bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Operators in Automated Systems: The Impact of Active Participation and Communication
Authors: Idaszak Jacqueline R.
Published: January 2012

Operator-system participation and operator-operator communication were manipulated to investigate the effects of increases in active participation on operator monitoring and problem-solving performance. 112 subjects worked as operators of a simulated process system. Operators worked in teams of two on both a monitoring task and, after the system failed, a diagnostic task. The results of this study suggest that active participation in the system improved both monitoring and diagnostic performance while reducing boredom during monitoring and stress while diagnosing a failure. Communication tended to facilitate performance of active participants but degrade performance of passive participants.
The Psychological Impact of New Technologies: Anticipation of Stress
Authors: Slem Charles M. , Levi Daniel J. , Young Andrew
Published: January 2012

Slem, Levi and Young (1986) developed a model of the psychological impact of technological change on the workforce. The purpose of current research was to investigate the relationship between stress and technological change. The “Impact of Technological Change Survey” was administered to workers in five large electronics manufacturing corporations. Almost one-third of the workforce believed that technological change would make the individual's job more stressful. Over 20% were worried about the future of their jobs. Anticipated role conflict, role ambiguity, and quantitative role overload produced the strongest and most consistent relationships with the global measure of stress. Qualitative role overload and beliefs about reduction in force were more closely allied to job insecurity stress. Anticipated stress is reduced somewhat when technological change is seen as providing personal and organizational benefits or when the organization is perceived as effectively dealing with the transition to the new technology.
The Nature of Group Work
Authors: Olson Gary M.
Published: January 2012

Collaborative work, while very common, is also difficult. The reasons for pursing collaborative work are described, along with some of the most common sources of difficulty. New information technologies may provide support for collaboration. But in order to develop appropriate technology, it is necessary to draw upon existing theory and data in cognitive and social science. In addition, it is important to carry out observational studies of collaborative work to look for opportunities for technology intervention.
CSCW Anecdotes and Directions
Authors: Cornell Paul , Luchetii Robert , Mack Lisbeth A. , Olson Gary M.
Published: January 2012

This paper reviews the impact that computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) has had on groups meeting in the same time and place. As is typical with new fields of study, there are few rigorous studies evaluating the merits of CSCW. Nonetheless, researchers have repeatedly observed events that, while not statistically verified, are worth sharing. These observations can aid development and help establish a research agenda. Among the major findings are that groups appear to reach consensus more quickly, are able to handle larger amounts of information more accurately, and are generally satisfied with the results. There is need for caution, however, about the effect on group dynamics and the need to tradeoff individual ergonomics and group needs. The results to date are very encouraging. New developments and research currently underway will add significant value, enhancing group performance and viability. If these developments come to fruition, CSCW could radically change existing notions of work collaboration.
Human Operator Efficiency in Monotonous Transport Operations. Effects on Safety
Authors: Coblentz A. , Cabon Ph , Ignazi G.
Published: January 2012

The increasing automation of the operator's cabin as well as the longer distances travelled constitute factors likely to provoke lowered vigilance during critical periods in transport operations. The aim of this laboratory research is to study the capacity of the security system of French trains to detect decreases in vigilance. This system is based on the safety deadman circuit. In order to identify a relationship between motor behavior (activation of the pedal) and variations in vigilance (EEG, eyes blink frequency) a simplified monotonous driving task was used. Main results have shown that during periods of lowered vigilance some perturbations of motor behavior appeared. Futhermore, a degradation of performance in term of increased reaction time and omission of signals was observed during these phases. Main perspectives concern the use of such a system in the detection of decreases in vigilance on the field.
Team for Human Factors Engineering
Authors: Mercier Christine L. , Cominio Arthur R. , Adkins Ronald P.
Published: January 2012

The Human Factors Engineer (HFE) Is sometimes excluded from the requirements analysis phase of a project when other engineers do not understand how the HFE can contribute to system definition. The Traceability and Engineering Analysis Methodology (TEAM) combines all engineering disciplines, including Human Factors Engineering, into an integrated methodology for systems analysis. TEAM provides a structured mechanism for Inter-discipline communication during the early phases of a project. Human Factors Engineers have successfully used TEAM to contribute to requirements analysis early in a project life-cycle. This paper presents the TEAM Concept and identifies how the Human Factors Engineer uses TEAM.
A Soldier Feedback System for Improved Products
Authors: Jezior Barbara A. , Greene Charles A. , Symington Lawrence E. , Salvato Annette
Published: January 2012

Six years ago U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center created a program to obtain soldier feedback on its products - those currently in the field as well as those under development. This feedback is obtained through field tests and systematic user surveys and is augmented by a number of other procedures. The program is effective it has spurred design changes and has given the Army's product developers substantive data bases to use in their decision making.
Status and Future Directions of Intelligent Tutoring Systems
Authors: Polson Martha Campbell
Published: January 2012

The area represented by this title is far too broad to cover in a short article. Therefore, rather than trying to summarize the status of the field, I will provide pointers to three recent books in the area that very adequately convey the status of the field. Some major omissions of the current research will be covered under the topic of future directions.
Effects of Variations in Head-Up Display Pitch-Ladder Representations on Orientation Recognition
Authors: Ercoline William R. , Gillingham Kent K. , Greene Frances A. , Previc Fred H.
Published: January 2012

Head-up display (HUD) research has centered on modifications to the basic aircraft control symbology—the pitch-ladder lines. Although some of these modifications have led to minor improvements in attitude recognition, major problems still exist: pilots continue to experience spatial disorientation and to complain of occlusion due to the HUD symbols. This experiment compared four variations of a basic HUD pitch ladder: Display A, double articulation; Display B, single negative articulation; Display C, single negative articulation with gradually increasing thickness; and Display D, single negative articulation with gradually increasing thickness in a global arrangement. Accuracy of bank recognition was best when pitch-ladder symbology incorporated noticeable asymmetry. Double articulation and graduated thickness were associated with greater accuracy of pitch recognition. Studies under dynamic conditions are recommended.
The Use of Judgment Matrices in Subjective Workload Assessment: The Subjective Workload Dominance (SWORD) Technique
Authors: Vidulich Michael A.
Published: January 2012

One objective of the project was to determine compare two analytic algorithms for converting judgment matrices into subjective workload ratings. The original eigenvector algorithm used in Saaty's Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was compared an algorithm of calculating geometric means. Also, three methods of identifying excessively inconsistent matrices were compared. Data from nine previous experiments were re-examined in the present analysis. There were no differences between the AHP ratings and the geometric mean ratings in terms of their sensitivity to the experimental manipulations. However, two of the inconsistency measures were successfully used to cull the data-sets of inconsistent matrices and improved the statistical sensitivity of one set of ratings. These findings suggest that: (1) the computationally simpler geometric means algorithm can be used as an alternative to the eigenvector algorithm, and (2) culling inconsistent matrices can sometimes improve rating sensitivity. These findings, along with previous research, demonstrate that judgment matrices can be a very valuable workload assessment tool. The essential steps for the proper use of judgment matrices in workload assessment are reviewed. A user's guide and software are also being prepared to aid researchers and practitioners
Tank Crew Performance: Effects of Speech Intelligibility on Target Acquisition and Subjective Workload Assessment
Authors: Whitaker Leslie , Peters Leslie
Published: January 2012

Thirty tank crews were tested in the Ft. Knox COFT tank simulator. The COFT simulator is a gunnery training facility. The crew's task was to shoot specified enemy targets. Each crew consisted of a tank commander and a gunner. The commander told the gunner, via an intercom system, which enemy object was the next target. Performance and subjective workload were measured as a function of the speech intelligibility transmitted by the intercom system. Five levels of intelligibility were tested. The measures of operational effectiveness were the number of targets correctly fired upon and the gunner's latency. Subjective workload was measured using the Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT). Gunner performance and subjective workload covaried across intelligibility levels. Performance was not significantly affected until intelligibility levels fell to 50%. However, SWAT ratings increased linearly with decreasing intelligibility level.
Time Stress Interacts with Coding, Density, and Search Type in Visual Display Search
Authors: Walrath Larry C. , Backs Richard W.
Published: January 2012

Twelve subjects participated in a study of time stress in visual display search and the relationship between stress and other variables known to affect visual search, such as symbol density, color coding, and search type. Response time (RT) differed significantly for each of these variables and for their two-way interactions. Generally, time stress suppressed the affects of the other variables. Accuracy varied significantly only for the main effects of coding, search type, and density. In addition to RT and accuracy, several ocular measures were collected. Results for the number of eye fixations paralleled the RT results except for the stress and practice (day) variables. Fixations per second approached significance for day and search type effects. Differential patterns of significant effects were observed for eye blink and pupil diameter changes that reflected stress, cognitive load, and search difficulty.
Visual Tracking and Eye-Hand Coordination in the Horizontal and Vertical Plane
Authors: Kunak Denny V.
Published: January 2012

A study of visual tracking was conducted to determine the influence of tracking direction and task type on the pattern of eye movements. The 3×4-factorial experiment with repeated measures showed that smooth eye movements were: (1) longer in the horizontal than vertical plane; (2) longer in the downward than upward direction; (3) influenced by the type of task. The results may be relevant for employee training and design of workstations in respect to electronic information display and hand coordination, visual inspection, and work under the microscope.
Evaluation of a Directional Audio Display Synthesizer
Authors: Valencia German , Agnew Jeffrey R.
Published: January 2012

A three-dimensional (3-D) auditory display imposes directionality to audio signals, over headphones, so that they are perceived as originating from unique spatial locations outside the listener's head. This study evaluated subjects' localization performance with a Directional Auditory Display (DIRAD) synthesizer. Subjects' ability to perceive the direction of target sounds in the azimuth plane was measured as a function of head movement with four types of audio stimuli. Results showed significant localization performance differences as a function of sound location, head movement condition and stimulus type. These results help to define the functional requirements of a 3-D auditory display prior to the integration of synthesized directional audio into flight simulators and advanced aircrew systems.
Cognitive Quality and Situational Awareness with Advanced Aircraft Attitude Displays
Authors: Taylor R.M. , Selcon S.J.
Published: January 2012

Highly agile combat aircraft create demanding requirements for the cognitive quality of aircraft attitude information. Evidence is presented on aircrew decision-making performance on simulated attitude recovery tasks requiring situational awareness with different types of attitude representation. Pictorial aircraft “outside-looking-in” attitude representations appear to require cognitive rotation prior to response selection. A pictorial Command Indicator (CI), with only small attitude deflections, generated relatively low processing demands, without increasing situational awareness. A contact analog Attitude Indicator (AI) representation was superior to relatively less familiar Head-Up Display (HUD) pitch scale, even when switching attention between references. The supremacy of AIs is attributed to the greater accessibility and compatibility of appropriate “inside-looking-out” cognitive schemata. HUD representations create relatively low understanding of situations, but appropriate schemata may become more accessible with HUD training.
An Evaluation of the Augie Arrow Hud Symbology as an Aid to Recovery from Unusual Attitudes
Authors: Deaton John E. , Barnes Michael , Kern Jonathan , Wright Douglas
Published: January 2012

With the upgrade of the F-14A to the F-14D, the F-14D HUD has been proposed for use as the primary flight reference instrument. A concern among display designers is, therefore, the degree of spatial/attitudinal awareness achievable with the F-14D HUD. The present study examined the degree of spatial awareness obtained using what has been called an Augie Arrow, enabled so that it could be displayed as either a “nearest horizon pointer” (NH) or an “up arrow” (UP) indicator. Another issue investigated concerned the usefulness of analog dials vice digital readouts of airspeed and altitude as an aid to recovery. During simulated flight, 12 subjects were required to recover from 6 unusual attitudes employing one of 4 HUD formats: (1) Standard HUD, (2) Augie Arrow, (3) Analog Dials, and (4) Augie Arrow with Analog Dials. Results revealed that the Augie Arrow produced the most rapid recovery time. The Augie Arrow configuration was optimal at the most severe unusual attitudes, especially for the NH mechanization. The Dials only HUD was not particularly helpful in recovery, and the Arrow with Dials HUD was rated as a significant clutter problem. Future work needs to be done to clarify the mechanization of the Augie Arrow for other HUD modes, while the issue of when to display the arrow should be assessed in greater detail. Issues related to the difficulty of performing simulation studies in this area were discussed.
The Use of 3-D Stereo Display of Tactical Information
Authors: Steiner Bruce A. , Dotson Diane A.
Published: January 2012

This study examined the effects of adding 3-D stereoscopic altitude information to a standard aircraft tactical situation display. In an experiment, displays presenting varying number of hostile aircraft were presented to subjects in either a 2-D or 3-D format via a computer driven real time simulation system. Tests indicate, that for all levels of number of threats, the 2-D displays resulted in faster response times and fewer errors to locate particular classes of targets. Questionnaire and interview results, however, showed that subjects prefer the use of 3-D displays, and felt that their use gave them a competitive edge over their opponents. Implication for the use of this technology in aircraft heads down displays, as well as suggestions for further research are discussed.
TASKILLAN II: Pilot Strategies for Workload Management
Authors: Segal Leon D. , Wickens Christopher D.
Published: January 2012

This study focused on the strategies used by pilots in managing their workload level, and their subsequent task performance. Sixteen licensed pilots flew 42 missions on a helicopter simulation, and were evaluated on their performance of the overall mission, as well as individual tasks. Pilots were divided in four groups, defined by the presence or absence of scheduling control over tasks and the availability of intelligence concerning the type and stage of difficulties imposed during the flight. Results suggest that intelligence supported strategies that yielded significantly higher performance levels, while scheduling control seemed to have no impact on performance. Both difficulty type and the stage of difficulty impacted performance significantly, with strongest effects for time stress and difficulties imposed late in the flight.
Flight Telerobotic Servicer: Teleoperations in Microgravity
Authors: Thomason Spencer C. , Yorchak John P.
Published: January 2012

The Flight Telerobotic Servicer (FTS) is a dual-arm robot which will perform operations in space through manual teleoperation or autonomous control. The FTS is being designed and built by Martin Marietta Astronautics Group for NASA and will be used for aiding astronauts in assembling, servicing, maintaining, and inspecting Space Station Freedom (SSF). Robots will be an important part of SSF operations in order to limit hazardous astronaut EVA time. Some typical tasks the FTS is being designed to perform include installation/removal of structural truss elements, changeout of modular electronics packages, mate/demate of connectors, and performance of inspection tasks.

FTS control stations will be located on board both the Shuttle and SSF. These workstations consist of controls/displays, video from telerobot cameras, force reflecting hand controllers, and operator restraints. Special problems which have been encountered by the ongoing human factors effort include the design of a restraint system to accommodate 5th to 95th percentile astronauts, maximizing hand controller operational envelopes in limited space, noncongruent operator, display, and teleoperation coordinate systems, and design of a human-computer interface which minimizes the amount of time the operator must release hand controllers to perform other workstation functions.

Test flights for FTS have been planned for 1991 and 1993 and will allow evaluation of such issues as the biomechanics of a restrained operator using force reflecting hand controllers in microgravity, assessing effects on operator performance of various control modes, use of different translational, rotational, and force reflection gains, degrees of shared control (active compliance), and operator fatigue.
Predictors of Alternative Scheduling: Age, Level, & Tenure
Authors: Franz Thomas M.
Published: January 2012

Employees (N = 3,129) were surveyed to determine their likelihood to use three types of alternative work schedules: fewer hours (e. g., part-time), at home hours (e. g., occasional or part-time work at home) and more flexible hours (e. g., a flexitime schedule) if offered by the employer, in the next five years. It was found that half of the employees indicated that the schedules might apply to them (n = 1,290). Regression analyses tested the relationship of need for childcare, age, organizational level, and tenure with the alternative schedules. It was found that respondents who needed childcare were more likely to use all three types of alternative work schedules than those who did not need childcare. Younger respondents were more likely to use all three types of alternative work schedules than were older respondents. Higher level employees were found to be as likely to use alternative schedules as lower level employees. While employees of differing tenure were equally likely to work alternative schedules, many who indicated that the schedules did not apply to them were of higher tenure, thus biasing the final sample on which the tenure conclusion was based.
The Effectiveness of Traditional versus Computer-Based Training Techniques
Authors: Savage Pamela A. , Kemp David G. , Millen David R. , Roberts Linda A.
Published: January 2012

The primary goal of this research was to examine the relative effectiveness of traditional versus computer-based training techniques. Additional goals were to assess how presentation modality and dynamic versus static presentation of material affects learning. Four training techniques were evaluated: paper instructions, computer simulations with on-screen text instructions, computer simulations with auditory instructions, and computer simulations with on-screen text and auditory instructions. Sixty subjects performed four tasks using a computer-based on-screen simulation of a display telephone. Before executing each task, subjects in each of the four treatment groups received a brief training session. Dependent measures consisted of time to complete the tasks, error rate, and subjective measures of how well the various training techniques were liked. An analysis of variance indicated that computer simulations with auditory instructions and simulations with combined modality instructions resulted in task performance times that were significantly less than those obtained following paper instructions. Tasks performed following computer-based training had a significantly lower error rate than did tasks performed without instructions. No significant differences were found among the training techniques for subjective measures of how well the training techniques were liked.
A Cognitive Modeling Technique for Complex Decision Strategies
Authors: Purcell Janine A.
Published: January 2012

Accurate models of operator decision making have been advocated by a number of researchers as a fundamental component of system design (Glenn, (1989); Norman, (1986); and Rasmussen, (1985)). Such models can be used to strengthen the design integrity of decision support systems in which tasks are allocated between human and computer. In this investigation, a cognitive modeling technique based on the GOMS model of Card, Moran, and Newell (1983) was used to analyze the composition and structure of decision-making strategies in a multidimensional diagnostic task. Two general strategies emerged along with the finding that certain strategies predominated according to visual display format. The methodology offers a promising approach to the analysis of verbal and retrospective protocol data solicited in conjunction with complex decision-making tasks.
The Uses of Prototyping in User Interface Design and Evaluation
Authors: Virzi Robert A. , Penn Dick , Tullis Thomas S. , Greene Sharon L.
Published: January 2012

This panel will explore the varied uses of prototyping in the user interface design process. We expect to show that there is no single thing called “user interface prototyping” and that the differences are, in many ways, greater than the similarities. Panelists have been chosen to represent a wide cross section of user interface design tasks. Collectively, members of the panel have experience in prototyping hardware and software, computer programs and telecommunications services, residential, business, and engineering applications, at various levels of fidelity, and in all parts of the design process. We expect to show how these factors all influence the way prototypes are used and that the designer must be careful in choosing the most appropriate prototyping methodology for his or her needs.

Each panelist will begin by characterizing the portion of the design process that he or she will be talking about. This represents a major division in the way prototypes are used, both in the way they are built and in the type of information sought by the designer. Prototypes used early in the design process (requirements analysis) tend to be lower fidelity and are used to test preferences for design alternatives, while those used later in the design process (system specification) tend towards higher fidelity and are used to test usability. Each panelist will point out the strengths and weaknesses of his or her prototyping methodology.

Each panelist will address the following points:

• Appropriate uses of prototyping methodology (early vs. late in design process) • Characteristics of prototypes (platform, level of fidelity, etc.) • Information gathered from the prototypes (evaluate design preferences, measure performance, etc.) • Relative costs of the method (time to build, flexibility, etc.)
Evolutionary Design of a Customer Activated Terminal: A Case Study
Authors: Henneman Richard L. , Inderrieden Michael , Anderson Andy , Taylor Brett
Published: January 2012

The process of designing a customer activated terminal (CAT) is described. A CAT is a self-service computer system that enables people to order food or merchandise, request information, complete banking transactions, etc. The specific application that this paper considers is a quick service restaurant lunch menu. Designers of CATs must assume that many users of such systems have no prior computer experience. One of the goals of this paper is to identify some specific interface design principles that seem to be appropriate for other CAT applications. A second goal is to illustrate how an iterative design process that focuses on user, task, and environmental characteristics can result in a successful product. The paper describes a four phase iterative development approach: data collection, initial design, testing and redesign, and implementation. Activities in each phase emphasize understanding user, task, and environmental characteristics. Several examples of the interface design at various stages of development are presented, and reasons for why design features were altered are discussed. The paper concludes by articulating several principles that apply to the design of CATs.
Menuing and Scrolling as Alternative Information Access Techniques
Authors: Swierenga Sarah J.
Published: January 2012

An experiment was conducted to evaluate menuing and scrolling as alternative information access techniques when a touch-sensitive input device was used to interact with the system. A hierarchical menu structure and three scrolling methods, line-by-line, half-screen, and full-screen, were tested. Level of goal word familiarity (familiar and unfamiliar) and window display size (12 or 24 lines displayed on the screen) were also examined. The task consisted of using a touch tablet to locate a target goal word with one of the four access methods. Members of a single set of 64 words, 32 familiar and 32 unfamiliar, served as goal words in all conditions. Performance data (total time to complete the task) were collected from 48 subjects. Access method and window size were between-subject variables. Each subject received both word familiarity levels. Results of an analysis of variance on mean total task time (MTIME) revealed a significant access method by word familiarity interaction. Separate analyses of variance were conducted on MTIME for familiar and unfamiliar goal word sets. When the goal word was familiar, menuing was fastest, followed by line-by-line, full-screen, and half-screen scrolling. For unfamiliar goal words, line-by-line scrolling was fastest, followed by full-screen, half-screen, and menuing. The effect of window size was not significant. The findings of this study suggest that the operator's familiarity with the information being searched is important when deciding upon an access method.
Transfer across Computer Command Menus
Authors: Smelcer John B. , Walker Neff
Published: January 2012

Two experiments are reported which examine the effects of menu organization and command naming on performance across computer command menus. Results indicate that different menu organizations are best for different selection tasks when switching between applications. Surprisingly, different sources for command names have no effect on selection times.

When users know the exact names of the commands that they are searching for, an alphabetic organization produces faster search times in early trials. However, when users know only the definitions of the commands that they are searching for, a conceptual organization leads to faster search times in early trials. Knowledge of this conceptual organization transfers to a new application and speeds selection time in the second application. Also, similar names for identical commands transfers to the second application and improves performance there. However, keeping identical commands in the same position across applications has no effect on performance.
Teaching Human Factors Design Skills: Science OR Engineering Doesn't do the Trick
Authors: Dingus Thomas A.
Published: January 2012

The objective of this paper is to describe a laboratory approach to teaching human factors design skills to Master's level students. A description of this approach, utilizing both engineering and scientific approaches to determine optimum design solutions is discussed. In addition, this teaching methodology is contrasted with the more common “either or” approaches found in human factors programs contained within engineering or psychology departments. The paper will also describe the training of human factors design as a skill in the form of a “hands-on” laboratory setting as opposed to a “how-to” lecture setting.

Papers such as this provide an opportunity for educators to exchange ideas and approaches to human factors education. This is particularly important for a field as diverse as human factors, where several differing viewpoints exist.
Use of a Visual Cue to Reduce Errors in Exiting a Crash-bar Type Door
Authors: Wallace Daniel F. , Huffman Deatra
Published: January 2012

Fire codes require that exit doors utilize a horizontal bar to release the latch mechanism so that in a panic situation the door will open easily. Architects have incorporated this constraint into the design of entryways, but sometimes hide visual cues within the door itself, thereby creating perfect symmetry in the appearance of the door. If the visual cue of a doorknob is absent, the individual cannot know which side to push. Certain hazards result from this situation. Visual cues may be effective to alleviate this problem. A campus library and athletic center provided a location where a systematic field study could be made. Observations were collected over a four week period. The first two weeks determined a base rate of individuals' success/failure in pressing the correct side of the door. Another two weeks of data were collected where a visual cue was positioned on the proper side of the door. DV was success or failure in pressing the correct side of the door. IV was presence or absence of the visual cue. Data revealed that 37% of Ss demonstrated failure when there was no visual cue present to break the symmetry of the door, but only 6% failed with the visual cue present. No significant learning effect was found during the phase of no visual cue, but a significant learning effect was found for presence of cue. Applications may be made to door design and the design of other environments where individuals may need visual cues to make choices.
Operability of Car Audio Controls
Authors: Osurai Yoshimasa , Inuzuka Yasuhiro , Ito Hideichi
Published: January 2012

A study was conducted to examine ease of use and operational feel of car audio switches. For ease of use, the location of the audio set on an instrument panel and the arrangement of the audio controls were considered. For operational feel, the force of audio controls was considered. The result made clear a range of locations of the audio set and the arrangement of the controls for easy operation. Furthermore, a range of preferred force for pushbutton controls was obtained. The knowledge gained through this study was used to improve greatly the operability of our car audio set.
Table-Top Development, Simulation, and Evaluation Environment for Battlefield Information System Concepts
Authors: Ritchie R. Jay , Stein Helen , Coco Joseph N.
Published: January 2012

A software development environment for prototyping, simulating, and evaluating advanced concepts in US Army battlefield information systems was designed and implemented as a lower cost alternative to complex development and simulation facilities. The workstation-based development environment was designed to evaluate a variety of soldier-machine interface design requirements and specifications, as well as communications and database concepts for future Army vehicle and weapons systems. Using this environment, an armor maneuver control application was implemented, demonstrated, and evaluated in a networked testbed. The application demonstrated the creation and transmission of tactical graphic and text information, automatic message routing, and rapid reconfiguration of the soldier-machine interface. Use of the development environment has demonstrated that battlefield information system prototypes can be quickly and inexpensively simulated and evaluated, and can be used as an adjunct or alternative to other simulation facilities.
Activity and Cooperation in a Multi-Person Teleoperator Cockpit
Authors: Hood Christopher C. , Draper John V. , Handel Stephen
Published: January 2012

This experiment attempted to determine how members of a teleoperator crew use equipment and interact when performing remote maintenance tasks. The experiment used a modified process analysis technique to record how users performed two typical remote maintenance tasks.

Five people participated in the experiment. They were paired into teams representing several experience levels. Participants completed the tasks while two television cameras recorded their actions on videotape. Observers later scored the videotapes using the process analysis chart. The percent of time each participant spent engaged in each activity was calculated, as was the percent of time the participants cooperated and co-acted in the cockpit. This information will be helpful in designing future teleoperator cockpits and other related control rooms.
The Evolutionary Role of Humans in the Human-Robot System
Authors: Granda Thomas M. , Kirkpatrick Mark , Julien Tracye D. , Peterson Larry A.
Published: January 2012

Future human-robot systems are expected to show increasing capabilities, flexibility and levels of machine autonomy. Current systems include manufacturing robots which operate with little human intervention once they have been programmed. Teleoperators generally require continuous human control and achieve flexibility in the face of changing task requirements and environmental conditions. Human control tasks in teleoperated mobility and/or manipulator systems are often quite demanding in terms of workload and operator time. An objective of the future development of human-robot systems is incorporation of technologies such as artificial intelligence, world modeling, machine pattern recognition and automated task planning to permit increased robot autonomy and reduced human operator demands. Stages of human-robot capability were identified and criticalities of certain generic human operator functions were estimated for the capability stages. The resulting profile defines the changing role of the human operator throughout development of the capability stages. This information has implications for human factors research and development in the human-robot systems area.
Ergonomic Improvement in Games Manufacturing: A Case Study
Authors: Cook Robert E. , Marcotte Andrew J.
Published: January 2012

A major manufacturer of board games was experiencing cumulative trauma injuries in one of its facilities. Approximately nine percent of those injuries were associated with packing games into shipping cartons. A specific job analysis/problem-solving/solutions implementation methodology was applied to prevent future injuries and provide a basis from which other packing workstations would be designed. Work/workstation changes resulted in significant improvements. The most significant were reductions in stress to the wrists, shoulders and back, and a 90 percent reduction in damage to the packaging and related returns from the customer.
The Effect of Rigid Container Shape on Maximum Acceptable Weight of Lift
Authors: Ostrom Lee T. , Smith James L. , Ayoub M.M.
Published: January 2012

In the chemical, pharmaceutical, and paint manufacturing industries raw and finished materials are frequently shipped in cylindrical rigid containers instead of boxes. Psychophysical manual materials handling lifting capacity studies to date have not considered whether rigid container shape has an effect on maximum acceptable weight of lift. Two psychophysical studies were designed and conducted in order to answer this question.

During the first experiment ten subjects lifted boxes with three different heights, at three different frequencies, and through three different lift ranges in order to establish a data base in which to compare the results of the second experiment. During the second experiment the same group of subjects lifted cylinders with three different heights at the same frequencies of lift and through the same lift ranges as the first experiment. The subjects adjusted the weight of the box until they felt they could safely lift that weight for eight hours. This weight was the maximum acceptable weight of lift (MAWL). The experimental design for both experiments was a 3 factor randomized complete block design with blocking on subjects. The dependent variables were oxygen consumption (VO2), MAWL, and Borg's rating of perceived exertion.

The results indicated that when one designs a lifting task for a rigid container the shape of the rigid container, whether a cylinder or a box, does not need to be taken into account and that current psychophysical lifting capacity prediction models can be used to design cylinder lifting tasks.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: The Design of Optimal Rate-Rest Profiles
Authors: Fisher Donald L. , Andres Robert O. , Airth David , Smith Steven
Published: January 2012

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a major cause of lost time in hand intensive industries. Typical remedies include the introduction of job aids and the redesign of the job. An alternative remedy is considered here. Specifically, a mathematical model is developed which can be used to determine the parameters of a job (e.g., the rate of work and the number and duration of the rest breaks) which minimize post-threshold cumulative trauma and maximize productivity. It is shown that in many circumstances the job parameters can be set so that one can achieve both a decrease in post-threshold cumulative trauma and an increase in productivity. It is theorized that the decrease in post-threshold cumulative trauma will lead to fewer incidents of carpal tunnel syndrome. The application of the model to an actual manufacturing job requiring high repetitive, high force hand motions is discussed.
A Dynamic Biomechanical Model of the Wrist Joint
Authors: Schoenmarklin Richard W. , Marras William S.
Published: January 2012

This paper describes a biomechanical model of the wrist joint that incorporates the dynamic component of angular acceleration. Repetition, which has been found to be a risk factor for cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), is essentially cyclic angular acceleration and velocity. The objective of the dynamic model presented here, which is based on Armstrong's and Chaffin's (1979) static model, is to explain how the component of angular acceleration could increase a worker's risk of developing CTDs. When the wrist is accelerated in the flexion/extension plane, the resultant reaction force on the tendons and median nerve from the carpal bones and flexor retinaculum increases. This increase in reaction force is due solely to the acceleration of the wrist without any external grasp or pinch force. External grasp or pinch forces would increase the resultant reaction force even more.
Controlled English for International Technical Communication
Authors: Kincaid J. Peter , Thomas Margaret , Strain Kimberly , Couret Ivonne , Bryden Kevin
Published: January 2012

This paper describes a project to develop and use intelligent software to automate the authoring of technical documents written in controlled English, such as Simplified English (SE). SE is a subset of English with a limited vocabulary and a set of writing rules; its use in aircraft maintenance manuals makes them so clearly written that translation is not needed. The paper also describes courseware for rapidly teaching controlled English to those with limited English language ability. Finally, it presents implications of using controlled English for international technical communication and language training, and describes how the computer techniques being developed in our laboratory will facilitate this process.
Primary Human Factors Considerations in the Transfer of Large-scale Technological Systems to Developing Countries
Authors: Meshkati Najmedin
Published: January 2012

Human and organizational factors affecting safety and accident potential of large-scale technological systems (e.g., chemical processing or nuclear power plants) in the contexts of both developed and developing countries are investigated. It is concluded that the critical areas in need of serious attention (and further research) should include: Considering local user population's attributes, considering physical environmental conditions affecting operators' safety and performance, considering the effects of cultural and religious variables, employing more adaptive managerial and organizational systems, and determining the appropriated level of needed requisite variety and other organizational control mechanism. The yields and potential applications of this type of research are enumerated.
Perceptions of Work Environment and Psychological Strain across Categories of Office Jobs
Authors: Sainfort Pascale C.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine worker perceptions of the work environment and psychological strain across job categories, as well as relationships between perceptions of the work environment and strain among office workers. Two-hundred-sixty-two employees from three public service organizations participated in the study. Using a questionnaire, we obtained measures of the work environment and of psychological strain. Office jobs were classified in seven job categories. Discriminant analyses showed that worker perceptions of the work environment varied across job categories, while the variation in strain was minimal. Worker perceptions of the work environment were related to some of the indicators of psychological strain. The most consistent predictor of strain was job control.
A Structure of Influences of Management and Organizational Factors on Unsafe Acts at the Job Performer Level
Authors: Anderson Nancy S. , Schurman Donald L. , Wreathall John
Published: January 2012

The present paper reports the work conducted to develop a framework that describes the various influences of factors or attributes of management and organizations that can influence the worker either directly or indirectly and have an effect on his/her job performance. Two representations of a framework are presented with definitions of the factors/attributes and their processes and how these influences interact at different levels of an organization. An attempt is made to relate the present framework to others that have been developed and finally to suggest further research that is needed.
Individual Differences in Strategic Processing in a Dynamic Spatial Reasoning Task
Authors: Hickey Daniel T.
Published: January 2012

A previous study of dynamic spatial reasoning using a two-object arrival time task (Law et. al., 1990) suggested that individual differences in strategic processes might account for a significant portion of overall accuracy on the task. Specifically, some subjects appear to favor a decision strategy that favors distance information while disregarding speed information. Four experiments examining individual differences in subject strategies on the arrival time task are reviewed. The results support the hypothesis that decision strategies are an important individual difference performance factor for the experimental task, and that these strategies are subject to modification and improvement via explicit feedback. The results also show that the ability to benefit from performance feedback is mediated by an individual's ability to make speed judgements like those called for by the arrival time task.
Individual Differences in Real-Time Information Coordination: Relating Dynamic Spatial and Verbal Information
Authors: Morrin Kevin A.
Published: January 2012

Past research has suggested that a coordination ability may critically contribute in the capacity to control attention in situations of increased mental load. Evidence for such an ability was sought by analyzing individual differences in performance in a complex, real-time task. The task required the integration of information obtained from visual and verbal processing channels to produce a single response. Subjects saw two objects moving across a visual display and had to determine the veracity of a verbal statement about the objects, e.g., “object A is not moving faster than object B.” Verbal statements varied in syntactic complexity and truth value and visual displays varied in the relative speed ratio of the moving objects. Male and female subjects (N = 60) performed the verbal and spatial tasks alone and in combination across testing sessions. Gender differences were obtained for the speed judgment task with males demonstrating greater sensitivity in detecting speed differences. Support for a general coordination ability was weak in the full sample. However, when male and female data were analyzed separately, evidence was obtained among females for the contribution of a coordination ability in performing the combined task. The latter finding is attributed to male-female differences in the resource load associated with processing dynamic spatial information.