bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consequential Analysis of Information System Criticality in a Healthcare Organization
Authors: Perry SJ , Wears RL , Chozos N , Johnson CW , Smith KF
Published: January 2012

Implementation of information technology (IT) in healthcare has increased with little attention paid to the consequences of system failures. This qualitative study assesses the organizational understanding of IT vulnerabilities, the potential consequences of failure and system recovery capabilities within a large healthcare facility. Fifty nine percent (59%) of identified software applications were rated mission critical by participants, 46% were medium impact and 1 application was a non-factor. Downtime procedures were in place for only 39% of applications with 30% of those deemed “mission-critical” lacking downtime procedures. Expected recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO) for users were not consistent with those projected by the IT department. A sub-analysis of the emergency department showed a high percentage of mission critical software but only 36% had downtime procedures. Continued inattention to the risks and hazards associated with widely disseminated IT within healthcare represents a continuing and little discussed vulnerability.
Predicting Performance: Self-Esteem among Soldiers Attending Health Care Specialist Training
Authors: Rice Valerie J. , Butler Jenny , Marra Diane
Published: January 2012

Reducing failure and recycling in demanding military Advanced Individual Training (AIT) programs will reduce costs: time and morale for the Soldier and financial costs for the organization. This study is one in a series, examining factors internal and external to the Soldier that can influence performance during AIT. The purpose of this research was to document self-esteem among 253 Soldiers attending Health Care Specialist Training using the Rosenberg Self-esteem Survey and to examine the relationship between self-esteem, general demographics, self-reported health, motivation, self-efficacy and grade point average (GPA). Self-reports of self-esteem were categorized as 11% low, 37% moderate, and 52% high. No relationship was found between self-esteem and gender, marital status, age, race, military component or high school GPA or science grades (p>0.05). Self-esteem was correlated with self-reported health status, endurance, strength, self efficacy and motivation (p< 0.05). No relationship was found between self-esteem and GPA.
Alignment Effects on Simple Turn Decisions in Track-Up and North-Up Maps
Authors: Viita Derek , Werner Steffen
Published: January 2012

Turn decisions will be slower and less accurate for misaligned orientations of a map than when the map is aligned with one's heading direction. It is unclear what the size of this effect will be for misalignments within a narrow range around the aligned heading. This series of experiments examined the effect of turn-arrow alignment on accuracy and speed of turn decisions. In the first experiment, participants were presented with a series of maps, each with a turn arrow of a different orientation and heading superimposed over the center. The second experiment added a simulated driving task to increase cognitive load. Results indicate that while error rates and reaction times rise with increased misalignment, a wide range of misaligned headings ±50° around the perfectly aligned heading show error rates and reaction times that are not significantly different from the aligned heading and thus produce little cognitive cost.
The Effects of Camera Perspective and Field of View on Performance in Teleoperated Navigation
Authors: Lee Pazuchanics Skye
Published: January 2012

Directly teleoperated uninhabited ground vehicles (UGVs) can grant field teams access to places and information previously unavailable. Despite their capability, the video from these vehicles can make teleoperated navigation difficult by cutting out valuable information about the spatial context around the UGV. Typically, UGV cameras provide their operators with a very narrow, “soda straw” field of view (FOV) and a first-person camera perspective. The present research investigated two methods for providing an operator with additional contextual information: widening the FOV and capturing a third-person perspective of the vehicle in its environment. The results indicate that the additional information provided by either method can facilitate aspects of navigation performance. Of the two methods, widening the FOV produced the greatest performance benefit in our task. However, if the FOV cannot be widened, the results suggest that capturing a third-person perspective may facilitate certain aspects of navigation. Finally, the benefits associated with each method were found to be additive. This result suggests that ideal video displays may incorporate both methods, but further research is necessary to understand how the specific information provided by each method impacts the many types of tasks involved in teleoperated navigation.
On Reducing the Somatogravic Illusion with Hmd Conveyed Visual Flow
Authors: Eriksson Lars , Tribukait Arne , von Hofsten Claes , Eiken Ola
Published: January 2012

The acceleration-induced somatogravic illusion (SGI) is part of the pilot spatial disorientation (SD) problem. The effect of visual flow on the SGI was investigated in 13 non-pilots equipped with a head-tracked head-mounted display (HMD) in a human-use centrifuge. The participant was seated in a fixed gondola facing the rotation center of rotation of the centrifuge, and by increasing the angular speed of the centrifuge the centripetal acceleration was increased from near-zero to 0.57Gx. The final gravitoinertial force vector was 1.15G corresponding to a 30° pitch-up. During acceleration of the centrifuge, the participant viewed either a HMD presentation of moving texture elements beneath a stationary horizon, representing a forward linear acceleration, or a darkened HMD without any orientation cues. By means of an adjustable plate the participant continually indicated the perceived horizontal plane. Although there was a great inter-individual variability in the magnitude of the SGI, the overall results suggest that HMD conveyed visual flow might reduce SGI in non-pilots.
Reducing Uncertainty in Visual Search through the Priming of Visual-Relatedness and the Manipulation of Observer Expectancy
Authors: Hailston Kenneth , Davis Elizabeth T.
Published: January 2012

We examined two means of reducing uncertainty in visual search: 1) visual-relatedness of a prime to a target and 2) expectancy (based on the proportion of validly primed trials). The two processes were decoupled using a short and a long inter-stimulus interval to examine their respective time courses in visual search. Twelve participants engaged in a discrimination task and a visual search task. The obtained results suggest that visual-relatedness affects search performance early, but its effects rapidly decay. They also suggest that expectancy requires time to accrue before it can affect visual search performance, but its effects are more long lasting than visual-relatedness. These results offer guidance for designing visual displays. In tasks that require split-second decisions designers should be encouraged to prime visual-relatedness. Moreover if the onset of the display and the required decision are separated by a longer interval, displays should inform users of likely outcomes (i.e. manipulate user's expectations).
Expertise Differences in Attentional Control between and within Baseball Batters
Authors: Gray Rob
Published: January 2012

A simulated baseball batting task was used to investigate the role of attention in hitting performance for expert and novice baseball players. In Experiment 1, we compared the relative effects of attending to stimuli in the external environment (tone frequency) and attending to skill execution (bat movement) on batting performance for college players. When non-switch hitters batted from their preferred plate side or switch-hitters batted from either plate side, attending to the external environment had no significant effect relative to single task performance while attending to skill execution degraded batting performance. When non-switch hitters batted from their non-preferred plate side the exact opposite pattern of results was found. In Experiment 2, we compared the relative effects of attending to stimuli in the external environment presented either within or between swings for novice and expert batters. For experts, attending to the external environment had no significant effect relative to single task performance in the within condition but significantly degraded performance in the between condition. Novices showed the exact opposite pattern of results. These findings are consistent with the dominant theories of skill acquisition and indicate that the optimal attentional focus varies substantially across and within performers of different levels of expertise.
Tactile Technology for Covert Communications
Authors: Brill J. Christopher , Gilson Richard D.
Published: January 2012

The modern battlefield is an environment replete with information and distractions, often to the detriment of communication. To circumvent these issues, we developed TACTICS, a tactile display capable of covertly communicating directional cues and traditional U.S. Army Hand-Arm signals. A multi-pronged, human-centered approach was used to develop TACTICS, and specific considerations for general tactile display are discussed with TACTICS as an exemplar. Laboratory and field research suggest TACTICS is a highly effective means of communication by presenting tactile icons that are learned quickly, perceived intuitively, and discriminated successfully.
Findings from a Multi-Year Investigation of Tactile and Multi-Modal Displays
Authors: Redden Elizabeth S.
Published: January 2012

The U.S. Army's Advanced Technology Objective (ATO) titled “Situational Understanding as an Enabler for the Unit of Action Maneuver Team” sponsored a series of investigations to assess the utility of tactile displays, both as standalone displays and as part of multi-modal displays. The data from the ATO experiments demonstrated three areas in which tactile systems showed potential to increase soldier performance. These areas were communications in dismounted stealth operations, the use of multi-modal alerts (tactile paired with visual) during high visual workload periods, and reduction in visual tasks during extremely high workload.
A More Parsimonious Approach to Estimating Signal Detection Theory Measures
Authors: Bustamante Ernesto A. , Fallon Corey K. , Bliss James P.
Published: January 2012

Signal Detection Theory (SDT) has proven to be an effective tool for analyzing perceptual and decision-making performance in many different areas. The main contribution of SDT is its capability to separate the discrimination process from the decision process by distinguishing between measures of sensitivity and measures of response bias. However, the usefulness of the traditional SDT measures of sensitivity, d', and response bias, c, is questionable in applied settings where observers do not make decisions based on an underlying psychophysical continuum. The purpose of our research was to derive alternative measures of sensitivity and response bias, overcoming the limitations of the traditional SDT model. Results from a Monte Carlo simulation showed support for our more parsimonious model.
Application of Fuzzy Signal Detection Theory to the Discrimination of Morphed Tank Images
Authors: Szalma J.L. , Oron-Gilad T. , Saxton B. , Hancock P.A.
Published: January 2012

The effect of response set size on performance on a detection task was evaluated using both fuzzy and traditional signal detection theory. Fuzzy categories of stimuli were created using morphing software to blend profile images of American (M1A1) and Iraqi (T55) tanks to different degrees. These combinations were used to create static images varying from 100% T55 to 0% T55 (100% MIA1). Participants were asked to indicate the degree to which each image did not resemble an American tank. Consistent with previous research, results indicated that the FSDT model conforms to the normality assumption of traditional SDT. In addition, forcing observers to make binary decisions impaired performance relative to multi-category response sets in the FSDT analysis but not the traditional analysis. However, there were more model convergence failures in the FSDT analysis relative to the traditional analysis, mostly associated with conditions in which there were 100 response categories.
The Relationship between Dimensions of Personality and Situational Awareness in a Navigation Simulator
Authors: Saus Evelyn-Rose , Johnsen BjøSrn Helge , Eid Jarle
Published: January 2012

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between personality and situational awareness (SA). 34 first year students from The Royal Norwegian Navy Officer Candidate School participated in this study. SA was measured during training in the navigation simulator at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy. Both subjective and observer ratings of SA was measured using the Situational Awareness Rating Scale (SARS). Personality was measured using The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R). The results indicated that neuroticism was negatively related to both subjective and observer SA. Extroversion and conscientiousness were positively related to subjective SA. Regression analyses showed that the dimension of conscientiousness with the facet competence could predict subjective SA, and the dimension of neuroticism predicted observer ratings of SA.
Individual Differences in Concurrent Performance of Gunner's and Robotic Operator's Tasks
Authors: Chen Jessie Y. C. , Joyner Carla T.
Published: January 2012

In this study, we simulated a military mounted environment and conducted an experiment to examine the workload and performance of the combined position of gunner and robotic operator and how individual difference factors such as perceived attentional control and spatial ability were related to the task performance. Results showed that gunner's target detection performance degraded significantly when he or she had to concurrently monitor, manage, or teleoperate an unmanned ground vehicle compared to the gunnery-single task condition. Those with higher spatial ability performed significantly better than those with lower spatial ability. Participants with higher perceived attentional control performed better on a concurrent communication task in the more challenging robotic task conditions. Participants' perceived attentional control was negatively correlated with the severity of their simulator sickness but not with their perceived workload.
Social Influence in a Distributed Simulation
Authors: Oden Kevin B. , Terrence Peter , Stahl Jeff
Published: January 2012

Massively multiplayer environments provide a distributed simulation in which to assess the effects of social influence on individual behaviors. This study used this platform to determine the presence of conformity within a virtual environment, essentially replicating the classic social psychology methodology employed by Asch (see Asch 1952a, 1956) on conformity of responses to perceptual judgment tasks. Experimental confederates acting as users in a distributed simulation provided unanimously incorrect responses to a simple line judgment task. Actual experimental participants varyingly demonstrated conforming behavior in their responses, with some deviations from Asch's findings. Implications for training, particularly in military settings, are discussed as are necessary future research endeavors.
Update on ANSI Z535.6: A New Standard for Safety Information in Product Manuals, instructions, and other Collateral Materials
Authors: Hall Steven M.
Published: January 2012

A new standard, ANSI Z535.6, Product Safety Information in Product Manuals, Instructions, and Other Collateral Materials, is scheduled to be published in 2006. The standard provides requirements for the format and presentation of safety messages in a variety of product publications. This poster session will illustrate the format requirements and a variety of particular formats that conform to the standard. This will educate those who are not familiar with the standard about its existence and requirements. It will also assist practitioners who are familiar with the standard by illustrating a variety of ways to implement the requirements of the standard.
I Downloaded What?: An Examination of Computer Security Decisions
Authors: Hardee Jefferson B. , Mayhorn Christopher B. , West Ryan
Published: January 2012

Computer users are faced with seemingly minor security decisions on a daily basis. While much is known about decision-making in general, less is known about decision-making in the context of computer security. In the current experiment, 56 relatively knowledgeable computer users completed a decision-making task that included 24 scenarios which varied in terms of decision domain (computer vs. non-computer), risk (high vs. low), and gain-to-loss ratio (high gains/low losses, equal gains/losses, low gains/high losses). Results indicated that there was no difference between computer and non-computer decisions when risk and gain-to-loss ratio were held constant. However, these decision factors did interact to differentially influence decisions within each of these domains. Perception of risk greatly impacted computer decisions whereas the gain-to-loss ratio seemed to have a larger influence on the non-computer decisions. Potential directions for computer security software design, user training, and future research are discussed.
How Tidy is Your Desktop? a Field Study of Organizational Strategies
Authors: Payton G. Megan , Hurn Carol T. , Carswell C. Melody , Webb Shawna M.
Published: January 2012

Do most office workers customize the absolute or relative locations of icons on their computer desktops in an effort to enhance personal efficiency? Eighty-three employees in a variety of office settings allowed us to document the layout of their desktops and then took part in semi-structured interviews. Just under half of our participants (49%) repositioned their icons from the default locations generated by their computers' operating systems. Only 9% reported grouping icons by function. When the strategies of workers who considered their desktops organized were compared to those who did not, the most notable (and only reliable) distinction was the lower absolute number of icons on the “organized” desktops. Our participants' mostly passive approach to customization may have implications for the use of adaptive versus adaptable interfaces, and it demonstrates the need for decisional guidance tools to support even simple customization.
The Resource for Applied Cognitive and Systems Engineering (TRACE-SE): An Approach to Understanding the GAP
Authors: Stoner Heather A. , Stelzer Emily M. , Wiese Emily E. , Paley Michael , Darowski Adam , Mizrahi Gilbert , Martin Edward A.
Published: January 2012

Today's workplaces are complex organizations in which people connect to information, people, and the world through advanced technology. Accordingly, the nature of work evolves as the workplace adds technologies that challenge traditional skills and increase demands for highly specialized cognitive skills. Systems must therefore be designed to account for the cognitive strengths and limitations of users and support decision-based operations. Traditional systems engineering practices, however, frequently fail to expressly consider cognitive factors in design or consider them belatedly in the design cycle. As a result, systems are often designed that do not fully leverage the cognitive strengths of the human user or compensate for their limitations. Yet, embedding cognitive engineering methods into established systems engineering processes can be complex and expensive without tools to structure and support it. The Resource for Applied Cognitive Engineering and Systems Engineering (TRACE-SE) is a prototype web-based tool that can be used to begin bridging the gap that exists between cognitive and systems engineering. TRACE-SE provides the information needed to simultaneously support both cognitive and systems engineers in the design of user-centered systems that can produce superior decision making, improved safety, and greater operator productivity.
Analysis of Bread Bag Closures for Individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Loewenhardt Ruth A. K.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze four different plastic bag closure devices to determine if there was a difference in their ease of use for individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) between closures currently on the market and an autoclave bag closure currently in use in medical laboratories. This was based on research into issues experienced by individuals with RA and their abilities to perform activities of daily living. This study evaluated the issues of opening and closing bread bags so that they are accessible to people with functional limitations due to the effects of RA. It was determined that the autoclave closure is not a preferred instrument for use by individuals with RA due to the difficulties in small object manipulation, the strength required to use the device and its unfamiliarity. However, closures currently available pose considerable frustration to the user and need to be re-evaluated.
It Takes More than Technical Knowledge to be an Effective Human Factors Professional
Authors: Kortum Philip , Motowidlo Stephan J.
Published: January 2012

This paper describes the results of a study which examined behaviors which can be used to describe effective Human Factors Professionals. The study showed that there is more to being an effective HFP than just technical knowledge. We identified specific behavioral patterns that do not reflect technical knowledge but that do seem to underlie HFP effectiveness and ineffectiveness. Our results also show that besides technical knowledge, the personality traits of conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience may also be important for HFP effectiveness because they are likely to dispose HFPs to behave in ways that result in more effective and successful interactions with clients and product teams. Using this data we plan to develop training programs to help HFPs interact with their product teams more effectively and to create selection instruments that can identify HFP applicants who have the personality characteristics that lead to effectiveness.
Applications of Pilot Training in the Swedish Dynamic Flight Simulator
Authors: Levin Britta
Published: January 2012

Since 2003 Sweden is using a Dynamic Flight Simulator for advanced pilot acceleration training. The DFS is equipped with some unique capabilities including a flight simulation system consisting of hardware and software simulating the JAS 39 Gripen aircraft. This new functionality provides means to extend the traditional G-training into a more natural way of training with the pilot being in control of the flight. A new method was developed for evaluation of pilot's ability to follow a pre-recorded “target” while been exposed to alternating +Gz-levels, replicating an Aerial Combat Maneuver. This method was based on a graphical tool capable of replaying the recorded flight data in the three-dimensional space. A study was performed for which ten pilots in active flight duty volunteered. The study showed that pilots were able to perform the task despite some disturbing vestibular sensation during decelerations. The simulation proved to be both physically and mentally challenging.
Testing Winmine Analysis with ATC Operational Error Causal Factors Data
Authors: Dobbins L. , Pounds J. , Milburn N. , Goldman S.
Published: January 2012

When less than applicable separation minima occur between two or more aircraft or between an aircraft and an obstacle, an operational error (OE) is reported and relevant information is recorded. Most analyses of these data have been descriptive. Five reported categories of OE causal factors (Data Posting, Radar Display, Communications Error, Coordination, and Position Relief Briefing) from 5,487 en route OEs reported between CY2000–2003 were analyzed using WinMine, a tool for probabilistic analysis. Communications Error was reported in 34.5% of the cases and a Radar Display factor in 65.2% of the cases. A dependency network model was constructed to show the direction and magnitude of probability between the five factors. Radar Display and Communications Error were the most strongly linked factors in this sample, suggesting that the relationship between these two factors deserves further examination. This analytic method demonstrates that probabilistic analysis of OE data may help to better understand complex relationships between factors.
Binocular Rivalry and Attention in Helmet-Mounted Display Applications
Authors: Winterbottom Marc , Patterson Robert , Pierce Byron , Covas Christine , Rogers Jason
Published: January 2012

As monocular head-mounted displays (HMDs) are introduced into existing flight simulators for training and mission rehearsal it will be important to determine whether binocular rivalry affects the visibility of HMD presented symbology or the out-the-window (OTW) flight simulator display imagery. In the present study, we examined whether rivalry suppression could be objectively measured under conditions that simulated a monocular HMD and OTW display, and whether voluntary attention and moving imagery influenced the strength of rivalry suppression. The results indicated that strength of suppression under these conditions was less than that found under classic dichoptic viewing conditions, and that attention had little influence on performance.
Perceptual Characteristics of Computerized Program Visualizations can Differentially Affect Detection and Localization Performance
Authors: Davis Elizabeth T. , Hailston Kenneth , Kraemer Eileen , Hamilton-Taylor Ashley , Rhodes Philippa , Papadimitriou Charalampos , Garcia Bath-Ammi
Published: January 2012

Program visualizations (PVs) are sometimes less effective in teaching computer algorithms than desired. One reason may be that PV designers have largely ignored the users' perceptual capabilities. We examined perceptual characteristics of bar displays, similar to those used in teaching sorting algorithms. Within each experimental condition we varied the number of bars displayed, number of flashing cues, number of bars changing height, and whether bars were labeled. Across experimental conditions we examined placement of bars within the visual field and whether bar profiles were fixed or varied from trial to trial. Thirty-six university students participated. Bars placed in peripheral locations can harm performance because of human retinal eccentricity effects. Moreover, many perceptual characteristics that help localization of critical changes (e.g., labels and cues) do not help detection, whereas some that help detection (e.g., 2 simultaneous changes) hurt localization. Our results suggest that consideration of both users' perceptual capabilities and tasks may improve effectiveness of PVs.
The Psychophysics of Sensor Fusion: A Multidimensional Signal Detection Analysis
Authors: McCarley Jason S. , Krebs William K.
Published: January 2012

Image fusion techniques take input from multiple single-band sensors and combine it to create a single multi-band image. While such processing offers to create imagery that is more information rich than that produced by single-band sensors, it may sometimes degrade the perceptual quality of the input content. Working within the context of Ashby and Townsend's (1986) General Recognition Theory, a multidimensional signal detection model of perceptual interactions between stimulus features, the current study measured the perceptibility of single-band content within fused images. Data indicate that the perceptibility of information from one single-band input channel can be degraded as the contrast level of the alternative single-band input is manipulated. False-color rendering of fused images, likewise, can sometimes improve and sometimes degrade perceptibility of single-band content. Implications for the design and testing of sensor-fused displays are discussed.
Exploring Relevent Concepts in the Presentation of Audio within a Simulated or Virtual Environment
Authors: Neumann John
Published: January 2012

This report proposes a taxonomy for audio presentation within virtual environments. After a brief review of relevant audio and hearing issues, a step-by-step process for integrating the audio component of the simulation is offered. The taxonomy is the result of research by Darin Hughes from the Institute for Simulation and Training in Orlando, FL. This work was originally submitted as a class project under the guidance of Dr. Mustapha Mouloua, where Mr. Hughes was co-author. For more information on the taxonomy or his expertise in the field of audio engineering, contact him at darin@cs.ucf.edu .
Organizational Obstacles and Product Design Innovation for a New Fixed-Split Ergonomic Keyboard
Authors: McLoone Hugh , Jacobson Melissa
Published: January 2012

Fixed-split, ergonomic keyboards have been shown to reduce awkward wrist postures while maintain typing performance and improve the functional and medical status of those persons with hand pain as well as reduce the likelihood of developing signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome compared to typists using traditional, straight keyboards. Yet, the design can be improved. This paper describes the basic research, inspiration, and participatory design approach as well as the organizational obstacles in creating the new Microsoft® Natural® Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. The ergonomist had to overcome staid thinking in questioning the fundamental assumptions about the ergonomics of keyboard design and to overcome the product design paradigm of only fixing problems from stated and unstated user needs compared with realizing innovative designs that the average user cannot articulate or consider. An iterative design process resulted in a new ergonomic keyboard with a steeper gable angle, a curved key bed, a taller palm rest, and a palm rest lifter for a truly negative slope.
Understanding Acceptance of High Technology Products: 50 Years of Research
Authors: Caine Kelly E. , O'Brien Marita , Park Sung , Rogers Wendy A. , Fisk Arthur D. , van Ittersum Koert , Capar Muge , Parsons Leonard J.
Published: January 2012

This survey of research on acceptance of technology over the past fifty years was conducted to identify and clarify those variables that influence technology acceptance, particularly those that are related to aspects of the technology itself. We surveyed the literature across many domains, selected articles related to this research area, and coded these articles based on the studied variables and products. The results of this survey are an organizational schema for all of the variables as well as specific guidance on the generalized effects of relevant variables such as perceived usefulness, perceived compatibility, and perceived privacy. For each critical variable, we discuss the implications to guide designers of high-technology products.
Integrating Usability in Development of a Digital Customizer for Product Design
Authors: Bee Oon Yin , Khalid Halimahtun M.
Published: January 2012

Usability is important in Web commerce; a usable Web site attracts users, while an effective customizer increases user satisfaction, thereby sustaining customer loyalty. This paper reports the process of integrating usability in development of a digital customizer for cell phone design, from documentation of customer preferences to translating them into design options, and implementing these in the digital customizer. Three studies were conducted sequentially. The first study documented customer needs on cell phone attributes, and their preferred design procedure. These requirements were then translated into virtual prototypes to be manipulated in a virtual environment. The second study developed the prototype, employing usability principles derived from the human factors literature. The final study evaluated the usability of the derived 2D and 3D customizer prototypes with real users. This provided comparative data about system effectiveness and user satisfaction of the customizer. Suggestions for improving the usability are discussed in relation to the prototype limitations.
Safety Symbols in ANSI and ISO Voluntary Standards - Do People Understand them?
Authors: Deppa Shelley Waters , Kalsher Michael J.
Published: January 2012

This paper presents the results of two studies which comprehension tested safety symbols in published ANSI and ISO voluntary standards. Study 1 tested safety symbols from the ANSI Z535.3 Criteria for Safety Symbols standard. Study 2 tested additional safety symbols from the ANSI Z535.3 standard as well as additional symbols from the ISO 7010 safety symbols standard. Overall, comprehension of the symbols in both studies was relatively poor. Only two of the twelve symbols tested in Study 1 and five of the fourteen symbols tested in Study 2 met ANSI Z535.3 acceptance criteria. Adding red to hazard alerting symbols to depict heat improved comprehension, but adding color and determinants to information symbols did not. Implications of these results for future revisions of the ANSI Z535.3 standard are discussed.
Warnings and Pedestrian Behavior: A Case Study of Unintended Effects
Authors: Huntley-Fenner Gavin
Published: January 2012

We examine a case in which contradictory behaviors to a single safety stimulus occur even though the information content of the warning appears to have been correctly understood. Observations of pedestrian behavior at a grade crossing with active signals are reported. Some pedestrians often ignored warnings to stay out of the grade crossing while trains were entering or leaving the station. These data are consistent with proposals that hazard communications are among the multiple pieces of information that users may draw on in order to complete a desired objective. It is argued that pedestrian violations have different causes than motor vehicle violation, but personal goals and convenience play an important role in compliance with crossing signals. Frameworks for incorporating goal-oriented behavior into theories of warnings effectiveness, such as “affordances” are briefly discussed.
Human Factors Design Considerations in Automobile Backing Accidents Involving Children
Authors: Mortimer Rudolf G.
Published: January 2012

In 2003 there were a minimum of 93 children killed in the U.S. by backing cars. Most of these accidents involved children aged less than 5 years, in residential driveways, with a parent or relative driving an SUV, light truck or van. Rear facing sensors and cameras can aid drivers to detect objects and children behind vehicles. Our analyses suggest that sensors should have a range of at least 2.2 m and must have low false alarm rates. Camera systems basically overcome the problems of false alarms but do not provide guidance once the driver looks away from the display to the rear. Information about the behavior of long-term users of these systems is lacking. Also, there is insufficient information of the variables in backing collisions into children. Until more information is obtained it is difficult to design the most effective systems.
Friction Variation in Assessing Slipperiness in Fast-Food Restaurants in the USA
Authors: Chang Wen-Ruey , Huang Yueng-Hsiang , Li Kai Way , Filiaggi Alfred , Courtney Theodore K.
Published: January 2012

It has been speculated that friction variation could be a significant contributor to slip and fall incidents. However, the relationship between friction variation and a measurement of slipperiness has not been established in the literature. In this field study, the relationships among multiple friction variations, friction levels and perception ratings of slipperiness were investigated in six major working areas of 10 fast-food restaurants in the USA. The mean perception rating score for each working area was correlated with the mean friction coefficient across all the restaurants in comparison with its correlation with various friction reduction variables of each working area. The results indicated that, among 12 friction reduction variables evaluated, the absolute and relative reductions in friction over the whole working area could have a slightly better correlation with the perception rating score ( r = 0.34 and 0.37, respectively) than the mean friction coefficient of each working area (0.33). However, friction variations require more effort and time to quantify than the mean friction coefficient. Furthermore, a statistically significant correlation was obtained between the maximum relative friction reduction over the whole area and the mean friction coefficient in each working area across all the restaurants evaluated ( r = 0.80). The mean friction coefficient of an area is still a reasonably good indicator of slipperiness despite a slightly lower correlation with perception rating than the friction variation.
Synthetic Learning Environment Games: Prototyping a Humanities-Based Game for Teaching African American History
Authors: Greenwood-Ericksen Adams , Fiore Stephen M. , McDaniel Rudy , Scielzo Sandro , Cannon-Bowers Janis A. , Mundy Carol
Published: January 2012

Generational differences and financial and motivational barriers have limited student access to humanities resources. We contend that Simulation-based Learning Games (SLGs) offer a potential means for delivering humanities content in a format that is more accessible to students and more appealing – both visually and interactively – than traditional educational materials. To explore this assertion, a prototype SLG was developed by students and faculty at the University of Central Florida. This prototype was created using off-the-shelf game technology, and was designed to incorporate sound principles drawn from both the science of learning and the area of game design. Additionally, the SLG is designed to reference and incorporate Florida's Sunshine State Educational Standards to ensure relevance to and support of traditional educational methods.
Santos: A Physics-Based Digital Human Simulation Environment
Authors: Abdel-Malek Karim , Arora Jasbir , Yang Jingzhou , Marler Timothy , Beck Steve , Swan Colby , Frey-Law Laura , Mathai Anith , Murphy Chris , Rahmatallah Salam , Patrick Amos
Published: January 2012

This paper presents a comprehensive human modeling and simulation environment under development by the University of Iowa Virtual Soldier Research (VSR) program. This environment, called SantosTM, is a new generation of digital human simulation systems that allows for a user to interact with a digital character with full and accurate biomechanics and a complete muscular system, subject to the laws of physics. Highlighting major results in the areas of dynamic motion prediction, modeling of clothing, modeling of muscle activation and loading, and the Santos intuitive interface will be presented. This paper will feature the various modules that comprise the Santos environment.
Analysis of Manning Requirements for the LCS Mine Warfare Module
Authors: Folds Dennis J. , Hutto C. J.
Published: January 2012

The present paper describes a manning and crew workload analysis conducted to support the development of the mine warfare module for the Littoral Combat Ship. An initial analysis was conducted to develop mission scenarios, a functional breakout, a task list, and an estimate of manning requirements. Ways to reduce the required manning from 27 sailors to 15 sailors were identified, contingent upon design changes and hybrid training. A detailed workload analysis was conducted to assess the viability of the reduced manning concepts. Results indicate that although the reduced crew could handle peak operations requirements, they could not accomplish all the tasks required for the mission within a standard 70-hour workweek. A crew of 19 would be expected to accomplish all the tasks. The present analysis illustrates the value of jointly performing human engineering and manning analyses. Insight gained can be shared simultaneously with system designers, personnel planners, and training developers.
The Effect of Phone Interface and Dialing Method on Simulated Driving Performance and User Preference
Authors: Schreiner Christopher S.
Published: January 2012

Previous research on the use of cell phones while driving has attempted to determine if voice-activated dialing differs from manual dialing in terms of driving performance. However, these studies have generally not examined other calling methods (e.g. calling stored nametags) and have not examined the differences between different phone interfaces. The present study examined driver performance and user preference using three different phones with different manual and voice interface applications in a driving simulator. Twelve drivers participated in one two-hour session. Their task was to follow a lead vehicle, maintaining a safe headway and basic control of the vehicle while performing different dialing tasks. Results showed that overall voice dialing resulted in longer task times and higher error rates than manual dialing, but calling a stored nametag by voice resulted in similar task times and error rates as manually calling a stored nametag or manual digit dialing. Findings suggest that manual speed dialing is the preferred method for dialing while driving, and that differences between various phone interfaces can greatly affect driving performances results.
Developing Systems that can Utilize Captured Command and Performance Data to Support Collaborative Adaptation in Dynamic Distributed Work Environments
Authors: Chapman Roger J.
Published: January 2012

In complex dynamic distributed work environments there is often a need to adapt previously prescribed operations if optimal performance is to be continually achieved. For instance, changes in an organization's personnel, structure, technological resources, procedures, or the physical environment in which work is performed can all have an impact on what adaptation is needed. With modern information systems that capture individual and collaborative decision making and performance in these organizations there is the potential to leverage that data to improve awareness and understanding of what has occurred in the past and to help decide where changes need to be made in future operations. In this paper, two case studies are presented and compared where such data has been utilized this way. The first involves the development of the Post Operations Evaluation Tool to help support adaptation by FAA and Airline operations center staff, and the second involves the development of C2 insight to help support adaptation by Army commanders in command posts. In both cases it was found important to (1) model the system in such a way that contributing factors to performance measures of interest are easily retrieved and appropriately associated with outcome; (2) provide the user with analytical tools to help identify important patterns in the system, but also provide significant freedom in searching through the captured data – starting with meaningful overviews and then providing support for coupled interactive related views on the data, as well as filtering and drill-down capabilities, and (3) provide support for collaborative discussion and problem solving on patterns that one user or group believes are evidence that adaptation is needed.
Job Design for Remote Collaboration in Drilling Operations
Authors: Lauche Kristina
Published: January 2012

In a field study in the oil and gas industry, the impact of introducing real-time data transfer for remote collaboration was investigated. The change involved relocating jobs from offshore to offices facilities and using computer-mediated information and distance communication. A total of 44 staff from 4 companies were interviewed and observed. While the centers succeeded in delivering the wells and providing a better basis for decisions onshore, the impact on job design was not entirely positive. Guidelines for the design and implementation of remote operations are proposed in order to alleviate the lack of sensory information, physical activity and social interaction within the distributed team.
Real-Time Collaborative Heuristic Review: Meeting the Production Schedule Without Sacrificing Quality
Authors: Walker Jesse L. , Bowers Drew M. , Karth Stephen T. , Donahoo Carlton D.
Published: January 2012

Although most heuristic evaluation reports are provided to customers after the entire review process is complete, short production schedules sometimes demand real-time feedback from a heuristic evaluation team. In the past, this type of rapid turnaround has proven to be nearly impossible, but contemporary collaboration tools make real-time feedback a reality. This paper describes the process used by an accessibility evaluation team to provide real-time product feedback to customers. This evaluation team streamlined their current process, turning a highly serialized process into tasks that could be done in parallel by adding new software tools to allow them to work in a collaborative fashion. This improvement enabled rapid feedback to the customer and resulted in a real-time collaborative expert review process that can be used to conduct expert usability or accessibility reviews in any domain.
Multiple Criteria to Evaluate Decision Support Outcomes
Authors: Handley Holly A.H. , Heacox Nancy J.
Published: January 2012

The Integrative Decision Space (I-DecS) is a decision support tool designed to improve multinational mission planning through the evaluation of the impact of cultural influences on decision outcomes. A usability study was conducted to evaluate the prototype tool and to collect empirical data on teams using I-DecS in a laboratory setting. A key aspect of this effort was to identify a methodology to evaluate the benefit of the decision support provided, i.e., differences in mission plans produced with and without I-DecS. Multiple criteria were identified as important metrics of plan quality: mission specific criteria, simulated performance parameters, and command level course of action evaluation. This resulted in a comprehensive method to evaluate the mission plans and assess the effectiveness of the decision support tool. After the completion of the usability assessment with naïve users, I-DecS will be subjected to a more rigorous performance evaluation with experienced users.
Measuring the Usability of Paper Ballots: Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Satisfaction
Authors: Everett Sarah P. , Byrne Michael D. , Greene Kristen K.
Published: January 2012

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 secured funding for improvements to election administration. Improvements include upgrading older voting systems to meet new guidelines. To determine whether the new voting systems are improvements over existing voting systems, information is needed on the usability of the older, traditional systems. This study was designed as a first step in addressing the need for usability data on existing voting systems. Three traditional paper ballots were empirically evaluated to collect baseline data that can later be compared to newer, electronic voting systems. Usability was evaluated using the thee International Organization for Standardization (ISO) metrics suggested by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. All three ballot types (bubble, arrow, and open response) produced reasonable levels of efficiency. The three ballot types did not produce different levels of effectiveness, but the overall error rate was higher than would be expected. On satisfaction, voters were clearly more satisfied with their experience with the bubble ballot.