-world setting. The results show systematic individual differences in the effects of disorientation on the ability to locate objects in space. Two groups of subjects, initially disoriented in the eyes-closed condition, use a memory strategy to locate objects, while another group, less easily disoriented in eyes-closed, shows degraded performance in the disorientated condition. The results are discussed with respect to configural and egocentric theories of spatial cognition.
Haptic Perception of Whole and Partial Extents of Small Objects
Authors: Hove Philip , Tollner Alison M. , Klein Martina I. , Riley Michael A. , Santana Marie-Vee
Published: January 2012

Success at using hand-held objects in the absence of vision implies that the haptic perceptual system is capable of registering information that specifies certain properties of the objects, such as object length or orientation. Research has indicated that people are capable of non-visually perceiving a multitude of object properties. Moreover, research has revealed that those haptic perceptions seem to be constrained by an object's distribution of mass (i.e., inertial properties). However, the majority of this research has been done with large hand-held objects. We sought to test if this relation holds with very small objects. We concluded that participants were able to perceive the whole lengths of the small rods and that whole and partial length are perceptually independent. The results lend support to the hypothesis that this form of touch perception (at the small scale) is anchored in the haptic system's sensitivity to the object's resistance to being rotated (i.e., inertia). Human Factors applications of this line of research are discussed.
Human Information Flow and Communication Pattern in NASA Mission Control System
Authors: Wang Enlie , Caldwell Barrett
Published: January 2012

This study is a preliminary effort to explore human information flow and communication pattern in an operation-critical and time-constrained collaboration environment such as NASA Mission Control System. Understanding information flow and communication pattern is a key step for improving the reliability and accuracy of a complex Human-Machine system. It also can be applied to design a better communication system for future NASA Mission Control Center operations. The information flow and communication pattern analysis based on NASA mission control training simulations indicates that there is no significant utilization difference among communication channels, however, the communication channel's burst rate is significantly affected by phase, mission and channel type.
The Impact of Instructions on Aircraft Visual Inspection Performance: A First Look at the Overall Results
Authors: Wenner Caren , Spencer Floyd , Drury Colin G.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of instructions on aircraft visual inspection performance and strategy. Forty-two inspectors from industry were asked to perform inspections of six areas of a Boeing 737. Six different instruction versions were developed for each inspection task, varying in the number and type of directed inspections. The amount of time spent inspecting, the number of calls made, and the number of the feedback calls detected all varied widely across the inspectors. However, inspectors who used instructions with a higher number of directed inspections referred to the instructions more often during and after the task, and found a higher percentage of a selected set of feedback cracks than inspectors using other instruction versions. This suggests that specific instructions can help overall inspection performance, not just performance on the defects specified. Further, instructions were shown to change the way an inspector approaches a task.
Identifying Controller Strategies that Support the ‘Picture’
Authors: Nunes Ashley , Mogford Richard H.
Published: January 2012

Air traffic controllers build up a comprehensive mental representation of the current traffic scenario, which is known as the ‘picture.’ This picture helps them ensure that aircraft are safely separated as they travel from one point to another in the airspace system. The maintenance of the picture is related to various strategies that controllers use to determine if a conflict exists between two aircraft. However, studies that deal with identifying such strategies are lacking. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to cohesively bring together the empirical literature that identifies these strategies and the instances in which they are used, to provide the reader with a basic set of strategies controllers use in conflict detection situations, and to discuss the application of such strategies in relates to controller training.
Manual Versus Speech Input for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Control Station Operations
Authors: Draper Mark , Calhoun Gloria , Ruff Heath , Williamson David , Barry Timothy
Published: January 2012

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control stations feature multiple menu pages with systems accessed by keyboard presses. Use of speech-based input may enable operators to navigate through menus and select options more quickly. This experiment examined the utility of conventional manual input versus speech input for tasks performed by operators of a UAV control station simulator at two levels of mission difficulty. Pilots performed a continuous flight/navigation control task while completing eight different data entry task types with each input modality. Results showed that speech input was significantly better than manual input in terms of task completion time, task accuracy, flight/navigation measures, and pilot ratings. Across tasks, data entry time was reduced by approximately 40% with speech input. Additional research is warranted to confirm that this head-up, hands-free control is still beneficial in operational UAV control station auditory environments and does not conflict with intercom operations and intra-crew communications.