bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Gain/Loss Framing in Cyber Defense Decision-Making
Authors: Bos Nathan , Paul Celeste Lyn , Gersh John R. , Greenberg Ariel , Piatko Christine , Sperling Scott , Spitaletta Jason , Arendt Dustin L. , Burtner Russ
Published: September 2016

Cyber defense requires decision making under uncertainty, yet this critical area has not been a focus of research in judgment and decision-making. Future defense systems, which will rely on software-defined networks and may employ “moving target” defenses, will increasingly automate lower level detection and analysis, but will still require humans in the loop for higher level judgment. We studied the decision making process and outcomes of 17 experienced network defense professionals who worked through a set of realistic network defense scenarios. We manipulated gain versus loss framing in a cyber defense scenario, and found significant effects in one of two focal problems. Defenders that began with a network already in quarantine (gain framing) used a quarantine system more, as measured by cost, than those that did not (loss framing). We also found some difference in perceived workload and efficacy. Alternate explanations of these findings and implications for network defense are discussed.
Is Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Appropriate for your Research?
Authors: Mehta Ranjana K. , Ayaz Hasan , McKendrick Ryan , Izzetoglu Kurtulus , Willems Ben , Ziegler Matthias
Published: September 2016

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging neuroimaging technique that has found home in various human factors and ergonomics applications. Why fNIRS? Is it better than EEG or fMRI? Is it an appropriate neuroimaging technique for my research/application? What are the methodological considerations for fNIRS analyses? This panel discussion is aimed at answering these questions, among others, when panelists from varied human factors and ergonomics applications discuss how they employ fNIRS in their investigations.
An Evaluation of Cognitive Skill Degradation in Information Automation
Authors: Volz Katherine , Yang Euijung , Dudley Rachel , Lynch Elizabeth , Dropps Maria , Dorneich Michael C.
Published: September 2016

The purpose of this research is to investigate long term effects of cognitive skill degradation through the use of automation. Even though advanced studies have looked into information automation (IA) in aviation, the amount of empirical data on the effects of these systems on the retention of cognitive skills is less deeply examined. Measurement and analysis of the effects of IA on cognitive performance is an important first step in understanding cognitive skill degradation, which should be considered during the design of these systems. The use of an automation aid is expected to result in a high level of performance degradation over time. Participants were randomly placed into three experimental groups (manual, alternating, or automation) and asked to perform flight planning calculations as an experiment task. Participants performed the task five times, once every two weeks. The manual group used the manual method throughout the experiment, the alternating group switched between the manual and automated method every trial. The automation group used the manual method for the first trial, the automated method for the three consecutive trials and then went back to using the manual method during the last trial. The automation group showed the most performance degradation and highest workload, while the alternating group presented reduced performance degradation and workload, and the manual group showed the least performance degradation and workload. This work provides the foundation for the design of guidelines and recommendations for IA systems in order to prevent cognitive skill degradation.
In Automation We Trust? Identifying Varying Levels of Trust in Human and Automated Information Sources
Authors: Pearson Carl J. , Welk Allaire K. , Mayhorn Christopher B.
Published: September 2016

Humans can easily find themselves in high cost situations where they must choose between suggestions made by an automated decision aid and a conflicting human decision aid. Previous research indicates that trust is an antecedent to reliance, and often influences how individuals prioritize and integrate information presented from a human and/or automated information source. Expanding on previous work conducted by Lyons and Stokes (2012), the current experiment measured how trust in automated or human decision aids differs along with perceived risk and workload. The simulated task required 126 participants to choose the safest route for a military convoy; they were presented with conflicting information regarding which route was safest from an automated tool and a human. Results demonstrated that as workload increased, trust in automation decreased. As the perceived risk increased, trust in the human decision aid increased. Individual differences in dispositional trust correlated with an increased trust in both decision aids. These findings can be used to inform training programs and systems for operators who may receive information from human and automated sources. Examples of this context include: air traffic control, aviation, and signals intelligence.
The Impact of Automation Reliability and Operator Fatigue on Performance and Reliance
Authors: Wohleber Ryan W. , Calhoun Gloria L. , Funke Gregory J. , Ruff Heath , Chiu C.-Y. Peter , Lin Jinchao , Matthews Gerald
Published: September 2016

Reliability of automation is known to influence operator reliance on automation. What is less understood is how the influence of reliability and the effects of operator fatigue might interact. The present study investigated the impact of automation reliability on accuracy and reliance and how this impact changes with level of fatigue during simulated multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operation. Participants ( N = 131) completed a two-hour simulated multi-UAV mission assisted by an automated decision making aid of either high or low reliability. A decrease in subjective task engagement and performance over time marked the induction of passive fatigue by the mission. Participants were more trusting in the high reliability condition than in the low reliability condition. Finally, reliance decreased with time at any reliability, but a significant interaction between reliability and time on task indicated that the decrease was of smaller magnitude when the automation was reliable.
A Framework for Dynamic Context-Centric Commander Decision Support
Authors: Santos Eugene , Nguyen Hien , Russell Jacob , Day Joshua , Pegleow Scott , Greenstreet Alexis
Published: September 2016

This paper addresses the fundamental research question: “How can we determine the sequential decision- making process inside a decision maker’s mind?” We construct a dynamic Markov Decision Process using a Double Transition Model (DTM). The DTM is a cognitive model decomposing the decision-making process into episodic tasks that are extracted from a stream of incoming information. In a DTM, each state reflects a stage en route to a decision, and each action reflects a possible move from collecting data to hypothesizing and inferencing. The reward reflects how close a stage is to the final decision. We demonstrate this process through a proof-of-concept DTM using a hypothetical scenario for Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (2013). The DTM constructed from this scenario enables a Commander to reason about damaged areas, death tolls, and assistance methods while allowing his actions to be captured and used to explain why and how each decision is made.
Cognitive Context Detection for Adaptive Automation
Authors: Mannaru Pujitha , Balasingam Balakumar , Pattipati Krishna , Sibley Ciara , Coyne Joseph
Published: September 2016

An important research challenge in Human Machine Systems (HMS) is to create machines that are able to better understand human behavior so that the overall efficiency of the HMS can be enhanced through increased productivity and reduced safety risk. The research question posed in this paper is the following: Can an understanding of physiological behavior of humans be combined with statistical machine learning theory to develop predictive models that are able to accurately predict the cognitive difficulty experienced by humans? In this paper, we answer this question in the affirmative by demonstrating the use of two physiological measurements, pupil dilation and eye-gaze patterns, as indices of cognitive workload. Specifically, we demonstrate the possibility of cognitive context detection through machine learning and classification using eye-tracking data from NRL’s Supervisory Control Operations User Testbed (SCOUTTM), a flexible simulation environment that represents the tasks that a future UAS operator would engage in, while controlling multiple UAS.
Dispatch Decision Making in an Air Medical Transport System
Authors: Giang Wayne C.W. , Hui Lavinia , Donmez Birsen , Ahghari Mahvareh , MacDonald Russell D.
Published: September 2016

Air medical transport relies on effective dispatching of air and land vehicles to provide the fastest and best care possible for patient transfers. These difficult dispatch decisions are characterized by high time pressure, uncertainty, and the dynamic and complex environment of medical transportation. This paper describes a preliminary study of the decision making processes that occur during dispatch decisions at Ornge, the air medical transportation system in Ontario, Canada. We drew upon the Critical Decision Method and the structured data analysis approach to understand the major decision points faced by Ornge’s dispatchers, and the cues and sources of information attended to in those situations. We found that the decision points deal with three main goals: maintain situation awareness, match resource to transfer, and plan logistics of transfer. Furthermore, we found that time estimation might play an important role in helping dispatchers coordinate within the dispatch team and with their external partners. These findings may help improve the design of computer aided dispatch software to better support the goals of the dispatchers.
Politeness in Machine-Human and Human-Human Interaction
Authors: Meyer Joachim , Miller Chris , Hancock Peter , de Visser Ewart J. , Dorneich Michael
Published: September 2016

Computers communicate with humans in ways that increasingly resemble interactions between humans. Nuances in expression and responses to human behavior become more sophisticated, and they approach those of human-human interaction. The question arises whether we want systems eventually to behave like humans, or whether systems should, even when much more developed, still adhere to rules that are different from the rules governing interpersonal communication. The panel addresses this issue from various perspectives, eventually aiming to gain some insights into the question of the direction to which the development of machine-human communication and the etiquette implemented in the systems should move.
Tactile Spatial Guidance for Collision Avoidance in NextGen Flight Operations
Authors: Prinet Julie C. , Wan Yuzhi , Sarter Nadine
Published: September 2016

Future aviation operations will require pilots to assume new tasks, such as self-separation. Tactile displays are a promising means of supporting this task. They are well suited for presenting spatial information and offload the heavily taxed visual and auditory channels. This experiment assessed the effectiveness of tactile spatial alerts for notifying pilots of an aircraft intruding on their flight path during Closely Spaced Parallel Approaches. Two alerting strategies (single-stage vs. graded) and two alert types (status vs. command) were compared. 19 pilots had to fly a series of approaches, detect tactile alerts and perform evasive maneuvers. The detection rate for tactile alerts was 100%. Graded and status alerts led to the highest response accuracy (100% and 98%, respectively). Response times were faster for command alerts and during manual flight. These results indicate that tactile displays are effective for conveying spatial information and can help prevent collisions in future aviation operations.
Matters of Ethics, Trust, and Potential Liability for Autonomous Systems
Authors: Brill J. Christopher , Bliss James P. , Hancock Peter A. , Manzey Dietrich , Meyer Joachim , Vredenburgh Alison
Published: September 2016

Abstract – The objective of this panel was to discuss issues related to the development and use of autonomous systems, with specific focus on the overriding themes of ethical considerations and potential liability for Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) professionals who are involved in their development. Chris Brill provided opening remarks to frame the discussion and introduce the panelists. James Bliss discussed legal implications related to our collective penchant for developing conservative, false-alarm prone automation. Peter Hancock advocated for human-centered constraints on autonomous systems, as they may, one day, pose an existential threat to humanity. Dietrich Manzey discussed ethical considerations for autonomous systems, including how design can encourage ethical user behavior. Joachim Meyer argued that HF/E professionals have an obligation to help designers understand the ethical implications of poor design, particularly in the context of autonomous systems. Lastly, Alison Vredenburgh provided thoughts on potential liability for HF/E professionals, particularly in light of the relative newness of autonomous systems. The panel then turned to facilitated discussion with panelists and audience members. Specific themes included the boundaries of our responsibilities as HF/E professionals for ill-conceived or morally-objectionable systems, potential implications of manipulating user trust through design, cross-cultural perspectives on public acceptance and legal peril, and how concerns might differ by domain (e.g., medical vs. combat vs. manufacturing). The session concluded with panelists summarizing how ethics influence design and recommendations for how HF/E professionals can potentially protect themselves from legal liability for mishaps involving autonomous systems they helped develop.
Influence of Agent Type and Task Ambiguity on Conformity in Social Decision Making
Authors: Hertz Nicholas , Wiese Eva
Published: September 2016

Previous research has demonstrated reliable effects of social pressure on conformity and social decision-making in human-human interaction. The current study investigates whether non-human agents are also capable of inducing similar social pressure effects; in particular, we examined whether the degree of physical human-likeness of an agent (i.e., appearance) modulates conformity and whether potential effects of agent type on conformity are modulated further by task ambiguity. To answer these questions, participants performed a line judgment task together with agents of different degrees of humanness (human, robot, computer) in either a high or low ambiguity version of the task. We expected an increase in conformity rates for agents with increasing levels of physical humanness, as well as for increasing levels of task ambiguity. Results showed low-level conformity with all agents, with a significant difference in conformity between the high and low ambiguity version of the task (i.e., stronger compliance for the high versus the low task); the degree of humanness, however, did not have an influence on conformity rates (neither alone or in combination with task type). The results suggest that when performing a task together with others, participants always conform to some degree with the social interaction partner independent of its level of humanness; the level of conformity, however, depends on task ambiguity with stronger compliance across agents for more ambiguous tasks.
What Am I Sitting On? User Knowledge Of Their Chair Controls
Authors: Hedge Alan
Published: September 2016

This study tested user knowledge and the use of the controls for their work chairs for a volunteer sample of 1004 office workers who were randomly selected for survey from 23 different companies and who were sitting on one of a total of 60 different ergonomic office chairs. Results showed that with the exception of seat height and armrest adjustment, only a small minority of users had accurate knowledge about the controls on their chair. Even when users correctly identified a chair control, less than 50% said they had ever used that control. There was no effect of ergonomics chair training on user perceived chair comfort. Those who had received previous training for an ergonomic chair reported less frequent musculoskeletal discomfort than those with no training or with specific training on their current. Users who sat on chairs with 3 or fewer controls reported significantly less frequent musculoskeletal discomfort than those sitting on more complex chairs with 4 or more controls. Overall, the results show that up to two thirds of users knew about their controls for adjusting seat height, seat depth and armrest height, but most users were unaware of controls for other functions. The implications for chair design are discussed.
The effect of sit-stand workstations to decrease sedentariness in office work
Authors: Barbieri Dechristian , Srinivasan Divya , Mathiassen Svend Erik , Oliveira Ana Beatriz
Published: September 2016

Sedentary behaviors in office workers has become a major public health concern and several initiatives have been proposed to break up sedentary behavior patterns during the performance of computer-intensive office work (Neuhaus et al., 2014; Toomingas et al., 2012). Among such initiatives, the use of sit-stand workstations has been suggested to be one of the most promising by recent reviews (Commissaris et al., 2015). However, there still is only limited scientific evidence showing how effective sit-stand workstations are, in reducing sedentary behaviors and also documentation of their sustainability of use in studies of regular office work (i.e. as the “newness” of the system wears off, with time since introduction). This study aimed to document user behaviors and compare the use of two sit-stand workstation based interventions among two groups of administrative office workers: an “autonomous” group in which these workstations were introduced following some general ergonomic guidelines, and another “feedback-system” group in which the sit-stand tables were furnished with an automatic reminder system: users were prompted to accept, delay or refuse pre-programmed changes in table position, and if they accepted, the system automatically raised the table to a high (i.e. standing) position. This system was programmed for 10 minutes of standing after every accumulated 50 minutes of the table being in a low (i.e. sitting) position. In addition to documenting average use of the two sit-stand workstations, the sustainability of their use over two continuous months since their introduction was also studied. The results averaged over two months of usage of the two interventions showed that the percentage (%) sitting time was 87.4 (84.9-89.2) and 84.0 (83.5-85.4) on average ( P=0.001), and the frequency of switches between sitting and standing was 0.3 (0.2-0.3) per hour and 0.7 (0.6-0.7) per hour ( P=0.001) in the autonomous and feedback-system groups respectively. These usage behaviors were found to be stable over the entire 2 months of use in both groups. Thus, the sit-stand table system integrated with the automatic reminder system led to more reduction in sitting time and more switches in posture between sitting and standing as compared to the traditional sit-stand table, and behaviors of both groups were seen to be sustained over the 2-month intervention period. In conclusion, a semi-automated sit-stand table may thus offer an effective contribution to making sedentary behavior patterns more variable among office workers, and thus aid in preventing negative health effects associated with prolonged sitting times.
The Utility of Mobile Eye Tracking Technology in the Forensic Analysis of Personal Injury
Authors: Whetsel Borzendowski Stephanie A. , Campbell Alan O.
Published: September 2016

Early research on gaze patterns during human locomotion indicated that pedestrians tend to focus their gaze on the path 2 – 3 m ahead. More recent research in this area has utilized eye tracking technology to empirically assess eye movements during navigation in naturalistic environments. A similar approach to understanding personal injuries resulting in civil lawsuits has potential utility in the field of forensic human factors. The present study was conducted in the context of gathering empirical data to support expert opinions in a premises liability civil suit. Using a mobile head-mounted eye tracker, the gaze patterns of five individuals was assessed as they walked two paths covering the area where the plaintiff in the subject suit was injured. The results of this analysis indicated that, consistent with previous research, participants fixated the path ahead. Additionally, the duration of fixations on their final destination tended to be longer than fixations on other objects or areas in the forward view. The present study demonstrates the utility of empirical analysis of conditions surrounding a personal injury using eye tracking technology.
The Influence of Driver Expectation when Recognizing Lighted Targets at Nighttime
Authors: Muttart Jeffrey W. , Dinakar Swaroop , Vandenberg Gregory , Yosko Michael
Published: September 2016

Over the years, in a night time driving scenario, expectancy has been linked with faster night time recognition. This study tries to evaluate the ability of observers to identify illuminated objects on the road in the absence of an associative pattern. In this study 47 of 60 participants did not respond to a light source that was in the drivers’ travel lane ahead. Of those who did not respond to the light when directly ahead, 64% indicated that had seen it beforehand. When the light was 2 meters to the drivers’ right, 33% that saw the light failed to respond. All of the drivers who saw the light before striking it claimed that they thought it was off the road until too late. When the drivers did not know what the light source was, they could not decipher where the light was. However, once aware of the presence of the light the average recognition distance improved 192 meters (632 feet) with 100% recognition. These results fit well with the SEEV search model and an Information Theory approach to driver expectancy. Previous claims that the difference between expected and unexpected driver responses is a 2 to 1 ratio was not supported by this research.
Recent Trends in Human Systems Integration
Authors: Plaga John A. , Kosnik William , Lacson Frank , Thomas Jeffrey , Whitmore Mihriban
Published: September 2016

The field of Human Systems Integration (HSI) is continuing to evolve with the ever-changing nature of the federal acquisition process. Revisions to the Department of Defense acquisition policy codified in DoDI 5000.02 (2015) advocate greater flexibility in the acquisition process to address challenges in a rapidly changing threat environment. Similarly, new priorities for space exploration demand a more agile and responsive acquisition process at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The purpose of this panel is to provide the Human Factors community insight into the current challenges faced by the field of HSI in response to a dynamic federal acquisition landscape. A panel of experts from Industry, NASA, Army, and Air Force discuss how their agencies are responding to these challenges.
Team Interactions and Health IT Use during Hospital Multidisciplinary Rounds
Authors: Li Yaqiong , Carayon Pascale , Hundt Ann Schoofs , Hoonakker Peter
Published: September 2016

Multidisciplinary rounds (MDRs) are an important form of team-based process in health care. Team members coordinate patient care and make decisions on care plans jointly. Health IT used during MDRs should be designed to facilitate the team interactions given the specific context or work system where MDRs occur. This study examines and compares team interactions and health IT use in three hospital services (contexts): hospitalist, cardiology and critical care. There were few differences in team interactions and health IT use across services. However, health IT use was different for different rounding tasks and team members. Therefore, health IT should be designed to support team interactions and users’ needs during MDRs in different contexts.
Emergency Medical Team Coordination in Mass Casualty Incidents: A study of the Los Angeles Emergency Medical System
Authors: Kohn Spencer C. , de Visser Ewart , Weltman Gershon , Bosson Nichole , Gausche-Hill Marianne , Donaldson Ross
Published: September 2016

Mass Casualty Incidents (MCIs) are an understudied field within human factors with much potential for improvement. We conducted a naturalistic study of the emergency medical system in Los Angeles County, producing an operation system diagram of the MCI workflow among all active medical entities, and a list of emergent human factors challenges in MCIs. These issues are as follows: 1) Inconsistent protocols between MCIs and routine events cause critical knowledge lapses; 2) Forced coordination between entities reduces decision-making efficiency; 3) Organizations are slow to change and disseminate new tools; 4) Synchronizing and tracking multiple records creates coordination problems; and 5) Handoffs often result in errors, exacerbated by record coordination issues. We explain each one of these challenges, and provide a series of practical guidelines for future work to resolve the identified problems.
Virtual Patient Simulation
Authors: Nystrom Daniel T. , Paull Douglas E. , Meyer Ashley N. D. , Singh Hardeep
Published: September 2016

Medical diagnosis has begun to draw attention as a patient safety concern that is valid, yet difficult to study. In the current study, we implement a virtual patient simulation to assess different information sampling techniques practiced by a variety of health care providers including physicians, nurses, health technicians, and pharmacists who were tasked with diagnosing a virtual patient. Results suggest there are three different information sampling approaches used to arrive at a medical diagnosis: iteration, batch, and haste. In the iterative approach, clinicians sampled a series of hypothesis-generating sources of information (e.g., patient history, physical exam, etc.) that were immediately followed by a series of diagnostic tests (e.g., X-ray, EKG, etc.) and this process was repeated for 2-4 cycles before arriving at a diagnosis. In the batch approach, hypothesis-generating sources of information were sampled in a single series or “batch” that was then followed by a single series of diagnostic tests. In the haste approach, only a few sources of hypothesis-generating information were sampled before arriving at a medical diagnosis, and none of the information sampled was tested using diagnostic tests. Results suggest virtual patient simulation is a useful format to observe the emergence of clinicians’ diagnostic process and to collect a variety of measures and outcomes associated with medical diagnosis.
Work System Barriers and Facilitators to Compliance with Infection Prevention Intervention
Authors: Hundt Ann Schoofs , Ngam Caitlyn , Carayon Pascale , Haun Nicholas , Safdar Nasia
Published: September 2016

In this paper we present preliminary findings that address the work system of physicians, nurses and environmental services workers and their ability to comply with one clinically accepted intervention associated with Clostridium difficile infection. Despite differences in their roles, responsibilities and focus related to management of patients with Clostridium difficile infection, numerous similarities exist in the type of work system considerations they must each face.
Technology-Mediated Communication between Patients and Primary Care Clinicians and Staff
Authors: Wooldridge Abigail R. , Carayon Pascale , Hoonakker Peter , Musa Albert , Bain Philip
Published: September 2016

Health information technology, i.e. secure messaging, can support high-quality, efficient care. Secure messaging – encrypted communication between patient and clinician or staff, similar to email – can facilitate patient-reported information and communication, but its fit with clinical workflow is not understood. Fifteen primary care clinicians and staff were interviewed and observed over 35 hours to understand the impact of secure messaging on ambiguity within the care delivery workflow. We developed a general workflow diagram for secure messaging, and identified three types of ambiguity relating to workflow, content of communication, and multiple points of data entry. While the use of secure messaging can help to clarify and document patient information, it can also increase ambiguity, particularly relating to the organization of work and workflow. Understanding how to design and implement technology to support multiple stakeholders, including patients, while considering the work system is a major area for future research.
Function-specific Design Principles for the Electronic Health Record
Authors: Saleem Jason J. , Herout Jennifer , Wilck Nancy R.
Published: September 2016

This practice-oriented paper provides a collection of design principles that are specific to certain functions within the electronic health record (EHR). Design principles for EHRs tend to be broad rules of thumb rather than specific and actionable because the relevant literature is organized by specific EHR functions. That is, a good amount of research has been conducted on specific functions, rather than EHRs as a whole. Based on the relevant literature, we provide design principles with underlying rationale for progress notes, problem list, consults, clinical reminders, clinical decision support, medication list, medication alerts, and medication reconciliation. This paper is meant to offer a collection of practical guidelines for designers, grounded in the academic literature, that are more actionable than broad usability heuristics. Future work should include refinement of these principles through systematic literature review and the inclusion of additional EHR functions.
Real-time remote physiological monitoring
Authors: Ardoin Wil-Johneen , Hoyle W. Sloane , Bewaji Oluwatosin , Ferris Thomas K. , Peres S. Camille , Hallbeck Susan , Kaplan Revelee , Brady Peter A.
Published: September 2016

Researchers at a large Midwest Tertiary Care Hospital have developed a remote monitoring system that supports 24-hour real-time physiological monitoring of multiple noncritical care patients from a central remote display station. The system’s potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry has encouraged future plans to expand the operation. However, all of the system’s characteristics and how those characteristics interact to affect qualities of interest such as worker efficiency, fatigue, and patient care have not been fully explored. A mixed-methods ethnographic approach was used to identify and more comprehensively understand characteristics of the remote monitoring systems currently in place. Analyses described three remote monitoring paradigms, emphasizing elements of communication that were perceived to impact patient care. These efforts are the first steps in continued analyses of remote monitoring systems and are important in the identification of key system elements intended to construct a fundamental remote monitoring model.
Using Model Checking to Detect Masking in IEC 60601-1-8-compliant Alarm Configurations
Authors: Bolton Matthew L. , Hasanain Bassam , Boyde Andrew D. , Edworthy Judy
Published: September 2016

The failure of humans to respond to auditory medical alarms has resulted in numerous patient injuries and deaths. The widely used IEC 60601-1-8 international medical alarm standard was created to improve alarm discernibility and identification. Unfortunately, the melodic tonal patterns of IEC 60601-1-8’s alarms are particularly susceptible to simultaneous masking, a condition where concurrent sounds interact in ways that make one or more of them imperceptible. This paper presents a method, which builds on a previous implementation, that uses a novel combination of psychophysical modeling and model checking to detect masking in a modeled configuration of IEC 60601-1-8 alarms. We describe our updated method and demonstrate its power by using it to find masking in the alarms of an actual IEC 60601-1-8-compliant telemetry monitoring system. Results and future research are discussed.
Human Factors in the Wild
Authors: Khunlertkit Adjhaporn (Nana) , Rivera A. Joy , Yin Shanqing , Dulude Catherine , Regli Susan Harkness , Wolf Laurie
Published: September 2016

The Institute of Medicine (2005) identified Human Factors (HF) engineering as an approach to promote better healthcare system design. The use of HF in healthcare has evidently delivered improvement in safety, quality, and productivity. Although existing literature shows the application of HF in practice, there is limited discussion of the integration of HF into healthcare operations, and the science of HF and its mechanism to deliver improved outcomes. This gap makes it difficult for healthcare professionals and management to see how HF can benefit their organization. Even if the potential benefits of integrating HF into healthcare organizations are understood, there is a lack of guidance on how to best deploy full-time HF practitioners. Despite the vast number of hospitals and healthcare systems around the world, only a few have actively and successfully engaged HF practitioners as part of their internal operations. This panel invites four healthcare HF practitioners, with diverse backgrounds and sub-specialties (Micro-, Physical-, and Macro-Ergonomics) to share their roles and contributions to their organization, and discuss their pathway to becoming integrated into their healthcare organization. This panel will provide guidance on how healthcare organizations can deploy and achieve the full benefit of their full-time HF practitioner (e.g., which unit/functional department to position HF and proper expectations of HF). Additionally, the panel will discuss insights for educators and budding HF practitioners on what it takes to advance their career in this challenging, yet literally life-saving industry.
Multitasking Performance and Workload during a Continuous Monitoring Task
Authors: Kim Jung Hyup , Yang Xiaonan , Putri Monika
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we used signal detection theory (SDT) and an eye-head integrated tracking system as a tool to measure the multitasking performance and workload in a continuous monitoring task. By using both eye-gaze/head position data from the tracking system and the performances of all tasks, we developed metrics which can represent the overall performance and workload in a multitasking environment. The primary task was a process monitoring task, which contained total 52 gauges (flow, level, temperature, and pressure). The secondary task was Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MATB), which consisted of system monitoring, target tracking, and dynamic resource management. The results of this study showed the developed metrics could evaluate various levels of multitasking performance and workload in the gauge-monitoring task. In addition, participant’s Situation Awareness accuracy and NASA-TLX were used to validate these metrics under different complexity scenarios.
A Preliminary Investigation of the Effect of Protective Clothing Weight, Bulk and Stiffness on Combat Mobility Course Performance
Authors: Bossi Linda L.M. , Jones Monica L.H. , Kelly Alison , Tack David W.
Published: September 2016

Soldier loads continue to rise in response to new technological capabilities and emerging threats. However, literature addressing the extent to which load mass properties affects operational task performance and mission outcome is sparse. The objective of this preliminary study was to quantify the effect of PPE mass properties (weight, bulk and stiffness) on combat mobility, as measured using the standardized Load Effects Assessment Program (LEAP) course. Twenty-four soldiers completed the LEAP course in three clothing and individual equipment (CIE) configurations (UE: unencumbered; FFO: full fighting order (FFO) without body armour; and FFO+: FFO with body armour). Significant differences between clothing conditions were revealed for LEAP performance metrics (overall course time). Regression analysis revealed significant relationships between overall mobility performance and condition mass properties of weight, bulk, and stiffness. Outcomes will influence the design of future CIE and future research in this area.
Assessing Multispectral Image Fusion with Systems Factorial Technology
Authors: Zhang Hanshu , Houpt Joseph W.
Published: September 2016

Despite the rich literature on techniques for creating a single image from multispectral sensors, there is relatively little research on methods for assessing these techniques based on human performance. We propose the use of Systems Factorial Technology (SFT), a nonparametric, mathematical modeling framework for analyzing human cognition. Previous work has demonstrated the use of SFT in evaluating human perception of multi-spectral imagery, although on relatively contrived tasks. In this work, we extend the approach to a task in which observers must determine whether a person in the image is holding a gun or a tool. We found that all observers processed the information from each spectrum less efficiently when images based on two different spectra were presented together, regardless of whether the information was fused into a single image or kept separately. Furthermore, when images from the two different spectra were presented side-by-side, some observers were able to use both sources in parallel.
Lumbar Posture and Tissue Loading During Short-Term Static Posture Holding
Authors: Alessa Faisal M , Ning Xiaopeng
Published: September 2016

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the changes of lumbar biomechanics during short-term, sustained trunk bending. Eleven participants performed short-term (40 seconds) static trunk bending tasks under two trunk postures (30° or 60°) while holding a 15lbs load. Results of the current study showed significant reduction of lumbar muscle activities during the course of task performance. This change was coupled with significant increase of lumbar flexion angle and lum- bar passive moment. Results of the current study could help us better understand the coping strategy of human body in dealing with sustained spinal tissue loading as the associated lumbar muscle fatigue.
Preliminary Assessment of Ergonomic Injury Risk Factors in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit Spacesuit Glove
Authors: Amick Ryan Z. , Reid Christopher R. , Vu Linh Q. , Nguyen Dan , Sweet Robert , McFarland Shane , Rajulu Sudhakar
Published: September 2016

Injuries to the hands and fingers are commonly reported among astronauts who perform and train for Extravehicular Activities in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit Spacesuit. In an effort to better understand the physical and environmental ergonomic injury risk factors associated with spacesuit glove use, a custom built carrier glove with multiple integrated sensors was developed to be worn within the spacesuit glove with the purpose of measuring the physical and environmental variables acting on the fingers and hand, and the physiological response, within two pressurized glove conditions in a 1G laboratory setting. One male subject performed multiple dynamic and functional tasks in a pressurized EMU. Results indicate that the sensor glove is capable of measuring multiple physical and environmental variables associated the development of finger and hand injuries observed in astronauts.
History Dependency of Muscle Strength Recovery from a Fatiguing Intermittent Task
Authors: Rashedi Ehsan , Nussbaum Maury A.
Published: September 2016

Muscle fatigue and recovery are complex processes influencing muscle force generation capacity. While fatigue reduces this capacity, muscle recovery acts to restore the unfatigued muscle state. Many factors can potentially affect muscle recovery, among these may be a task dependency of recovery following an exercise. However, little has been reported regarding the history dependency of recovery after fatiguing contractions. Recently, we investigated the dependency of the fatigue process on cycle time during low to moderate exertion levels of intermittent muscle contraction (Rashedi & Nussbaum, 2016). A dependency of localized muscle fatigue on cycle time was shown, even though there was a consistent level of overall physical demand. It was concluded that the difference in fatigue development might be related to recovery processes occurring during execution of the intermittent task. In the present study, we focused on the potential effect of contraction history on post-fatigue recovery. Based on the expected dependency of recovery to task demands during exercise, it was hypothesized that post-fatigue recovery will also be affected by the history of exercise-induced muscle fatigue. We examined the dependency of muscle recovery subsequent to four different histories of fatiguing muscle contractions, imposed using two cycle times (30 and 60 sec) during low to moderate levels (15% and 25% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)) of intermittent static exertions involving index finger abduction. All participants completed the intermittent contractions, in all four conditions, for 1 hour, and MVCs were obtained at fixed intervals during 1 hour of post-exercise recovery (i.e., at 0.2, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes). There was a clear and statistically-significant dependency of muscle recovery rate on the muscle capacity state existing immediately after fatiguing exercise. This dependency did not appear to be modified by either the cycle time or exertion level leading to that state. Similar results were found in the study of Iguchi et al. (2008), wherein the authors compared recovery between two different exertion histories while fatiguing muscles to the same level, though recovery was only monitored for 5 minutes. These results imply that the post-exercise rate of recovery is primarily influenced by the post-exercise muscle state. Such evidence may help improve existing models of muscle recovery (Rashedi & Nussbaum, 2015b), facilitating more accurate predictions of localized muscle fatigue development (Rashedi & Nussbaum, 2015a), and thereby helping to enhance muscle performance and reduce the risk of injury
Fatigue Monitoring and Management across Different Industries
Authors: Mehta Ranjana K. , Peres S. Camille , Steege Linsey M. , Potvin Jim R. , Wahl Mike , Stanley Laura M. , Nesthus Thomas E.
Published: September 2016

Fatigue, often defined as a physiological state of reduced mental or physical performance capability resulting from sleep loss, circadian phase, or workload (physical or cognitive), has been implicated as a critical risk factor resulting in severe injuries and accidents. A great deal of research has been done into the identification, measurement, and management of fatigue, however it is still poorly understood. This may be due to the characteristics and variability of work conditions across different industries; for example, fatigue in manufacturing is largely related to physical demands, and in aviation fatigue is related to sleep and shift-work. This panel will comprise of academics and practitioners across manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, aviation, and oil and gas industries. Topics covered within each industry will include fatigue causes and consequences, existing fatigue monitoring/management practices, barriers to fatigue monitoring and management, and recommendations/discussions around improving the current state.
Temporary and Permanent Hearing Loss Among College-Aged Drumline Members
Authors: Haygood Montana , Walker Bruce N.
Published: September 2016

Many musicians experience dangerous levels of sound exposure throughout their musical careers. In particular, members of marching percussion ensembles (“drumlines”) are exposed to prolonged periods of potentially damaging levels of sound. As a result, they are at risk of developing hearing loss. This study determines whether any significant hearing loss or threshold shifts occurs with drumline members in an indoor drumline and college marching band. Two groups of participants were analyzed: one group consisted of both college drumline and community-based competitive drumline members, while the other (control) group consisted of non-drummers who were matched for age and gender to the drummers. The non-drummers were given an audiogram to determine the lowest levels of sound they could detect. The drummers were given an audiogram immediately before and after a drumline rehearsal. First, the drummer group showed significant hearing loss at the start of their rehearsal, compared to the non-drummer group. This is indication of permanent hearing loss for the drummers. Second, the drummers’ hearing thresholds after rehearsal were compared to their levels immediately before rehearsal. A significant shift in the drummer group’s hearing threshold was found, indicating (additional) temporary hearing loss occurring over the course of the rehearsal. Earplug usage of the drummers during their rehearsals was also analyzed. Drummers who did not wear earplugs exhibited a significantly greater threshold shift (i.e., hearing loss) than drummers who did wear earplugs. Evidence of both temporary and permanent hearing loss amongst the drummer group makes it clear that drumline members should be required to wear hearing protection during rehearsals, and presumably also during performances.
Aging Effect on Gait Symmetry After Perturbation Training
Authors: Liu Jian , Wu Miaozong , McIntosh James , Chiu Yi-Po
Published: September 2016

Fall accident is a growing concern for the aging workforce. Reducing fall injuries has been identified as a primary strategic goal in the National Occupational Research Agenda. The objective of the study was to investigate the interaction effect between aging and a novel Automated Walkway Surface Perturbation Training (AWSPT) on kinematic gait asymmetry. Five older adults and five gender-matched younger adults were involved in a laboratory study. Three- dimensional linear accelerations of left and right knee joints were measured via two Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) during both before and after training sessions. Gait asymmetry was quantified by the percentage difference between peak knee resultant acceleration normalized to the average peak knee resultant acceleration. The results indicated significant training effect on Gait Asymmetry Index (GAI). Neither the interaction effect nor the aging effect was found to be significant. In conclusion, the current study provided evidence supporting the effectiveness of AWSPT in improving gait symmetry during normal walking. Such findings support the potential application of AWSPT in reducing risk of falling as well as in gait rehabilitation.
Development of Three-Dimensional Anthropometry Methods for Patients with High Body Mass Index
Authors: Jones Monica L.H. , Ebert Sheila , Horn Riley , Reed Matthew P.
Published: September 2016

Patient handling equipment and related medical devices, such as hospital beds, slings, and patient transfer devices, must accommodate a diverse patient population while ensuring safety and comfort. Approximately 72 million U.S. adults, 34% of the adult population, are currently obese with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2. Detailed body size and shape data in functionally relevant postures are needed for this population to guide product design, but few individuals with high BMI have been measured in the postures of interest. This paper reports the development of methods to address the challenges of obtaining accurate and repeatable 3D anthropometry data for this population.