bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Data Verification Process for Improving Operating Room Performance
Authors: Anderson Tonia J.
Published: January 2012

This paper outlines a data verification process for surgery records. The process focuses on identifying invalid records and standardizing data fields for large scaled analyses that measure surgery department efficiencies and surgeon performance. An overview of the purpose and development of the process is given. Results from over thirty hospitals indicate that the most common verification category involves incomplete records. It is planned that the conference presentation will further discuss the impact of data verification on performance improvement initiatives in the operating room as well as overall guidelines for data-driven projects in the hospital environment.
A Model for Economic Evaluation of Health Technology
Authors: Murray Mary Ellen , Brennan Patricia Flatley , Bascom Moehlman
Published: January 2012

A production process model of resource utilization is proposed as a way to guide economic evaluation of health care technology. The model is illustrated in a project that is a three-year study being directed by Dr. Patricia Flatley Brennan through application to an existing randomized clinical trial, the “HeartCare” project. The purpose of the original study, HeartCare, is to study the impact of an Internet-based technology on nursing practice and patient outcomes. This model provides a structure to analyze costs of the research technology from three time perspectives: (1) development of the technology, (2) implementation, and (3) maintenance of the technology. Patient perception of the value of the technology was also studied. The economic analysis uses two strategies, cost analysis and willingness to pay (WTP) to evaluate the HeartCare research project.
Learning from the Self Confrontation of the Ergonomist Interviewer
Authors: Pelegrin Bernard
Published: January 2012

The self confrontation set up by the ergonomist usually concerns the operator. Here we apply the self confrontation – and methods taken from Linguistics – to the Ergonomist to understand the fine mecanisms of the intercomprehension between the Ergonomist-Interviewer and young interviewees. They face an important problem of rehabilitation. The Ergonomist helps them to prepare the skills assessment they have to submit to.

This study is based on knowledge derived from interactionist linguistics and socio-linguistics. It helps in the knowledge of the profession of Ergonomist. It leads to the definition of a double notion: the ‘Epiphore-habitity’ couple defined as what enables to gain in clarity, background and precision, here and now, in the course of the interview.
Analysis of the Difficulties Encountered by the Participants in a Participatory Ergonomic Process
Authors: St-Vincent M. , Laberge M. , Lortie M.
Published: January 2012

This communication discusses the difficulties encountered by an ergonomics group's participants in two different plants in an ergonomic analysis of varied tasks. During work meetings attended by the ergonomists, the two ergonomics groups analyzed three jobs using an analysis tool developed by the researchers. The participants' difficulties were identified from an analysis of the content of the ergonomists' interventions during the meetings. The results obtained from the analysis of the second job revealed significant differences between the two plants. In plant 1, the participants' difficulties were expected learning-related difficulties, while in plant 2, the difficulties were unexpected and major. In this latter plant, most of the ergonomists' interventions were integrated into discussion cycles and were related to high intensity difficulties. The results indicate that the participants had difficulties that related to their representation of the basic concepts and objectives of ergonomics; they also had difficulty detailing the solutions and did not recognize the benefit of collaborating with company engineers. The results suggest that ergonomics committees' learning is related to company culture and establishes the limits of the ergonomist's role when he fails to change the participants' representations.
Using Participatory Ergonomics to Design and Evaluate Human Factors Training Programs in Aviation Maintenance Operations Envrionments
Authors: Robertson Michelle M.
Published: January 2012

Case studies where a participatory approach was used to design, implement and evaluate human factors training programs within in aviation maintenance operations environment is presented in this paper. A systematic evaluation model with five levels of training effectiveness measures was used to measure the effects of two human factors, maintenance resource management training programs. Positive gains from participatory ergonomics related to these human factors training programs are given.
The Conditions for Apprenticeship in a Work Situation: Margins of Maneuver and Resources to be Changed by the Individual, the Group and the Organization
Authors: Chatigny C.
Published: January 2012

An ergonomic analysis of the learning conditions and strategies in two types of occupations demonstrates the existence of various degrees of use and construction of organizational, human and material resources. These strategies are individual and collective, and focus on an increase in the margin of maneuver for doing and learning how to do the work in an efficient way. They play a major role but are developed and implemented under conditions that often make them costly because they are limited by the margin of maneuver imposed by the companies.
From Training in Ergonomic Diagnosis to Finding Solutions: Assessment of Ergo Groups that Used Participatory Ergonomics
Authors: Montreuil Sylvie , Bellemare Marie , Prévost Johane
Published: January 2012

The goal of this article is to present the training given to ergonomic groups to teach them how to transform work situations in a company producing primary aluminium. It presents the transition from the ergonomic diagnosis (9) conducted by the groups (7) to the solutions they considered during a brainstorming session, the weighing of the solutions and, finally to the ideas retained for industrial transformation projects. The results show that the most numerous ideas and those that were most often retained concerned equipment-tools category. Of the ideas expressed, 50.5% and 40.5% were retained for transformation projects in the “equipment-tools” and “layout” categories, respectively. In this study, the ability of the ergonomics-trained groups to find relevant solutions for the prevention of work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) seems undeniable to us.
From Diagnosis to Transformation: How Projects are Implemented in a Participatory Framework
Authors: Bellemare M. , Marier M. , Prévost J. , Montreuil S. , Perron N.
Published: January 2012

In this paper, we use a project management approach as a basis for describing the process of implementing changes as part of a musculo-skeletal disorder (MSD) prevention program in two primary aluminium processing plants. In this participatory program, seven Ergo groups produced nine diagnoses, leading to 40 change implementation projects, 23 of which were subsequently carried out over a period of 18 months. A qualitative analysis based on several data sources, including the personal logs of four ergonomists responsible for monitoring the Ergo groups, led to the identification of the following variables: scope, sector, project ownership and project management It also showed how these variables influenced project outcomes. A number of elements are proposed for consideration when preparing and implementing this type of program.
Determinants of Perceived Teamwork: Examination of Team Performance and Social Psychophysiology
Authors: Gil Monica C. , Henning Robert A.
Published: January 2012

Team situation awareness (SA) has not received the same amount of research attention as individual SA. Given a lack of established relationships between objective and perceived measures of teamwork, as well as between team psychophysiology and perceived teamwork, the present study examined these potential relationships during a two-person, continuous tracking task. Seventeen two-person teams of undergraduates performed a computer-based, simulated teleoperation task. This investigation tested for relationships between objective performance measures (task completion time, team tracking error, coordination and collision damage), psychophysiological measures (electrodermal activity, heart inter-beat interval and respiration), and three subjective measures (team coordination, task engagement and task difficulty). The results suggest that objective team performance and some social psychophysiological measures (heart cross-correlation) contribute to team member perceptions of teamwork. Theoretical and practical implications of using all three techniques to assess team SA are discussed.
Psychometric Properties of the 0.1 HZ Component of HRV as an Indicator of Mental Strain
Authors: Nickel Peter , Nachreiner Friedhelm
Published: January 2012

Legal regulations in the EU concerning the evaluation of mental workload require that suitable and practical methods for the assessment of mental workload at the workplace are needed. Currently the 0.1 Hz component of heartrate variability (HRV) is considered an attractive and promising measure of mental strain. However, systematic and comprehensive studies investigating the psychometric properties of this cardiovascular measure are still missing. Therefore this problem has been addressed experimentally: If the 0.1 component of HRV is a valid measure of mental strain it should discriminate between mental load produced by different types of tasks (diagnosticity) and different levels of difficulty (sensitivity). Comparing psychophysiological, performance, and subjective data the results for the psychophysiolgical data cannot be interpreted as support for a sufficient sensitivity and diagnosticity of the 0.1 component of HRV as a measure of mental strain. This cardiovascular indicator does not meet conventional requirements to be used in mental and especially cognitive workload evaluation. However, there is evidence that the 0.1 component of HRV is more likely to indicate emotional strain (stress reactions) or general activation.
Mass Customization and Web-Based Do-It-Yourself Product Design
Authors: Khalid Halimahtun M.
Published: January 2012

In this millennium, some manufacturing will shift from mass production to mass customization as manufacturers adopt Web-based technologies to connect them directly with their customers; thereby changing the way companies operate in e-business. This paper highlights a Do-It-Yourself Design (DIYD) approach that enables customers to design their own product on the Web while the manufacturer produces it. DIYD assumes that customers can translate their own requirements to design. A generic set of customer needs is uncovered. These may be mapped on to functional requirements and design parameters using a hierarchical design approach. A case study among Malaysian and Hong Kong participants supported hierarchical design in Web-based DIYD of watches. To this end, Web-based design presents various human factors challenges: the modelling of customer needs, and the design of a usable web system that can realize design options.
Community Ergonomics and Quality Work Design in the 21st Century
Authors: Cohen William J
Published: January 2012

Community ergonomics (CE) was first described as a process to implement useful solutions for very poor inner city communities in the US. Its central feature is the creation of implemented solutions to meet target purposes and aspirations of participants in an effort to improve something. The CE process is based upon notions of industrial engineering, human factors and ergonomics, behavioural cybernetics, and Breakthrough Thinking™. Naturally, it is a process well-suited for the work environment and can help to discern both the need for better work design and the opportunity for quality of life improvement through stage-dependant, purpose driven solutions. Design solutions vary across and within industries depending upon unique circumstances of individuals, technology, task demands, work environment, and organizational structure. It is the process of people and resources interacting in a structured manner over a period of time that leads to logical target solutions and purposeful achievement. The CE process can be effectively applied to the work setting where manual labour tasks can exact a high physical toll on employees, especially in the face of decreasing resources. The purpose of the application is to demonstrate that CE can redesign tasks and use of tools and technology to improve efficiency while enhancing the safety and health of employees.
Developing the Quality of (Working) Life in a Community - The Case of a French Region
Authors: Carayon Pascale , Coujard Jean-Louis
Published: January 2012

The ergonomics and sociotechnical systems field has made a number of contributions to the improvement of quality of working life. Most of the contributions have tackled single organizations. Recently, ergonomists and sociotechnical system specialists have contributed to the quality of life in communities (i.e. the Community Ergonomics movement). In this paper, we present the case of a French region in which various efforts have been implemented to foster economic development and increase quality in the community. At the center of these efforts are the organizations of the region (both public and private organizations) and the linkages between those organizations. This case study is analyzed in light of models of job development and work design, in particular participatory approaches.
Designing Automated Alerting Systems: Standard and Fuzzy Signal Detection Theory and Bayesian Analysis
Authors: Parasuraman Raja , Masalonis Anthony J.
Published: January 2012

Quantitative models of human-automation interaction can aid in the design of automation for effective human use. The application of signal detection theory (SDT), Bayesian analysis, and fuzzy SDT to the design of automated alerting and warning systems is discussed. SDT and Bayesian analysis can be used to design automated systems with high posterior probabilities of correct response to hazards. Fuzzy SDT can provide estimates of performance that better capture the temporal and contextual variability inherent in real-world hazards that need to be detected by automated warning systems.
Impact of Aviation Highway-in-the-Sky Displays on Pilot Situation Awareness
Authors: Williams Kevin W.
Published: January 2012

Thirty-six pilots were tested in a flight simulator on their ability to intercept a pathway depicted on a highway-in-the-sky (HITS) display. While intercepting and flying the pathway, pilots were required to watch for traffic outside the cockpit. Additionally, pilots were tested on their awareness of speed, altitude, and heading during the flight. Results indicated strong practice effects for a pilot's ability to intercept the pathway and that the presence of a flight guidance cue significantly improved performance. The ability to spot traffic was relatively unaffected by, display novelty, and new display concepts are needed for supporting secondary flight information present on the HITS display. Recommendations for training and use of HITS displays are given, along with recommendations for display enhancements to support situation awareness.
Effects of Training and Automation Reliability on Monitoring Performance in a Flight Simulation Task
Authors: Singh Indramani L. , Sharma Hari Om , Parasuraman Raja
Published: January 2012

The phenomenon of ‘complacency’ in highly reliable systems under multiple task situations has been demonstrated in several studies. The ‘complacency’ effect has been attributed to operators trusting reliable automation and not devoting sufficient attentional resources to monitoring the automated system. It has been reported that subjects exhibited poorer monitoring performance under constant reliability than under variable reliability automation while subjects received short (10-min) manual training on multi-tasks before monitoring the automated task. Extended training on multiple tasks may be required to allow subjects to develop time-sharing skill. Manual training of short duration could be one of the potential factors leading to complacency. To investigate the effects of training on monitoring performance, the present study varied the amount of manual training prior to the automated blocks. It was hypothesized that increased manual training would enhance monitoring performance under constant reliability compared to variable reliability automation. Results indicated that extended manual training could not reduce automation-induced complacency.
The Sleepiness-Induced Lapsing and Cognitive Slowing (SILCS) Model: Predicting Fatigue Effects on Warfighter Performance
Authors: Neville Kelly , Takamoto Neal , French Jonathan , Hursh Steven R. , Schiflett Samuel G.
Published: January 2012

The Sleepiness-Induced Lapsing and Cognitive Slowing (SILCS) model is designed to improve the credibility and accuracy of synthetic warfighters used in high fidelity simulation systems. The empirically derived SILCS model describes sleep deprivation and time-of-day effects on performance in terms of the influence of two phenomena - general response slowing and lapsing. The former produces small increases in response time while the latter causes significant increases and errors.
Putting Four Dimensions in “Perspective” for the Pilot
Authors: Krishnan K. , Kertesz Steve , Wise John A.
Published: January 2012

A novel concept for a cockpit decision aid was designed from an analogy with the future cone of the Minkowski “space-time” diagram (Hawking, 1988). For this purpose, a volume of airspace around ownship was theoretically selected and projected in future time. Aircraft flight parameters consisting of three dimensions of space, and one dimension of time, were treated as “events in space-time”. Aircraft shapes depicted all “events” having a probability of occurrence within the pre-defined region of “space-time”, with collision threats marked by vectors. The resulting display provided an ‘out-the-window’ pilot-centric perspective of the predicted situation, demarcated by pre-defined time-intervals. This concept was tested in two experimental studies. Overall results suggest that such a presentation of predictive spatio-temporal air traffic information would likely aid pilot decision-making, especially in a Free Flight (FF) environment.
Proceduralizing Teamwork in Aviation Crews
Authors: Holt Robert W. , Boehm-Davis Deborah A. , Hansberger Jeffrey T.
Published: January 2012

This project investigated whether appropriate procedural interventions can facilitate team process and outcomes. Specific crew procedures were designed to fit general Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles and the specific needs of a commercial airline. The procedures were trained and implemented as Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for one fleet while a control fleet did not have the training or SOP interventions. Multiple evaluation methods used different samples of evaluators and different evaluation instruments. Evaluation data converged to confirm the positive effects of the interventions in the experimental fleet.
Mental Model Updating Process in Air Traffic Control
Authors: Boudes Nicole , Bressolle Marie-Christine , Leroux Marcel , Tremblay Elyeth
Published: January 2012

This contribution is part of a broader research conducted at the CENA (French Research Center for Civil Aviation) to provide a better understanding of air traffic control cognitive activity while evaluating a new decision support system for air traffic controllers called Erato. Our objective is to show that the ability to handle the traffic implies for controllers to update their mental model of the situation in order to synchronize their action to the dynamic environment.
Workload Evaluation of Subjects Carrying out Accessibility and Operability Tests in Underwater Environment for Microgravity Simulation
Authors: Toscano Elisabetta , Fubini Enrica , Gaia Enrico
Published: January 2012

As weightlessness is not completely reproducible on Earth, usability evaluation of space systems is often simulated through tests in aquatic environment.

A Neutral Buoyancy Facility test campaign was organized in a special pool to simulate Extra-Vehicular Activities on the Columbus module of the future International Space Station with the aim of assessing various aspects of crew interface design. To understand how stressful this environment could be, we developed an evaluation methodology of the workload correlated to visibility, accessibility and operability tests.
Using Eye Activity to Study Cognitive Processes Underlying Individual Differences
Authors: Knust Sylvia R. , Marshall Sandra P. , Ishizaka Kyoko
Published: January 2012

New developments in the field of cognitive sciences and eye tracking technology has allowed for more direct study of underlying cognitive processes occurring during task performance. First, eye tracking technology provides a continuous measure of pupil dilation, an indicator of cognitive effort during task performance. Second, it provides a measure of scanning patterns, providing insight as to how and where cognitive effort is directed. In this study 57 subjects were eye tracked as they performed three sessions on a dual-attention task involving monitoring gauges and comparing equations. Additional measures included performance and self-report measures of self-efficacy, and cognitive interference. The objective eye tracking measures corroborated and expanded on previously established relationships between cognitive processing, cognitive interference, self-efficacy, and performance.
Anthropometry of Children: Are 30 Year Old Data Still Valid for Use in Product Design?
Authors: Smith Smart A. , Norris Beverley
Published: January 2012

The Product Safety and Testing Group has produced a series of handbooks containing comprehensive anthropometric data for use by product designers. Many of the data on children are over 20 years old and some concern has been expressed regarding their validity for continued use in product design. Research has been undertaken to compare these data to the latest available for the UK and US to determine what changes in body sizes have occurred over this time period. Implications for the continued use of these data in the design process are considered.
Variability of Lifting Technique of Experienced Women Lifters across Light, Medium and Heavy Loads
Authors: Stevenson J.M , Coward T.J. , Albert W.J.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine the variability in lifting technique kinematics within and between 35 female subjects when lifting light, medium and heavy loads. Each female performed five lifts in a free-style from floor to shoulder-height of a box (37times;29times;27 cm) with handles at three weights: 5, 10 and 15 kg. Polhemus Fastrak™, 3D electromagnetic sensors placed on the wrist, T***I, L***I and S***I spinous processes revealed spinal kinematics that showed increasing variability with heavier loads at the T***I sensor, L***I sensor, thoracic flexion angle, lumbar flexion angle and trunk flexion displacements. The velocity profiles provided similar results of variability for the T***I sensor, L***I sensor, S***I sensor, thoracic and lumbar flexion velocities. In addition, differences in technique were examined between loads using knee bend, box to body distance and trunk mean angles.
HF Verification and Validation Activities: Simulator Based Operational Trials
Authors: Malcolm J. Scott , Holford Kim , Gillard Debbie
Published: January 2012

Changes to shutdown system (SDS) software were made at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. This is a four unit CANDU (Canadian Deuterium Uranium) nuclear power station located on the north shore of Lake Ontario (each unit is approximately 900 MW). These changes were initiated through an agreement with the Canadian nuclear regulator to improve the maintainability of the safety critical software. In addition, a number of functional changes were made, based on operational experience, to improve the operability and maintainability of the shutdown systems as a whole. The integration of Human Factors Engineering (HFE) into the systems design process was achieved using a Human Factors Engineering Program Plan (see Beattie and Malcolm, 1991 for a discussion of this type of planning document). The HFE program steps were taken from NUREG 0711 - Human Factors Engineering Program Review Model (U.S. NRC, 1994). The program plan included formal HFE Verification and Validation, culminating with operational trials in the full-scale control room training simulator. Results indicated that all functional changes passed on all performance criteria, and that the measures showed a high degree of convergent validity.
The Effect of Advanced Traveler Information Display Modality on Driver Performance
Authors: Liu Yung-Ching , Schreiner Christopher S. , Dingus Thomas A.
Published: January 2012

To achieve the desired goals of improved safety and convenience for Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS), significant information will necessarily be provided to the driver. A primary ATIS design issue is the display modality (i.e., visual, auditory, or the combination) selected for providing this information. The objective of this research was to determine which display modality was most beneficial under a number of circumstances. A simulator experiment was conducted to determine the effects of driver age, display modality, driving load, and information complexity on driving performance, navigation performance, and emergency response performance. For driving performance, the multi-modality display generally resulted in better performance for both speed maintenance and safe driving behavior. For navigation tasks, the multi-modality display resulted in the best performance for both total correct turns and number of navigation-related errors. For emergency response displays, the multi-modality and the auditory displays resulted in faster reaction times than the visual display for detecting warning information, while information presented on the multi-modality display resulted in fewer errors than the auditory display.
Elderly Drivers: What Errors Do they Commit on the Road?
Authors: Van Elslande Pierre , Fleury Dominique
Published: January 2012

The elderly population represents a widely recognized issue in the field of road transportation. These people play an increasingly large role on the road, which gives rise to a certain number of questions, notably concerning their ability to integrate into their driving habits the potential advances offered by technological systems that are supposed to help the driver. But above and beyond the relatively general data on the problems they are confronted with, little is known about the particular nature of the difficulties they have and the errors they commit on the road, nor of the special characteristics of the accident scenarios they are involved in. In-depth research has been undertaken to contribute to our understanding of this situation, using an analysis of detailed data gathered by multidisciplinary teams at accident scenes. These data are analyzed using an error classification frame developed during previous studies, based on an investigation of over 400 accident situations. This model is used to make a link between the main functional stages of human activity as described in ergonomic literature and the types of specific failures which correspond to the particularities of the processes involved in deterioration in driving situations. Once identified and categorized, the errors that drivers are confronted with are re-introduced into typical dysfunction scenarios which explain how they come about. The purpose of this empirical paper is to stress the specificity of accidents scenarios which elderly drivers are involved in.
Surrogate Measures of Visual Demand while Driving
Authors: Farber Eugene , Blanco Myra , Foley Jim , Curry Reates , Greenberg Jeff , Serafin Colleen
Published: January 2012

A driving simulator study involving a total of 40 participants was conducted in one dynamic and two static data collection environments: driving in the simulator, parked in the simulator and in a static test mock-up. Participants were asked to perform tasks on a navigation system, a cellular telephone and a compact disk player. Total task time was measured in all environments and lane violations were measured in the dynamic environment. Task times measured in the static environments were found to be good predictors of both dynamic task time and lane violations.
Visual Attention Demand Evaluation of Conventional and Multifunction in-Vehicle Information Systems
Authors: Gellatly Andrew W. , Kleiss James A.
Published: January 2012

This paper describes part of a larger on-road test of a candidate control layout and system organization for a reconfigurable, automotive multifunction information system. Driver visual scanning behavior and task performance were examined. Six younger and six older drivers each performed 15 in-vehicle tasks while driving. Drivers executed functions for both current vehicle systems (e.g., audio, climate, and cell phone) and advanced/future vehicle systems (e.g., navigation, email, and communications/video). Six similar tasks were performed using both the experimental vehicle's conventional information systems and the candidate design multifunction information system. Results showed that task completion times were longer for tasks performed using the multifunction information system, compared to the conventional vehicle systems. Longer tasks completion times were associated with higher frequency of driver eye glances to the in-vehicle system. In addition, task completion times were found to be related to certain measures of driving task performance, most notably lateral control and speed control.
Effects of Shared Secondary Controls and Operational Modes on Performance and Perceived Workload during a Simulated Driving Task
Authors: Feyen Robert , Liu Yili , Hoffmeister David , Zobel Gretchen , Rupp Gary , Bhise Vivek
Published: January 2012

During a simulated driving task, subjects were prompted to actuate specific shared (mode-based) secondary controls, which required subjects to ensure that the proper mode was active before actuating the control. The independent variables were number of controls, number of operational modes, and number of functions assigned to a control. The dependent variables included performance time, speed and lane deviations, error measures, and subjective ratings. Subjects perceived higher workloads and took longer to complete the secondary task as the number of controls and number of functions increased. The number of operational modes had no effect on secondary control performance while subjective ratings indicated little or no significant differences between multiple and single mode systems. Comparing systems with identical number of functions, a system that reduces the number of controls by assigning a set of functions (in which each function belongs to a different mode) to each control may be preferable to a system that dedicates each function to a single control.
On-Road Investigation of Driver Following and Deceleration on Surface Streets
Authors: McLaughlin Shane , Serafin Colleen
Published: January 2012

This paper describes a study in which male and female participants in three age groups drove an instrumented vehicle on a 20mile (32.2km) route while information about their driving and following behavior was recorded. The drive included frequent following and stopping. Dependent measures of interest included following headway, range and range-rate, deceleration levels, and braking behavior. Following below a 1.0s headway occurred infrequently. Two modes of manual deceleration control based on initial inter-vehicle conditions prior to deceleration and brake covering behaviors are described.
Task Automation and Skill Development in a Simplified Driving Task
Authors: Ward Nicholas J.
Published: January 2012

This study investigated the effect of automated driving systems on skill development in a simplified driving simulator task. Subjects were assigned to a level of automated support for vehicle control related to braking and gear changes (manual, semi-automated, and full-automated) in a simulation racing game which recorded fastest lap time. Trend analyses were performed to quantify (i) the linear effect of skill development evident from a progressive increase in driving speed (reduced lap time); and (ii) the curvilinear effect of a system benefit evident from peak performance during the operating races. Whereas a system benefit was evident for the full-automated system, there was evidence of skill development only for the manual condition [(F(4, 60) = 3.06, p < .05]. The results are discussed in terms of the safety implications for driver skill development and retention with the deployment of future Intelligent Transportation Systems.
Driver Performance with a Collision Avoidance System
Authors: Ben-Yaacov Avner , Maltz Masha , Shinar David
Published: January 2012

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) have enhanced the way we can deal with road safety issues. Unlike in-vehicle safety systems such as air bags and safety belts that focus on injury reduction, many new in-vehicle systems are now focused on accident prevention by providing assistance to the driver during the driving task. One such driving aid is a warning system to alert the driver to an impending collision. Our study evaluated the effects of imperfect warning collision alarms on driver behavior. Results showed that drivers tend to overestimate their headway, and that systems that alert drivers to unsafe temporal headways are useful in teaching drivers to estimate headway more accurately. Subjects responded properly to the warnings, both under conditions of true and of false alarms.
Environmental Cues Involved in the Visual Anticipation of a Collision
Authors: Catherine Berthelon , Claudine Nachtergaële , Daniel Mestre
Published: January 2012

An experimentation was carried out to test the role of global and local visual information on the visual anticipation of a collision. We simulated a driver's approach to an intersection where another vehicle was arriving This vehicle could reach the intersection 1000 msec, 500 msec or 200 msec before or after the driver. The road surface (uniform or textured) and environmental cues (delineation lines) were manipulated. Subjects had to anticipate, by pressing as quickly as possible one of the two buttons placed on the vehicle's wheel, whether the other vehicle would arrive before of after them at the intersection. Results show that the visual anticipation of a collision depends on various visual cues included in the road environment, such as the road texture or delineation lines. They are consistent with previous findings that showed that the sensation of self-motion is increased by the presence of a structured environment.
Computer-Assisted Ergonomic Analysis for Vehicle Interior Design
Authors: Punte Patrick A.J. , Oudenhuijzen Aernout J.K.
Published: January 2012

TNO Human Factors is involved in the process of designing and testing a new concept for driver workplaces in passenger cars, i.e. with a horizontally fixed driver seat and adjustable pedals, steering wheel and instrument panel. This new concept is intended to achieve an interior space and arrangement of instruments that supports the driver task and prepares the vehicle to serve as a mobile office. Additional benefits are increased safety and comfort. This design is based on the anthropometric data of North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. During this design process, the consequences of design decisions are evaluated using computer-assisted ergonomic analysis methods. Human modeling systems have been used to analyze sitting postures, visibility and reachability of instruments, as well as the outside view for the user population. Results of the ergonomic analysis were used to improve the new concept. During this process, the application of computer-assisted ergonomic analysis methods has shown to offer advantages compared to the use of physical mock-ups or prototypes of vehicle cabins. Digital analysis offers the possibility to take into account anthropometric extremes and future populations. Visualization of the product stimulated the exchange of information and discussion about the product and participation of designers, (future) operators and customers. Design errors causing serious ergonomic problems became quickly visible and the modification of the electronic model was much quicker in comparison with physical mock-ups or prototypes.
Improving Work Load and Comfort of Operators on Modified Hydraulic Excavators in Rail Road Maintenance
Authors: van der Grinten Maarten P. , Houtman Irene I.D.
Published: January 2012

In small-scale projects of mechanized maintenance of rail roads special equipped hydraulic excavators (HE) are used in several maintenance tasks. One task concerns the exchange of the old crossbars and ballast under the rails by new materials (MCE-task). This task requires high precision of the HE-operators. Inaccurate controlling the machine movements may have safety consequences for the rail road workers around. Signals of fatiguing in this group of operators instigated a more detailed assessment of their work, work load, mental strain and physical discomfort. The organizational and ergonomic factors studied were: work practices, work-recovery schedules and cabin and/or operating controls. Work satisfaction and health as possible confounders for fatiguing effects in this group were assessed as well. In total 16 out of 17 experienced operators of 3 leading companies in the Netherlands participated in the study. In a pilot study, data of 4 operators were sampled during full day and night shifts, i.e. work strain ratings and heart rate-variability was measured. Several postures and movements were assessed and interviews were held, resulting in a tailor-made questionnaire on work and fatigue related problems. Main conclusions were: the mechanized crossbar exchange task is more straining than other operator's rail road maintenance tasks. In the second half of the shifts fatigue symptoms may rise too high, particularly during special project circumstances. Inherent ergonomic shortcomings in the technology chosen and in the cabin design lead to unnecessary fatiguing. Improvements of the work-rest schedule and the techniques used are recommended to increase the operator's comfort and the safety of his coworkers.
Compatibility of Safety and Comfort in Vehicles
Authors: Leonard S. David , Karnes Edward W.
Published: January 2012

Surveys were conducted with respondents from four different groups in three states in an effort to determine how people recognize common hazards involved in driving and riding in their vehicles. Some items are associated with both comfort and safety such as the head restraint and air bags. Unfortunately, use for comfort may often present safety hazards, as in not using seat belts with air bags. The survey examined respondents' descriptions of their behaviors regarding several items involving tradeoffs between safety and comfort. Some behaviors result from lack of knowledge about the hazards involved. In general, formal driver training did not produce differences in knowledge or putative behaviors. These results suggest the need for additional information to be provided via educational campaigns.
Continuous vs. Partial Knowledge of Results in Training for Vigilance
Authors: Szalma James L. , Parsons Kelley S. , Warm Joel S. , Dember William N.
Published: January 2012

Several experiments on training for vigilance have reported that training with feedback in the form of knowledge of results (KR) enhances performance efficiency. Research in motor skills has shown that training with a partial-KR regimen (KR provided only during some portions of training) is more effective than training with a continuous-KR regimen. The goal for the present study was to determine if this partial-KR training effect also extends to vigilance performance. Positive predictive power (PPP), a decision theory measure (Elwood, 1993), was used to assess performance accuracy; Craig's (1978) response-to-signal ratio was used to evaluate response bias. Observers trained with both forms of KR were more conservative (lower response-to-signal ratios) in responding, and more accurate when they did respond (higher PPP scores), than those who did not receive KR training. The response-to-signal ratios and the PPP scores of observers in the two KR conditions did not differ significantly from one another. Hence, the partial-KR superiority effect observed with motor tasks may not extend to vigilance tasks.
Head-Slaved Tracking in a See-Through HMD: The Effects of a Secondary Visual Monitoring Task on Performance and Workload
Authors: Nelson W. Todd , Bolia Robert S. , Russell Chris A. , Morley Rebecca M. , Roe Merry M.
Published: January 2012

Technological advances in helmet-mounted displays (HMDs) have permitted the design of “see-through” displays in which virtual imagery may be superimposed upon real visual environments. The utility of see-through displays in multitask environments remains uncertain, especially in environments that involve switching one's attention between those tasks represented in the virtual display and those existing in the real world. The present study was designed to assess the effects of a secondary visual monitoring task on performance and workload in a head-slaved tracking task. Participants attempted to center a reticle over a moving circular target using a Kaiser Electronics SimEye 2500 HMD while concurrently performing the visual monitoring task component of the Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MATB; Comstock & Arnegard, 1992), which was displayed on a computer monitor. Task difficulty for the head-slaved tracking task was varied by manipulating time delay. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for practical implementation of see-through HMDs in multi-task environments.
Promoting Rapid Situation Awareness in Tactical Displays: The Role of 3-D Perspective Views and Realistic Symbols
Authors: Smallman Harvey S. , Schiller Elaine , Mitchell Craig A.
Published: January 2012

3-D displays populated with realistic 3-D icons have been touted as making good “at a glance” displays. Do they promote more rapid Situation Awareness (SA) than comparable 2-D displays? If so, is it the display format (2-D vs. 3-D) or the nature of the symbols (realistic icons vs. non-realistic symbols) populating the displays that matters, or both? Three groups of 13 participants observed a 9 minute naval air defense scenario. The first group saw it depicted in 3-D with icons, the second group saw it depicted in 2-D with icons and the third group saw it in 2-D with symbols. In each condition, the scenario was stopped every 30 seconds and we assessed ability to recall the attributes of four random tracks with an online questionnaire. We measured Endlesy's (1995) level 1 SA: the perception of elements of the display. SA for the 3-D display increased fastest over the course of the scenario. However, it started from one third the level of that for the 2-D symbol display and it took 4 minutes to reach 2-D levels. The advantages the 3-D display did confer were for those attributes that were visually explicit in the 3-D icons but available only in pop-up text boxes in the 2-D conditions. Similarly, depicting heading explicitly with the 2-D icons was superior to that with the 2-D symbols. The benefits of 3-D displays may sometimes stem from indirect application of good design principles, such as making certain information visually explicit, rather than from depicting three-dimensional space, per se. It remains an open question whether 2-D displays can be designed with comparable explicit analog coding.
The When and How of Using 2-D and 3-D Displays for Operational Tasks
Authors: Smallman Harvey S. , John Mark
Published: January 2012

3-D perspective displays are an increasingly popular choice for the depiction of real-world operational settings. Instead of depicting an environment from directly above, as conventional 2-D displays do, 3-D displays show the scene from closer to 45 degrees to the ground plane. By doing so, all three dimensions of the object or scene are visible, and integrated into a single display. Advances in computing are making 3-D displays affordable and fast enough for real-time use for operational tasks. Their naturalistic look and easy feel has led them to be very popular with users in domains such as air traffic control, flight control, and immersive training. But there are warning signs that indicate that 3-D displays do not offer a panacea. First, user preference and user performance do not always correlate well. Second, due to inherent ambiguities in imaging geometry, 3-D displays give up faithful representation of two dimensions for ambiguity (and distortion) in all three. How much of a concern these issues are remains unclear. Critical questions need answering before we should start advocating the widespread adoption of 3-D displays for operational use. When should one choose a 2-D display over a 3-D display and vise versa? How might the cognitive and perceptual demands of a task influence which display type is more useful? Should one orient to a 3-D display but then operate only on a 2-D display? How critical are the exact parameters governing the geometry of 3-D perspective views? Do 3-D displays lead to more rapid situational awareness than 2-D displays? Just how good are 3-D displays for depicting objects (their identity, attributes, and inter-relationships)? If 3-D displays are populated with realistic symbols, is it the realism or the rendering of 3-D space that enhances performance, or both? Are 3-D displays better with egocentric views but worse for exocentric views? How effective is augmentation with other depth cues at reducing line of sight ambiguity in 3-D displays? Are there trade-offs and performance costs associated with these augmentations? This symposium brings together leading experts in the field to answer these telling questions.
Data Base Overlay in Electronic Map Design: Testing a Computational Model
Authors: Wickens Christopher D. , Kroft Paul , Yeh Michelle
Published: January 2012

In two experiments, participants answered questions about two geographical-spatial data bases, displayed in different formats, and at different levels of clutter. One experiment examined aviation information (traffic weather, terrain), and the other examined information pertaining to a soldier's battlefield (troops, roads, rivers, and terrain). Data bases were presented in five contrasting formats: overlay, spatially separated at small resolution, spatially separated at large resolution, highlighted and with an interactive decluttering mode. Performance was evaluated in the context of the different information processing mechanisms that were challenged or supported by the different formats. The data revealed a linear effect of clutter on RT, a general benefit for highlighting, and a cost for interactive displays.
Attention and Mental Workload
Authors: Kantowitz Barry H.
Published: January 2012

Mental workload is still a useful concept in human factors because of its links to theories and models of attention. A good theory is the best practical tool. Mental workload is defined as an intervening variable similar to attention. It must be inferred from changes in performance. Performance declines when mental workload is too high or too low. Results from simple laboratory situations cannot necessarily be generalized directly to practical situations which tend to be more complex. Instead, laboratory experiments are used to refine models and theories that can be applied to solve practical problems. Computational models of attention and workload offer the greatest promise for practitioners. Examples of research on driver workload illustrate the dangers of applying secondary-task methodology without adequate consideration of theoretical issues.