bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Meta-Analytic Review of the Effects of Noise on Performance: Moderating Effects of Task and Noise Characteristics
Authors: Szalma J.L. , Hancock P.A.
Published: January 2012

In many modern environments noise is a pervasive and influential source of stress. Whether it is the acute result of impulse noise or the chronic effects of prolonged exposure to active machinery the challenge of noise faces many who must accomplish vital performance duties. While noise can have diffuse effects which are shared in common with any chronic form of stress, its influence can also vary as a function of the characteristics of the task and of the noise itself. Here, we provide a quantitative evaluation of those influences so that their most harmful effects can be mitigated, their most beneficial effects exploited and any residual effects incorporated and synthesized into selection, training and design strategies to facilitate human performance.
Analyzing Sub-Optimal Human-Automation Performance across Multiple Sessions
Authors: Hunt Gayle , Rice Stephen , Geels Kasha , Trafimow David
Published: January 2012

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to analyze the interaction between operator strategy and consistency over time. Background: Sub-optimal human-automation performance is a phenomenon whereby combining human operators with diagnostic aids results in performance that is less than desirable. Rice, Trafimow and Hunt (in press) used Potential Performance Theory (PPT) to show that strategies account for little of the variance in sub-optimal performance, and that most of the decrements are due to operators inconsistently using these strategies. The current study looks at these issues across multiple sessions. Method: 20 participants spent four sessions searching for enemy helicopters in aerial images of Baghdad; the task was augmented by a 70% reliable diagnostic aid that provided recommendations during each trial. Results: Consistency accounted for improvement in observed scores early on, despite no gains to strategy, while improvements in strategy accounted for increased observed performance in the later sessions, despite no gains to consistency. Individual data were also analyzed separately, showing various reasons for improvement across time. Conclusion: Both consistency and strategy play important roles in observed performance during human-automation interaction. Application: This study points to a topic that designers and users of automated systems should carefully consider.
Mental Workload Measures of Auditory Stimuli Heard during Periods of Waiting
Authors: Kortum Philip , Peres S. Camille , Stallmann Kurt
Published: January 2012

A study of 105 university students examined whether the length or type of Auditory Progress Bar (APB) used in a telephone on-hold situation had an impact on users' subjective mental workload. Auditory cues can be designed into APBs to provide information to the caller regarding the approximate duration of the hold time. Previous research has found that the majority of callers tend to multi-task during on-hold situations. Thus the design of any stimuli presented while the caller is on hold should take this into account. To do this, it is important for designers to understand how APB design might impact callers' mental workloads. In the current study, participants experienced one of three APB design types (cello, sine, electronic) in four different lengths (30, 60, 120 and 240 seconds). An on-hold call center experience was simulated using a computer-generated interactive voice response system and workload data was collected using the NASA-TLX. The results of this study indicate that the type of APB does not appear to have a significant impact on callers' assessment of mental workload, but that the duration of the stimuli does.
A Comparison of Artificial Neural Networks, Logistic Regressions, and Classification Trees for Modeling Mental Workload in Real-Time
Authors: Fong Allan , Sibley Ciara , Cole Anna , Baldwin Carryl , Coyne Joseph
Published: January 2012

The use of eye metrics to predict the state of one's mental workload involves reliable and accurate modeling techniques. This study assessed the workload classification accuracy of three data mining techniques; artificial neural network (ANN), logistic regression, and classification tree. The results showed that the selection of model technique and the interaction between model type and time segmentation have significant effects on the ability to predict an individual's mental workload during a recall task. The ANN and classification tree both performed much better than logistic regression with 1-s incremented data. The classification tree also performed much better with data averaged over the full recall task. In addition, the transparency of the classification tree showed that pupil diameter and divergence are significantly more important predictors than fixation when modeling 1-s incremented data.
Product Archetype of Personal Computers as an Expression of the Collective Unconsciousness of People on their Hero's Journey
Authors: McLoone Hugh E.
Published: January 2012

Human-technology interaction research has benefited from the insights of cognitive psychology and, more recently, from research on human emotion and affect. Yet, there is a dearth of research that goes deeper into the human mind towards imprinting, instincts, and the collective unconscious. The goal of this study was to uncover the product archetype(s) of personal computer experiences. Young adult men and women were asked to recall their very first personal computer experiences. The narrative structure of these earliest recollections matched several of the stages of the archetypal hero's journey as described by Joseph Campbell in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. The personal computer appeared to be an alchemical tool or book for success on each person's journey, offering the magic and power of game play, communication, information, creativity, sensory interactions, and portability.
Work Zone Safety: Perceptual Countermeasures to Speeding using Synchronized Warning Lights
Authors: Khan Sameer A
Published: January 2012

A driving simulator study of perceptual countermeasures to speeding is described. Perceptual countermeasures (PC) manipulate the drivers' visual scene to help them moderate their driving speed without a conscious deliberation to do so. The use of synchronized warning lights in work zones as a PC is similar to “aero plane runway lights” flashing towards the diver. This method was implemented in a driving simulator where 16 participants drove on an open highway of 9.5 miles with a work zone of 2 miles length every mile. The effect did not achieve statistical significance in reducing mean speeds within work zones to match with the posted speed limit. A frequency domain analysis of driving speed fluctuation within work zones demonstrated that any form of flashing lights can have a pronounced effect on some individuals compared to static lights. This study's implications for agencies looking to implement synchronized warning lights are discussed in the conclusion.
Human-factors antecedents in California amusement ride accident investigations
Authors: Woodcock Kathryn , Diyaljee Zahrah
Published: January 2012

Human behaviour is commonly noted as a contributing factor in amusement ride accidents, as it is in many other domains. However, the category of “human error” is generally undifferentiated in investigations, providing little guidance for developing interventions based on accumulated data. As a result, opportunities to shape behaviour through modified interface design may remain unexploited. An archival dataset of amusement ride accident investigation reports was analysed using a tool developed to both classify errors and prompt extended antecedent investigation. The study found that numerous unexploited opportunities may exist for investigation of human factors antecedents, with 58% of documented errors having unexplored follow-ups or clarification requirements suggested by the tool. Further, many of these “missing links” would point toward factors not generally considered in current investigations, particularly consideration of design features of the amusement devices that might be modified to improve the reliability of human performance, and processes of design.
Use of Information Sources Referenced in and Attitudes about Televised DTC Prescription Drug Advertisements
Authors: Kim Soyun , Mayhorn Christopher B. , Wogalter Michael S.
Published: January 2012

Unlike most advertising, direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertising on television frequently contains warnings. Because of the brevity of the warning message, a follow-up source with more detailed information is given. This research examined the reported likelihood of using several follow-up sources as well as their beliefs about the completeness/accuracy and ease of access of those sources. Also examined were various other beliefs and attitudes associated with DTC prescription drug television advertising. Participants reported that they would more likely to use certain follow-up sources such as the Internet more than other sources such as an advertisement in a particular magazine and believed that certain sources provide more complete/accurate and more accessible information than other sources. The results indicate that the Internet is a growing information source that people use to find out more about prescription drugs viewed in advertisements. Participants' responses indicate skepticism about the goals and content of DTC prescription drug advertising, although the responses also indicate that they believe that there are potential benefits of such advertising. Implications for research in risk communication and warnings are discussed.
How Process Control Operators Derive, Update, and Apply Mental Models
Authors: Yin Shanqing , Laberge Jason
Published: January 2012

The goal of this study was to understand how expert process control console operators interacted with their mental models. We classified this interaction into three forms: deriving, updating and applying the mental model. Ten operators were observed using ethnographic-based methods from the start to the end of their shift. Results revealed operators' strong mental models attained through experience as field operators, essential updates of these mental models at the start of their shifts through handovers and shift meetings, as well as the high frequency of operators performing mental simulations during task performance. The methods used here will be refined for other similar studies at other process control sites. Results from this study could also contribute towards understanding and bridging the expert-novice gap in process control.
A Pilot Study on the Cross-Cultural Acceptance of Technology
Authors: Kothaneth Shreya
Published: January 2012

In this period of technological innovations, there is no doubt that the study of technology acceptance and diffusion is important. There have been numerous advancements in this regard. However, there has been relatively little cross-cultural research done in this domain. The purpose of this study is to explore the role that cultural differences play in the acceptance of technology and in particular, a popular email service provider, Gmail©. A mixed methods approach was followed for this study. Data regarding perception of Gmail© between participants in India (collectivist) and the U.S. (individualistic) was collected using online questionnaires. Correlational analysis and content analysis were used to analyze the data. While there was no statistical significance regarding ease of use, content analysis found that ‘ease of use’ could be an important factor for the Indian sample. Difference in loyalty towards Gmail© was found to be approaching significance (at α=0.05). ‘ Ease of acquiring’ was found to be important for the acceptance of technology for both cultures studied implying that designers and producers must make it easy for potential users from any country to get their product. An interesting trend noticed was that the Indian sample identified social factors like the chat system Gtalk©, if Gmail© was exciting, and if it was good when they compared it to other systems, while the U.S. sample seemed to find work-related factors, like if it was integrated across multiple platforms or if it was a requirement with the organization, to be important. The U.S. sample also brought up the price and brand name a lot more than the Indian sample.
The Effect of Flooring Characteristics on Plantar Pressures on the Foot during Standing
Authors: Wiggermann Neal , Keyserling Monroe , Pokorney Benjamin
Published: January 2012

Many studies have found that “anti-fatigue” mats reduce discomfort during prolonged standing but it is unclear why mats are successful. This has made the design and selection of effective mats difficult. An abundance of physiological evidence suggests that pressure on the foot may be a source of standing discomfort, but no research has examined pressure differences between flooring as a possible explanation for the effectiveness of mats. This experiment will measure the effect of flooring on pressures on the foot for different stance and footwear conditions. Pilot data suggest that standing barefoot, standing on a harder surface while barefoot, standing with body weight near the rear of the foot, and standing with more weight on one foot increases peak pressure. A single foot stance also results in a migration of body weight toward the rear of the foot. A larger sample size will establish whether flooring affects pressures in the shod condition, which will have an impact on future research into the relation between flooring characteristics and mechanisms for discomfort.
Effects of Anti-Fatigue Flooring on Gait Parameters
Authors: Soangra Rahul , Jones Baron , Lockhart Thurmon E.
Published: January 2012

Falls among industrial workers are the leading cause of work related injuries. Nowadays, many industries are opting for anti-fatigue cushioned flooring to reduce fall-related socio-economic cost. The goal of this study is to test SATECH's anti-fatigue flooring for stable gait. A pilot test with five healthy subjects (25–35 years old) has been conducted with six motion capture cameras and two force platforms embedded in a walkway to obtain kinematics and kinetics of whole body gait on two different floors. In conditions where the same floor material was used on the whole walkway, the anti-fatigue floor had smaller values of step length (p<0.01) associated with walking and lower values of required coefficient of friction (RCOF) (p<0.05). Toe clearance, heel contact velocity, whole body center of mass (COM) velocity, single foot stance, and double foot stance did not show significant differences between conditions. The results of this study suggest that subjects were to follow a more stable gait on the SATECH anti-fatigue flooring.
Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control: Driver Acceptance of Following Gap Settings Less than One Second
Authors: Nowakowski Christopher , O'Connell Jessica , Shladover Steven E. , Cody Delphine
Published: January 2012

Currently, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) systems can automate vehicle speed control to maintain following time-gaps in the range of one to two seconds. In this study, a field test was conducted to determine whether or not drivers would be comfortable with the sub-second following time-gaps that could be provided by a Cooperative ACC (CACC) system. A CACC system uses vehicle-vehicle communication to enable faster system responses and shorter following time-gaps. Sixteen drivers from the general public drove both systems on their daily commuting trips, and their driving behavior and subjective opinions of the systems were recorded. The results show that the drivers were generally comfortable with and typically selected the sub-second following time-gaps offered by the CACC system, but there were significant differences between the preferences of male and female drivers. The male drivers typically preferred the shortest gap settings, while the female drivers typically preferred slightly longer gap settings. The drivers' willingness to accept the shorter following gaps adds credibility to the assertion that future CACC systems may have the potential to produce significant increases in the achievable highway lane capacity.
Safe Driving in the Multi-Tasking Generation
Authors: Jenness James W. , Prada Luis Ricardo , Lerner Neil D. , Nass Clifford I. , McGehee Daniel V. , Lee John D.
Published: January 2012

The objective of this discussion panel is to approach the teen driver distraction issue from the driver life-style point of view. As revealed in various focus groups and surveys, multi-tasking is “just what they do,” and what they have grown up doing. How (if at all) is the current generation of young drivers distinct in terms of multi-tasking? What are the implications and how might we deal with this? The approach here is to provide a multi-disciplinary panel that offers a range of expertise and perspectives on studying these issues. Each of five panelists will present a brief perspective of the problem from the point of view of their expertise. This will be followed by an open discussion period.
Validating the Effectiveness of Recursive Blur Enhancement of Symbol Signs using Static and Dynamic Protocols
Authors: McCall Robert , Schieber Frank
Published: January 2012

Previous laboratory research has demonstrated that symbolic highway signs which have undergone the Recursive Blur Technique of visual enhancement exhibit significantly increased legibility distances over standard symbolic highway signs when using a critical detail identification task. This study sought to extend those findings to a new stimulus subset, and develop an identification task that is more conducive to a real-time (dynamic) driving environment. The effects of recursive blur enhancement on legibility distances were replicated using the critical detail identification task for both existing and novel stimuli, but the new holistic identification protocol proved to be an insensitive measure of the effect. Future research on this topic must be able to meet the temporal constraints posed by a dynamic driving environment without sacrificing the sensitivity of a detail-oriented identification protocol.
The Cab Technology Integration Lab: A Locomotive Simulator for Human Factors Research
Authors: Jones Michael , Jones Melvin , Olthoff Thomas , Harris Steven
Published: January 2012

The paper describes a new human factors research capability for the US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)—The Cab Technology Integration Laboratory (CTIL). The FRA sponsored the development of the CTIL in order to assess locomotive crew performance with the integration of new market controls, displays, and automation in the locomotive cab environment. Additionally, the CTIL will be used to assess and demonstrate new technologies and workstation configurations that may enhance human performance and human reliability by increasing the locomotive engineer's capabilities to communicate, plan, and control locomotives within the railroad system. The CTIL provides a platform for integration and prototyping of new locomotive cab technologies to assess the impact of the human-machine interface on locomotive crew performance as new capabilities are mandated to meet safety, cost, and security requirements.
The Combat Causal Reasoner Approach to Robotic Control
Authors: Dorneich Michael C. , Whitlow Stephen D. , Olson Eric , Anhalt David
Published: January 2012

This paper describes an approach to autonomous robotic control that enables cooperative, tactically correct robotic behaviors that human teammates understand. For maximum effectiveness, unmanned systems (UMSs) must be able to support dismounted warfighters in high-intensity, high-operational-tempo (OPTEMPO) situations without becoming a source of distraction. Current models of robotic control require overt human tasking, limiting robotics to low OPTEMPO tasks. The Combat Causal Reasoner (CCR) proposes to change the paradigm of UMS autonomy by enabling UMSs to cooperate with humans without expecting the UMS to perceive the environment as a human would. CCR uses a Playbook approach to generate responses that are consistent with warfighter actions. An experiment demonstrated that a CCR-enabled robot measurably increased warfighter effectiveness and resource utilization, with no loss of robot effectiveness when compared to human tele-operation during high-tempo operations.
Issues with Applying MIL-STD-1472F Standards in the Context of a Large Screen Display Assessment
Authors: Mikutel Andrew , Pharmer James , Tucker Charles , Holness Karen
Published: January 2012

In general, a human factors design standard must strike the right balance between specificity to prescribe proper design techniques and generality to insure that the standard can be relevant across a variety of system designs. Too specific, and the standard is rigid and minimally applicable. Too general, and the standards become open for user interpretation, which can lead to misapplication and inconsistency in applying the standard, producing results that are not reliable or accurate. The purpose of this paper is to identify potential considerations that should be addressed in the development of human factors standards. These issues are discussed within the context of a MIL-STD-1472F assessment of character heights and widths required for Large Screen Displays within a physical mockup of a U.S. Navy Ship's Combat Information Center. During the course of this assessment, a team of analysts performing character height and width calculations recognized several factors that may contribute to the potential for misapplication and inconsistency of standards. The following discussion identifies several of these factors, and provides recommendations for closing the gap of user interpretation, allowing for more accurate and reliable application of visual display standards.
Effects of Display Media Type, Ambient Lighting, Viewing Distance, Viewing Offset, Object Type, and Object Size on Large-Screen Display Legibility
Authors: Wetzel Jake , Hernandez Angie
Published: January 2012

With the advent of increasing advances in visual display technology, MIL-STD-1472F, Design Criteria Standard for Human Engineering, was designated for an upgrade to capture how new technologies may have impacted its display standards. Large-Screen Displays (LSDs) were subject to review and, henceforth, the following study emerged. Six variables were chosen for inclusion in the present experiment: display type (monitor v. projector), ambient lighting (light v. dark), viewing distance (8 ft, 16 ft, 32 ft), viewing offset (0°, 25°), object type (letter, number, symbol), and object size (in terms of visual angle, i.e., 6 min, 8 min, 10 min). The variables chosen were expected to impact operator performance in terms of response time and accuracy based on stimulus legibility. The results did not support any reductions in current minimum text size, but new recommendations for preferred text size, symbol size, viewing distance, and viewing offset were established.
HSI as a Method for Embedding Human-Centered Design in Air Force Rapid Acquisition Programs
Authors: Kosnik William , Acosta Hector
Published: January 2012

It has long been recognized by the DoD acquisition community that effective translation of capability needs into stable, affordable, and well-managed acquisition programs requires proper management of technology maturity. The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) process has proven to be the tool of choice for assessing the maturity of developing technologies from the laboratory to deployment. However, TRLs are not designed for ensuring human capabilities are factored into the evolution of developing technologies. This paper discusses the steps necessary to bring human systems integration (HSI) maturity assessment to the level of technology readiness assessment in the Air Force's rapid acquisition programs. The incorporation of Human Readiness Levels that emphasize system design in terms of human capabilities and limitations into the technology maturity assessment process will reap benefits of risk mitigation, improved system performance, and reduced life-cycle costs when the technology is ultimately deployed to the warfighter.
Panel Discussion of Human Factors Standards for United States Government Agencies
Authors: Ahlstrom Vicki , Lockett John , Connolly Janis , Russo Dane , Tillman Barry
Published: January 2012

United States Government human factors standards serve not only the organization that created them, but also become foundation standards for foreign governments and commerce. Panelists from the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Defense, and NASA will discuss their standards and recent and planned revisions. A panelist will also discuss the transition of Government standards to commercial and international standards and the importance of consistency.
Panel Discussion: Future Challenges for the Effective Utilization of Robotic Assets in Military Environments
Authors: Evans A. William , Barnes Michael J. , Cosenzo Keryl A. , Oron-Gilad Tal , Kelley Troy , Draper Mark
Published: January 2012

This panel has been designed to discuss future directions in unmanned system (UMS) and human-robot interaction (HRI) research. Robotics research for military applications has come a long way, but new issues are appearing on the horizon, which stand to have a significant effect on UMS integration with Soldiers. The Soldiers' role with robotics, in the future, will range from operator, to information manager, to information consumer, to teammate, and interactions will be as varied as the collaborations between man and machine. As heterogeneous robotic assets make their way into regular duty, researchers are faced with the challenge of meeting potential issues in a number of areas head-on; limiting negative influences on performance and increasing effectiveness of UMSs and human-robot teams. Issues that may direct this research include the effects of increased autonomy, multi-robot networking, information flow management, specific task management concerns, and the role of network science in facilitating the integration of UMSs into mainstream battle forces. The members of this panel have been chosen specifically for their background and insight into these areas and it is hoped that their discussion can help provide both direction and guidance in preparing to overcome the challenges of UMS integration into military environments.
Evaluation of a Transfer of Control Concept for Airborne Self-Separation
Authors: Hoermann Hans-Juergen , Schulze-Kissing Dirk , Zierke Oliver
Published: January 2012

Airborne self-separation is one of the concepts which is currently under discussion as a key feature in NextGen/SESAR's future air-transport system. Self-separation of aircraft is expected to provide higher capacity and safety levels as well as a better consideration of the different needs of airspace users. However, in order to become operational self-separation requires certain airspace structures and procedures. Compared to earlier studies by FAA and NASA which are based on the concept of shared control by ATC and flight crews, our approach uses a transfer of control concept where the control authority for aircraft separation tasks is shifted from ATC to flight crews and back to ATC. In order to better understand possible roles and role changes of future aviators, we conducted an integrated simulation study with 15 airline pilots and five air-traffic controllers on a low-cost simulation platform called AviaSim. In an experimental design with repeated measurements, the subjects flew three scenarios with and without control shift for self-separation. The findings show that operators' workload and situation awareness scores are better balanced under the shift-of-control condition compared to the traditional ground-control condition. Additionally, effects of transfer of control on preferred separation tactics and safety indicators are examined.
Evaluating the Usability of Federal Student Aid Print Publications with Representative Users
Authors: Becker Mark , Douglas Dana , Horst Dick
Published: January 2012

This case study describes an evaluation of current Federal Student Aid print publications to determine how well they meet users' needs and to what extent they are readily usable by and appealing to their intended audiences. The publications were designed to inform and educate readers about the process of preparing for higher education, both academically and financially. The intended audiences were students who are considering going to college, their parents, and counselors. The evaluation followed a multi-pronged, user-based approach. Our methods included usability testing, focus groups, an online survey followed by telephone interviews, and a mock “financial aid night” at which participants could browse among available publications and indicate which appeared to be of most interest to them. This paper will discuss these user-based activities, some of the insights that were derived from them, and some of the resulting design recommendations that will influence future versions of these print publications.
Higher Order Cognitive Skills Training in Support of Contemporary Military Operations
Authors: Becker William , Schatz Sae
Published: January 2012

The nature of global conflict is changing. Since 2001, the United States has openly engaged in an unconventional military conflict defined by a range of counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, peacekeeping, and infrastructure-building initiatives. To excel within this environment, the US military has adopted new strategic approaches, such as Full-Spectrum and Enhanced Company Operations. Such paradigms share a striking commonality: Much greater emphasis is now being placed on individual personnel's higher-order cognitive skills. This paper outlines the operational requirements that create a demand for efficient, deployable higher-order skills training. The paper also includes a discussion about current efforts aimed at developing instructional technology that can help meet these training needs.
Tutoring Ship Handling Skills: Intelligent Tutor and Expert Model in a Simulation
Authors: Kirschenbaum Susan S. , Wong Jason H. , Peters Stanley
Published: January 2012

The goal of this project is to develop an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) for ship handling. The system employs a cognitive model of expert surface ship navigation integrated with a spoken intelligent tutor (developed by Stanford University) and a ship handling simulation system, the Conning Officer Virtual Environment (COVE). This paper describes how the expert model was developed and how it is integrated with the ITS and COVE.
Using After-Action Review Based on Automated Performance Assessment to Enhance Training Effectiveness
Authors: Stevens-Adams Susan M. , Basilico Justin D. , Abbott Robert G. , Gieseler Charlie J. , Forsythe Chris
Published: January 2012

Training simulators have become increasingly popular tools for instructing humans on performance in complex environments. However, the question of how to provide individualized and scenario-specific assessment and feedback to students remains largely an open question. In this work, we follow-up on previous evaluations of the Automated Expert Modeling and Automated Student Evaluation (AEMASE) system, which automatically assesses student performance based on observed examples of good and bad performance in a given domain. The current study provides a rigorous empirical evaluation of the enhanced training effectiveness achievable with this technology. In particular, we found that students given feedback via the AEMASE-based debrief tool performed significantly better than students given only instructor feedback on two out of three domain-specific performance metrics.
The Influences of Automation and Trainee Aptitude on Training Effectiveness
Authors: Clegg Benjamin A. , Heggestad Eric D. , Blalock Lisa Durrance
Published: January 2012

This study examined how the degree of automation provided during training and the general intelligence of the learner operate to influence task learning, and transfer to a no automation environment. An experiment was conducted using the Pasteuriser simulation, with participants assigned to one of three training groups: manual control, user-initiated automation, or automatically-initiated automation. The presence of automation facilitated initial training performance, but hindered performance later in training. When automation support was removed, costs were seen for those trained with automatically-initiated automation. An aptitude-automation interaction was observed, such that automation reduced the relationship between trainee intelligence and training performance. These results suggest that the effectiveness of automation in training will vary not only by the type of automation and the task, but also by the aptitude of the operator.
A Preliminary Evaluation of a Burr Hole Drilling Simulator for Craniotomy
Authors: Scerbo Mark W. , Turner T. Robert , Newlin-Canzone Elizabeth , Meglan Dwight , Waddington Robert , King Dan , Champion Howard
Published: January 2012

A training transfer paradigm was used to evaluate a virtual reality (VR) simulator for performing the burr hole drilling portion of a craniotomy procedure. Participants used a VR simulator that had a physical drill handle interfaced with a haptic force/torque feedback system. They practiced until they met a priori performance criteria and then repeated the procedure with a genuine drill and foam model of a skull. The results showed some positive transfer related to hand steadiness, but not for drilling time. The drilling model incorporated in the simulator may require more effort to maintain the drill position and more revolutions of the drill bit to penetrate the model skull. Thus, practice on the VR simulator enabled the participants to maintain better drill position on the physical model. From a clinical perspective, the findings underscore the advantages of practicing a critical surgical procedure on a simulator prior to performing on a genuine patient.
Leveraging Virtual Reality, Simulations, and Games for Training
Authors: Riley Jennifer M.
Published: January 2012

This symposium presents papers and panel discussions describing ongoing research and training approaches that leverage the capabilities of virtual reality, simulation technologies, and advanced computer-based games for training behavioral and cognitive skills. Results on experimental studies, training approaches and cases, and demonstrations will be included. The panel includes a military expert who will also provide insight on the challenges facing research and developers of game-based training.
Physiological Measures in a Team Training Simulation
Authors: Kring Jason P. , Wessinger Lauren , Payne Christopher , Blanding Ryan , Entezari Zoubair
Published: January 2012

The modern battlefield is replete with cognitive demands that can increase workload and cognitive stress. If military leaders can objectively monitor and predict these cognitive states, they can initiate countermeasures or alter task load to prevent performance decrements. Training simulation developers could also use such measures to assess which elements of a simulation affect workload and cognitive stress. This study evaluated a physiological approach, heart rate variability (HRV), as small teams conducted military-type, search-and-rescue exercises in a simulated urban environment. HRV data were collected as teams of 4 experienced low, medium, and high task-load conditions. Results will indicate which HRV frequency band (very low or high) is most sensitive to task-load and form the basis of a predictive model to indicate when a team is experiencing higher workload levels or increasing degrees of cognitive stress.
Modeling Transfer of Training and Training Effectiveness in Simulated Marksmanship Training
Authors: Merlo James L , Frechette Jacob , Banks Stephen J
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a positive transfer of training effects from simulated marksmanship training, specifically the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST 2000), and if so, to develop a model which could be used to predict the optimum time required to achieve a maximum positive transfer of training benefit. The data analyzed was collected from cadets attending Cadet Basic Training at the United States Military Academy. Multiple independent variables were analyzed with both objective and subjective evidence supporting that the EST 2000 is useful as both a trainer and a predictor of live marksmanship performance. Results include analysis of different weapon types trained and different time periods that elapsed between simulated and live training. Results emphasize criterion based training over training to time standards.
Game-based Learning: The Impact of Flow State and Videogame Self-efficacy
Authors: Pavlas Davin , Heyne Kyle , Bedwell Wendy , Lazzara Elizabeth , Salas Eduardo
Published: January 2012

The science of serious games is growing at a substantial pace, providing new insights into the nature of game-based learning. Recently, research has begun to focus on the elements that comprise serious games and how these elements relate to learning (Wilson et al., 2009; Pavlas et al., 2009). As part of an effort to understand how these attributes impact learning outcomes, a study manipulating a number of game attributes in an immune system game was conducted. From this effort, two psychological constructs initially considered as mere covariates – video game self-efficacy and flow state – emerged as significant and highly explanatory predictors of learning. This article provides an overview of these constructs, describes the research that led to this finding, presents the results of this research, and offers implications and suggestions for future work.
Military Training in Virtual Environments: User Interface Evaluations
Authors: Singer Michael J. , Barnett John
Published: January 2012

Infantry platoons from both the US Army and UK Army conducted small-unit exercises in a common terrain database using two game-based simulation (GBS) systems, the On-Line Interactive Virtual Environment (OLIVE™) and Virtual Battlespace 2 (VBS2™). After introductory training and a series of exercises in each GBS, Solders completed usability questionnaires addressing avatar characteristics, general fidelity, and the control operations in the graphical user interface. Following the complete series of exercises, Leaders and Soldiers also participated in guided interviews. Results suggest that US and UK Soldiers had similar opinions of both GBS systems. Both groups rated VBS2 higher on avatar characteristics and fidelity scales after exercises were completed. During the interviews, Leaders and Soldiers identified specific functions of each GBS that were useful, and described features that were difficult to use or unrealistic. Leaders and Soldiers also suggested that for military training and rehearsal a hybrid system should be developed that combines the best features of each GBS.
Optical See-Through Head Mounted Display Direct Linear Transformation Calibration Robustness in the Presence of User Alignment Noise
Authors: Axholt Magnus , Skoglund Martin , Peterson Stephen D. , Cooper Matthew D. , Schön Thomas B. , Gustafsson Fredrik , Ynnerman Anders , Ellis Stephen R.
Published: January 2012

The correct spatial registration between virtual and real objects in optical see-through augmented reality implies accurate estimates of the user's eyepoint relative to the location and orientation of the display surface. A common approach is to estimate the display parameters through a calibration procedure involving a subjective alignment exercise. Human postural sway and targeting precision contribute to imprecise alignments, which in turn adversely affect the display parameter estimation resulting in registration errors between virtual and real objects. The technique commonly used has its origin in computer vision, and calibrates stationary cameras using hundreds of correspondence points collected instantaneously in one video frame where precision is limited only by pixel quantization and image blur. Subsequently the input noise level is several order of magnitudes greater when a human operator manually collects correspondence points one by one. This paper investigates the effect of human alignment noise on view parameter estimation in an optical see-through head mounted display to determine how well a standard camera calibration method performs at greater noise levels than documented in computer vision literature. Through Monte-Carlo simulations we show that it is particularly difficult to estimate the user's eyepoint in depth, but that a greater distribution of correspondence points in depth help mitigate the effects of human alignment noise.
One versus Two-Handed Six Degree-of-Freedom Compensatory Tracking in 3D and the Effects of Practice
Authors: Underwood Steven , Gallimore Jennie J.
Published: January 2012

Three-dimensional displays and input devices are now widely available. While research has investigated 3D input devices for a variety of applications, much research describes custom-made devices. There are also limited guidelines on the use of 3D input devices. A previous study investigating six degree-of-freedom (DOF) compensatory tracking performance found that novice users with little practice performed the task very poorly. This study investigates the effects of practice on performance. Subjects performed a compensatory tracking task using off-the-shelf six-DOF input devices with one device in one hand, or two devices, one in each hand splitting translation (X, Y, Z axis) and rotation (Heading, Pitch, Roll) control between hands. Examining Root Mean Square Error for each axis indicated that the tracking task was difficult to perform. Regression results and slopes indicated there was greater improvement over time for translation movements for the two hand condition, but performance for translation was better when using one hand. Research is needed to determine appropriate settings for the 3D mouse based on task type.
Human Factors Research in Urban Transportation
Authors: Parsons H. McIlvarne
Published: January 2012

Human factors research in urban transportation has been done in bus systems, personal rapid transit (PRT), demand-responsive systems, rail transit, and to a very limited extent in modal choice. The last in particular needs more investigation, which might concentrate on the motivational variables affecting decisions whether to go by private car or by bus (or other system). Various research projects were described in the Human Factors Workshop at the last meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
Psychological Design Factors in Urban Public Transportation Vehicles
Authors: Adams S. Keith , Hoag LaVerne L.
Published: January 2012

Urban growth, pollution, and fuel shortages among other factors are causing the United States to place increased reliance on public transportation systems to meet daily travel requirements. Recent trends in transportation have shown a reluctance to accept public transportation as a viable alternative to the automobile. Even some advanced systems such as BART have not been well received. A major source of this reluctance has been attributed to the failure to successfully meet the psychological needs and preferences of the traveler in designing passenger compartments of public vehicles. A discussion is presented on important psychological variables such as personal space, situation control, esthetics, perceived safety, privacy, and forced interaction with other travelers. Recommendations are given for improving the design of urban public transportation vehicles.
Bus Modification to Improve Safety, Comfort, and Human Reliability
Authors: Stewart Catherine
Published: January 2012

The MITRE Corporation has made a preliminary analysis of the needs of bus patrons, with emphasis on the needs of the disabled. This analysis, based on observations and consultation with specialists was used to derive human performance requirements for average, aged and disabled patrons, and for the driver.

The bus modification kits described are intended to increase human reliability and safety. To accomplish this the kits should improve: Information on the identification of buses, routes, and destinations; access, equilibrium, and egress for the disabled, with a minimum of assistance; recognition and use of emergency exits; nighttime visual access for drivers and patrons; familiarity with vehicle accessories; and safety under mobile or emergency conditions.

Modification kits are evaluated on the basis of effectiveness, and costs of research, development, production, and installation. Since it may be impractical to install all kits immediately, they are recommended for implementation on the basis of effect on utility of transportation for the aged and disabled. The following kits meet this criterion: Public Address, Route Identification, Handrails, Stanchions, Raised Seat, and Extended Step.
The Effects of Age and Visual Capability on Performance with Plane and Convex Mirrors
Authors: Mourant Ronald R. , DeWalo Ruth E.
Published: January 2012

Reaction times were measured for a detection task and a recognition task when using plane mirrors and when using convex mirrors. Three groups of nine drivers each (Young, Mature-with Bifocals, and Mature-No Glasses) were studied. The detection task consisted of reporting the number of Landolt Rings (0,1,2,3, or 4) that were made to appear in a mirror. The recognition task consisted of reporting the orientation (left, right, up, or down) of the Landolt Ring gaps. On both the detection and recognition tasks differences between types of subjects increased as the convexity of the mirror increased.

The largest differences occured when the images were displayed in a 40 inch convex mirror. Here, Mature-No Glasses subjects took .77 seconds longer to report target orientation than Young subjects. On the same task Mature-Bifocaled subjects took only .18 seconds longer than the Young subjects.

Since the longer reaction times of Mature-No Glasses subjects appears to be due to their poorer visual acuity it is recommended that states require higher visual standards with respect to far visual acuity.
The Effects of Certain Gimbal Orders and Workloads on Target Acquisition
Authors: Price Dennis L.
Published: January 2012

If air-to-ground imaging sensors are mounted to aircraft by different gimbal order systems, the scenery at the displays will rotate differently, even though the flight paths are identical. Eighteen experienced pilots were tested to investigate the effects such scene motions might have on target detection, recognition, and identification performance, and also on operator workload. The Martin Marietta 600:1 scale terrain model was used to provide the imagery of three gimbal orders: roll-pitch, yaw-pitch, and pitch-yaw. Target runs simulated started at 20k ft. slant range, and maintained a 4k ft. altitude, and 2500 or 5000 feet offset. They were 30-second runs at a speed of 350 knots. The pitch-yaw gimbal order was associated with the greatest range-to-target scores and the lightest workloads. Also, the workload measured for each gimbal order and the workload measured for a word task from the Montana Meaningfulness Scale were added together for each subject. The sum was the estimated workload for that subject for the combined tasks, which were presented on two monitors. The six subjects with the heaviest workload estimates and the six with the lightest were compared on range-to-target scores. The heavy workload group demonstrated a trend effect for improved performance compared to the light workload group, p < .01. However, significant degraded performance occurred when the results of all subjects for this words and target task were compared with similar trials in which the second display was monitored during the observer's spare time only.