bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conspicuity of Traffic Signs Assessed by Eye Tracking and Immediate Recall
Authors: Inman Vaughan W.
Published: October 2012

Traffic sign conspicuity was assessed with eye glance and immediate recall measures. Sign conspicuity is defined as the probability that the signs will be noticed. However, the measurement of being noticed is complex. Drivers’ glances to signs were recorded on a 34 mile drive. Recall was assessed by requesting sign identification immediately after selected signs were passed. Only about half of all signs were recalled just 2 s after they were passed. About 20 percent of speed limit signs received glances; however drivers were aware of the posted speed limit about 80 percent of the time. Drivers may glance at signs, yet fail to identify them and may correctly identify signs in the absence of a glance. Conspicuity measures that rely solely on either glance or recall are not adequate for evaluating the attention getting qualities of traffic signs.
Rapid Prototyping of Automotive HMI Systems Utilizing Vector CANape and Mathworks Simulink
Authors: Trombley Roger , Rolfes Nate , Shutko John
Published: October 2012

Automotive electronics systems are continuously becoming more complicated with an ever increasing list of features. As the level of content increases, so does the interaction between the systems. This additional complexity can translate into a more confusing HMI experience for the driver if it is not designed carefully. This is especially true for features that interact across multiple systems, where each must seamlessly integrate. It becomes clear that a method to rapidly prototype such HMI systems is desirable to enable testing of HMI concepts as early in the design process as possible. This paper will describe one such method that we have successfully utilized incorporating the use of Vector CANape software to quickly create prototype HMI experiences that integrates Mathworks Simulink feature code, touchscreen interaction, user inputs and the vehicle CAN network to simulate an in vehicle HMI experience.
The use of a homogeneity measure to identify hazard perception abilities of novices and experienced drivers in a driving simulator
Authors: Yona Omri , Borowsky Avinoam , Oron-Gilad Tal , Parmet Yisrael
Published: October 2012

Comparisons between young-novice and experienced drivers are beneficial for the development of both testing and training methodologies for young-novice drivers. Simulators are essential tools of driver assessment especially for novices. One way to look at the differences between driver groups is by examination of performance with regard to specific events. In addition, overall examination of performance across scenarios is important as it shows general patterns of behavior rather than specific ones. The common method to do so is by looking at the average of certain driving related measures or their variability. Using data derived from two hazard perception test (HPT) experiments in a driving simulator, we demonstrate how the use of a group homogeneity measure is more sensitive than the former two. Altogether, we demonstrate that consistently and regardless of road environment, experienced drivers manage their speed in a more homogenous way while novices act as inconsistent individuals.
A Task-Analytic Approach for Estimating Driver Task Demands on Specific Roadway Sections
Authors: Lichty Monica G. , Richard Christian M.
Published: October 2012

Incorporating driver capabilities and information needs into roadway designs can be challenging because there is limited information available about the driving task in typical engineering design references. Task analyses of driving are one way to assist design and help consider driver needs. This article presents a new task-analytic method for estimating driver task demands along existing or planned roadway sections. A top-down approach was used to decompose driving maneuvers on a particular roadway section into segments, driving tasks, and information processing subtasks. Milestones were used to constrain task placement in space and time. Overlap between tasks over the same roadway section was used to identify regions of potentially heightened workload. Overall, this approach outlines a simple and structured method for accommodating driver tasks and information needs into the roadway design decision-making process.
Commercial Drivers’ Initial Attitudes toward an On-Board Monitoring System
Authors: Peng Yiyun , Ghazizadeh Mahtab , Boyle Linda Ng , Lee John D.
Published: October 2012

Several studies have shown the effectiveness of on-board monitoring for improving commercial driver safety but little has been done to examine truck drivers’ attitudes toward such systems. The purpose of the current study is to examine these drivers’ initial attitudes toward an on-board monitoring system (OBMS) as influenced by driver characteristics and driving experiences. Commercial drivers’ attitudes and demographics were collected via a questionnaire distributed after a brief introduction of an OBMS. The results of a cluster analysis revealed three subgroups of commercial drivers who had negative, moderately positive, and extremely positive attitudes toward OBMS. Those with extremely positive attitudes, named the Fanatics cluster indicated that they would highly trust the system and felt they would adjust their driving based on system feedback. The cluster with more negative attitudes (named Opponents) showed a higher proportion of non-married drivers than married drivers and reported that the system would be an invasion of privacy. This study provides some insights on commercial drivers’ attitudes toward feedback from technology and can help designers and researchers understand differences in drivers’ willingness to accept and use feedback systems.
Augmenting the Technology Acceptance Model with Trust: Commercial Drivers’ Attitudes towards Monitoring and Feedback
Authors: Ghazizadeh Mahtab , Peng Yiyun , Lee John D. , Boyle Linda Ng
Published: October 2012

This study evaluates truck drivers’ attitudes toward an on-board monitoring system (OBMS), using an extended version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) that accounts for drivers’ trust in OBMS. Crashes that involve trucks incur a high cost to society and driver-related factors contribute to about one third of all large truck fatal crashes in the US. Therefore, safety initiatives that can increase drivers’ awareness of their risky behaviors are highly desirable. In-vehicle feedback systems are designed to serve this purpose; however, their benefits will not be realized unless their information can positively influence safe driving. Acceptance constructs for the proposed model were measured using a survey administered after the monitoring system was introduced to the drivers but before the system was actually installed in their trucks. In line with the TAM, the results demonstrated that perceived usefulness is the most important determinant of intention to use the OBMS. Trust was also a major determinant of intention to use, suggesting that the acceptance model can be usefully augmented by this construct.
Analysis of the Interaction between Human Operator and Automated Dispatch in Haul Truck Scheduling
Authors: Stahl Patrick , Donmez Birsen , Jamieson Greg A.
Published: October 2012

This paper presents the findings from a field study of human-automation interaction in an open pit gold mine. Motivated by an earlier study that identified problematic interaction between haul truck operators and dispatch interfaces, focus groups and questionnaires were used to understand what causes the general attitude of suspicion towards the system. Overall trust in the dispatch interface, as well as usability and functionality of the system, were judged as slightly positive. However, the inability of the system to react efficiently to sudden changes on site results in operator frustration. We argue that consequently, the human operator should be utilized as a sensor by the dispatch system. Through operator involvement in the stage of information acquisition, the system’s response to sudden changes can be improved, and discontent reduced.
A Visual Comparison of a Single Scenario in Three Driving Simulators
Authors: Balk Stacy A.
Published: October 2012

For driving research and training. it is desirable to replicate a single driving scenario across multiple driving simulator platforms. However, until recently, the task of developing and implementing the same scenarios across multiple platforms has not been undertaken. The present paper assesses such an effort across of three different simulator platforms. To evaluate the effort from a visual perspective, a combination of subjective and objective measures were used. The manipulation of environmental visual complexity was also assessed. While the manipulation of visual complexity was only partially successful, each of the three simulator sites was able to create extraordinarily similar driving scenarios. These results open the door for a wide range of driving simulator studies and applications.
Structuring Data to Compare Driver Behavior Across Driving Simulators
Authors: Boer Erwin R. , Lee John D. , Ward Nicholas J.
Published: October 2012

Driving simulators have been used to train and assess drivers and develop vehicle technology in a safe and controlled environment. An increasing number of simulators are being used as research tools to study human performance in general, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has begun using driving simulators to evaluate the effect of different road designs on driving behavior and safety. The general goal has been to establish a sufficiently high level of fidelity to assure that the adopted training programs and performance assessments offer meaningful transfer to reality. Simulators have become more common, their applications more diverse, and simulator fidelity has increased markedly, but the ability to easily compare data between simulators has not progressed in a similar manner. This paper demonstrates an approach to structure data to facilitate comparison and aggregation across simulator platforms. This work is part of a bigger project to compare and contrast data from multiple simulators with the purpose to determine the level of fidelity simulator needed to make meaningful road design assessments that transfer to reality. A study was performed to quantify the degree to which four different driving simulators each configured to different levels of realism were able to accurately reproduce real world drivers’ behavior in different roundabouts and residential roads with infrastructural speed treatments. To facilitate comparison of many behavioral elements across the simulators and the real world, it is crucial to first transfer all the data to a standard data structure. This paper motivates and details such a data structure and demonstrates its utility by showing several informative comparisons between these data sets.
Development of a Linked Simulation Network to Evaluate Intelligent Transportation System Vehicle to Vehicle Solutions
Authors: Sawyer Ben D. , Hancock P.A.
Published: October 2012

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) and Infrastructure to Vehicle (I2V) technologies promise significant advances in roadway safety, but the prolonged timeline for migration to these technologies suggest turbulent decades of driving safety research to come. To answer the ongoing question of how ITS based evolution of the driving environment will impact The Vehicle Fleet and the driving public, simulation based driver research will be necessary. Unfortunately, traditional single-seat simulators are not well suited to answer questions about networked ITS systems, which inherently involve multiple actors. Multiple seat driving simulators (MSDS), in which drivers interact in a single virtual environment, is argued to be the solution. Details of the ongoing development of the Real-time Multiple Seat Simulator (RMSS) at The University of Central Florida are presented, and implications of this and futures linked simulation installations discussed.
Quantifying a Vehicle Interior Design’s Ability to Accommodate Drivers’ Preferences
Authors: Park Woojin , Min Chulhong , Perdu Loc , Escobar Claudia
Published: October 2012

This study presents novel methods for evaluating a vehicle interior design’s ability to accommodate drivers’ preferences. The methods are based on the consideration of a driver’s intra-individual variability in the preferred settings of adjustable vehicle interior elements. A numerical index, named the Q index, quantifies a given vehicle interior design’s ability to accommodate a single driver’s preference. The Q index can also be used to quantify and visualize a design’s ability to accommodate a group of drivers. Illustrative examples on the use of the methods are presented.
Reducing Major Rule Violations in Commuter Rail Operations: The Role of Distraction and Attentional Errors
Authors: Parasuraman Raja , Isaac Matthew , Fisher Donald L.
Published: October 2012

Recent accidents in commuter rail operations and analyses of rule violations have highlighted the need for better understanding of the contributory role of distraction and attentional errors. Distracted driving has thoroughly been studied in recent years, but distraction during rail operations has been less extensively examined. This Discussion Panel involves four speakers who will examine different aspects of the distraction issue. Topics will include a systems analysis of rail operations, analysis of rule violations and surveys of locomotive engineers, description of a high-fidelity rail simulator, and results from a two-part study using this simulator to examine distraction and attentional errors in commuter rail operations. Implications of the findings for reducing major rule violations and improving the safety of rail operations will be discussed.
The Relationship Between Pre-Flight Decision-Making and Cue Utilization
Authors: Wiggins Mark W. , Azar Danielle , Loveday Thomas
Published: October 2012

This study examined the relationship between measures of cue utilization and decision selection in the context of pre-flight decision-making. Fifty one licensed pilots participated in an on-line assessment of cue utilization using the program EXPERTise. The results revealed a relationship between cue utilization and decision selection in a pre-flight decision scenario. Overall, the results suggest a role for assessments of cue utilization in the evaluation of pilots’ capacity for effective weather-related decision-making.
Evaluation of an Adaptive Training System for Submarine Periscope Operations
Authors: Landsberg Carla R. , Mercado Alyssa D. , Van Buskirk Wendi L. , Lineberry Matthew , Steinhauser Natalie
Published: October 2012

Recently, there has been an increased interest in technology-based training, both in academic and military settings. While many instructors have adopted computer-based training methods in their classrooms, researchers have not come to an agreement as to what type of computer-based training methods are most effective. In our study, we compared an adaptive training system to one that was non-adaptive in the context of a submarine periscope task. The adaptive system adjusted both the difficulty of scenarios and feedback given to the trainee based on their performance during training. While average learning gains between groups did not differ, trainees in the adaptive condition were more consistent in their task performance during the post-test and took less time to make their calls in both post-test and transfer scenarios. Our results generally supported the use of adaptive training over non-adaptive training, and we discuss directions for future research.
Training under Imposed Communication Delays Benefits Performance Effectiveness of Distributed Teams
Authors: Dove-Steinkamp Megan L. , Henning Robert A.
Published: October 2012

A laboratory study was conducted to investigate whether introduction of auditory transmission delays during skill acquisition can benefit the performance effectiveness of distributed teams. Two-person university student teams (N = 40) performed a simulated firefighting task throughout which intra-team communications were systematically perturbed with closed-loop transmission delays ranging from 2 to 6 seconds. On average, team performance improved with practice, but significant differences in performance were observed depending on the length and manner delays were introduced: short (2s blocked) practice delay was associated with mediocre performance throughout, whereas longer (4s, 6s) practice delays were associated with improved performance during practice and also in the final transfer trial with a novel 4s delay, regardless of presentation schedule (blocked versus random). Results suggest introduction of relatively long or random communication delays can accelerate team skill acquisition and benefit team performance in a novel setting.
“Being prepared for the infrequent”: A comparative study of two refresher training approaches and their effects on temporal and adaptive transfer in a process control task
Authors: Kluge A. , Burkolter D. , Frank B.
Published: October 2012

Operators working with highly automated technical systems face the challenge of skill retention due to few opportunities to apply the skills they acquired during initial training. Therefore, the use of refresher training is common in many high-risk environments. However, so far, the design and effectiveness of refresher training has not been focused on in training and human factors related research. We compared two refresher training approaches–practice and symbolic rehearsal–to a control group without refresher training. Fifty-nine engineering students were trained for one hour on a simulated process control task. A week later, the practice group completed four trials with the simulated task and the symbolic rehearsal group underwent four trials in written form. The final testing session took place two weeks after initial training. Refresher training was effective for temporal transfer, with the practice refresher group performing significantly better than the symbolic rehearsal group.
Measuring the Effects of Team Resource Management Training for the Fire Service
Authors: Hagemann Vera , Kluge Annette , Greve Joseph
Published: October 2012

Applications of Crew Resource Management training outside of the aviation industry, such as in anesthesia (crisis resource management) or the fire service (team resource management, TRM) are becoming increasingly popular. However, the effectiveness of such training and its suitability for the different target groups is seldom evaluated. In this study, TRM training for a German fire service was developed based on a needs assessment and instructional design theory. Fifty-nine firefighters participated in this study and received a half-day training intervention. The TRM training itself was evaluated and its impact on knowledge acquisition and attitude changes was measured at three different measurement times, before the training (T0), directly after the training (T1) and seven months later (T2). The TRM training was judged as enjoyable and useful and the participants stated a positive knowledge acquisition. Results regarding the declarative knowledge showed a significant knowledge acquisition from T0 to T1 and a significant decrease in knowledge seven months later; nevertheless, the participants still had significantly more knowledge at T2 than before the training. For three of the seven measured teamwork-relevant attitudes, significant positive changes from T0 to T1 could be demonstrated and the attitude changes remained stable over seven months. Further research is needed to investigate the application of TRM in different professions and also the effectiveness of recurrent training in these fields.
Developing and Assessing Immersive Content for Naval Training: Lessons Learned in the Virtual World
Authors: Wong Jason H. , Nguyen Anh B.
Published: October 2012

Content was developed in an immersive, 3-D virtual world (SecondLife Enterprise) as a pilot project to support a Navy training need to teach complex, highly visual concepts in an engaging fashion. An avatar-based virtual world was used due to their unique social and content creation properties. This project consisted of a series of modules designed to teach the naval concept of target motion analysis. The resulting “immersive learning trail” augmented a two-week unit that was part of a longer course. Students from a Naval schoolhouse participated in classes that used this content, and several assessments were performed. Students gained the most from the content when complex spatial concepts were taught, though impressions of the entire trail were positive. Several lessons learned are reported, including the need to consistently make the experience as immersive as possible and the kind of content that benefits most from immersion.
A Model-Based Measure to Assess Operator Adherence to Procedures
Authors: Stimpson Alexander J. , Buinhas Luisa S. , Bezek Scott , Boussemart Yves , Cummings M.L.
Published: October 2012

Procedures play an important role in domains where humans interact with critical, complex systems. In such environments, the operator’s ability to correctly follow a given set of procedures can directly impact system safety. A quantitative measure of procedural adherence during training for complex system operation would be useful to assess trainee performance and evaluate a training program. This paper presents a novel model-based objective metric for quantifying procedural adherence in training. This metric is sensitive to both the number and nature of procedural deviations, and can be used with cluster analysis to classify trainee performance based on adherence. The metric was tested on an experimental data set gathered from volunteers using aircraft maintenance computer-based training (CBT). The properties of the metric are discussed, along with future possibilities.
Bidirectional Resource Training of Simple and Complex Tasks
Authors: Dillard Michael B. , Boles David B. , Black Sheila R.
Published: October 2012

Transfer of trained skill was investigated from the viewpoint of mental resources. Participants alternated between a simple training task and a complex task, the video game Everyday Shooter. The training tasks, occlusions and visual words (Boles, 1991, 1992, 1996), shared many critical resources, or few resources, respectively, with the video game. Also, participants received standard task-specific instructions or standard instructions along with additional metacognitive instructions on similarities between the training task and video game. Bidirectional transfer was noted for those training the occlusions task and receiving standard instructions, demonstrating the value of resource training with an alternating design, even when the target task is a complex one.
Adaptive Perceptual Training in a Virtual Environment
Authors: Schatz Sae , Wray Robert , Folsom-Kovarik Jeremiah , Nicholson Denise
Published: October 2012

The United States military’s strategic position is evolving, and as a result, the Services are emphasizing the importance of sociocultural pattern recognition, sensemaking in ambiguous urban contexts, and understanding of patterns of life. In fact, military personnel at increasingly lower echelons are expected to possess these nuanced psychosocial perception and decision-making skills. To facilitate training of these complex competencies, the authors are developing a Virtual Observation Platform, an immersive virtual environment designed to adaptively train US Marine Corps personnel in sustained observation, sociocultural pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and other perceptual–cognitive skills. This paper briefly describes the purpose of the system and then covers its adaptive instructional tailoring in detail. The Platform’s adaptive features include information quality/quantity manipulation and instructional scaffolding in the form of communications from a virtual squad (i.e., peers) that are intrinsic to the narrative of the scenario.
Startle reaction: Capturing experiential cues to provide guidelines towards the design of realistic training scenarios
Authors: Barnett Jane , Wong William , Westley David , Adderley Rick , Smith Michelle
Published: October 2012

Unexpected events experienced during a crisis situation, may startle an individual causing them to momentarily freeze, and become unsure of what to do next. This research identifies event cues and subsequent responses to them. Ten emergency personnel were interviewed about their experiences with unexpected events, where they had experienced a startle reaction. We used a new methodology (CUUES) to investigate cognitive and behavioural processes used to adapt and respond to them. Results suggest that regardless of experiencing of experiencing startle, participants were able to gain control of the situation. Our results suggest initial guidelines for the development of realistic training scenarios.
Impact of Interrupting Simulated Hydraulic Excavator Training with Simulated Loader Training
Authors: So Joey C. Y. , Proctor Robert W. , Dunston Phillip S.
Published: October 2012

A skilled operator of construction equipment needs to become proficient in the use and control of various classes or types of machines. It is thus important to establish effective training methods across these machine types and to determine the extent to which skills operating one machine transfer to another. An issue of concern is whether learning to operate a single piece of equipment is best if all practice is on that equipment, or whether intermixed training on a related piece of equipment can be of value (or possibly a hindrance). In the present study, naïve participants practiced performing a controls familiarization task on a simulated hydraulic excavator in an initial session. In a second session, one-third of the participants were trained on a simulated loader, another third continued practicing on the simulated excavator, and the final third engaged in an unrelated reading task. For a final session, all participants again performed the controls familiarization task on the excavator. Execution time, number of control errors, and ratings of mental workload decreased with practice. The intervening reading task led to more control errors in the third session, but training on the loader had no effect on any performance measure. Learning to operate a loader apparently does not interfere with learning to operate an excavator.
Using Discrete Event Simulation as a Supplemental Teaching Aid for Analyzing Staff Scheduling
Authors: Malony Robert , Liu Dr. Dahai , Vincenzi Dr. Dennis
Published: October 2012

This study utilized discrete event simulation (DES) to optimize staff scheduling within the housekeeping department for hotel operations during high occupancy conditions which can be used as a supplemental teaching aid for hospitality management teaching programs. A high occupancy level requires employees in the housekeeping department to perform efficiently in order to reduce the amount of time guests wait for a clean room. Literature review showed that DES has been used to optimize various types of schedules. This study was unique in that it incorporated computer modeling into the staffing portion of lodging establishments; an area in which there is a limited amount of research. Data was collected from historical records and through actual observations of the system. A computerized model of the hotel’s operational flow system was constructed using Arena v. 13 to determine an optimal staff schedule which would decrease guest waiting time and minimize payroll costs in the housekeeping department. The results indicated that an efficient staffing schedule based on the computer model will result in reduced costs. This finding indicates that it could be used as a valid add-on device for hospitality manager teaching programs in order to aid in the forecasting and optimization of employee schedules.
Challenges of Training Older Adults in a Home Health Care Context
Authors: McBride Sara E. , Beer Jenay M. , Mitzner Tracy L. , Springman Jennifer M. , Rogers Wendy A.
Published: October 2012

The health care domain is experiencing a shift from traditional hospital-based care to care delivered in a patient’s home setting. Although home health care provides many benefits, it creates new challenges and difficulties for professional caregivers (e.g., registered nurses) who are performing complex medical tasks without the support often present in a health care environment. In addition to performing these tasks themselves, registered nurses are also responsible for training patients to perform many of these tasks, which may include using medical devices and managing complex medication regimens. The purpose of this research was to identify and systematically categorize the issues facing registered nurses (RNs) when training older adult patients. Eight RNs participated in individual structured interviews wherein they were asked to describe the difficulties and frustrations associated with training older adult patients to use medical devices and manage medication independently. The data were categorized as patient-related, RN-related, or situation-related issues. The results highlight the complexity of training device use and medication management, as well as the needs of RNs for forms of additional support in training older adult patients.
Training for Unmanned Vehicle Allocation with Automation in a Dynamic Microworld
Authors: Gutzwiller Robert S. , Clegg Benjamin A.
Published: October 2012

Recently, questions about the nature of automation use during training have emerged. Several studies have shown that at best, training with automation does not aid learning, but this has not yet been examined in supervisory control tasks. Using a dynamic microworld program, Networked Fire Chief, we show that vehicle allocation training significantly interacts with automation during training, impacting not only performance, but also situation awareness and the absolute number of vehicles users can allocate.
Part Task Training Methods in Simulated and Realistic Tasks
Authors: McDermott Patricia L. , Carolan Thomas , Wickens Christopher D.
Published: October 2012

Part task methods are widely used in training programs when the full target task is too complex or impractical due to cost or availability. However, part task training has had mixed success in transfer to the whole task, in comparison to whole task training. For unmanned systems, the goal is to create training that prepares trainees to control an actual vehicle once one is available. The present research compares part and whole task training options in a simulated training environment and a realistic transfer environment. The task is teleoperating a robotic device to detect and identify vehicles in an urban environment. Part task training on the real task yielded a significant benefit in first trial whole task transfer performance and in trials to achieve transfer criteria relative to training on the simulated environment only. While this gain came at a relative cost in overall training time, it produced a significant training effectiveness gain by reducing the training time required on the more expensive robotic system.
Educating Engineering Undergraduates: Effects of Scaffolding in a Problem-Based Learning Environment
Authors: Mayer Rob , Moeller Brandon , Kaliwata Vince , Zweber Ben , Stone Richard , Frank Matt
Published: October 2012

This paper presents a study in the methods of problem-based learning (PBL) in the engineering classroom, where students work in small groups to explore specific problems under the guidance of an instructor. PBL has proven to be highly-effective in engineering education, but there is still room to improve. Studies by Schmidt et al. (2007) suggest that the use of “scaffolds,” structures that support the conceptual learning process early-on but are gradually removed later, can greatly help when students first engage in PBL.

A total of 19 students participated in the study. A detailed lab handout was designed to act as a hard scaffold for the experimental group while the control group used the current materials. After preparing a full lab report, students were given a post-lab examination. The results of this examination indicate that the scaffold was effective, but they also hint that students enter the lab with incorrect mental models which hinder the learning process. Further study is needed to validate this hypothesis.
Development and Validation of Safety Climate Scales for the Utility/Electric Power Industry
Authors: Huang Y. H. , Zohar D. , Robertson M. M. , Garabet A. , Murphy L. A. , Lee J.
Published: October 2012

The purpose of the current study is to design reliable and valid safety climate scales for the utility/electric power industry. The scales have the following innovations: (a) industry-specific content regarding competing demands and design indicators tailored specifically to the utility/electric power industry in addition to general items across industries and (b) a multi-level approach affording individual respondents the opportunity to assess their perceptions of how immediate supervisors and higher level managers would react to specific safety climate issues–extending the multi-level approach to the remote-worker situation. Findings and implications are discussed.
The Design and Evaluation of THATO: A Mobile Tactile Messaging System to Assist Dismounted Soldier Tactical Operations
Authors: Chapman Roger J. , Riddle Dawn L. , Puryear CADET Jordan E. , Breeden CADET Jared R. , Ramirez CADET Anthony , Hall MAJ Daniel S.
Published: October 2012

Here we describe the design and evaluation of the THATO (TeleHaptic Assistance for Tactical Operations) mobile tactile messaging system, developed to aid dismounted soldier communications, situation awareness, and navigation during tactical operations. The THATO Android application stores tactile messages that are played through its interface to Tactile Control Units (TCUs) when programming logic determines a command has been received from another soldier or the soldier’s location relative to a planned route or landmark/entity of interest triggers a particular message. The evaluation of the system has included multiple human-technology performance evaluations with increasing incorporation of system technologies and task fidelity as the technology has evolved.
The Note-Taker’s Perspective During Usability Testing: A Hands-On Approach to Recognizing What’s Important, What Isn’t
Authors: Davis Kristen , Horst Dick
Published: October 2012

It is a well-known psychological phenomenon that one’s perceptions are influenced by one’s expectations and biases. This is manifest in behavioral situations ranging from detecting signals in noise to more complex cognitive situations like recounting eyewitness accounts of observed events. Such dynamics also affect our thought processes as we observe usability test participants. Yet the approach to observing user behavior, determining what to look for and what to consider important, seems highly individualized and not often explicated. Even how-to texts on usability testing give relatively little guidance on the process of observing test participants and taking notes on their performance and comments. Consequently, one suspects that some of the variability in usability test results that has plagued the field may be due to a lack of consensus about how to observe user behavior or how to prepare for observation.

This alternative format presentation will use collective viewing of video clips from sample usability tests as a stimulant for audience discussion about these issues. We see this as a consensus building exercise, exploring the extent to which the audience can, as a group, agree on what is noteworthy in the clips we present. In doing so we hope to offer some tips and lessons learned that may point towards defining best practices for observing user behavior and comments during usability testing.
Me and My VE
Authors: Strater Laura , Clamann Michael , Kaber David , Meglan Dwight , Procci Katelyn , Bowers Clint , Andrews Anya , Ericson Jonathan , Warren William H. , Balakrishnan Bimal
Published: October 2012

Virtual environments, simulations and serious games are increasingly being employed for research, training, education, evaluation, and various business endeavors. This session will describe and demonstrate some of the diverse uses for virtual environments (VEs) in an alternate demonstration format. The session will begin with demonstrators providing a brief description of their VE, and how they’ve used it to answer a critical research question or address a unique need, including a video demonstration of the VE in action. After these introductions, all demonstrations will be set up around the room, and session attendees can move around the room for more direct interaction with both the demonstrations and the demonstrators. The objective of the session is to provoke ideas among the attendees for how VEs, simulations and serious games can help address their research, training, education, evaluation or business needs.
Comparison of Individual and Team-Based Dynamic Decision-Making Task (Anti-Air Warfare Coordinator): Consideration of Subjective Mental Workload Metacognition
Authors: Kim Jung Hyup , Macht Gretchen A. , Li Shuo
Published: October 2012

In most industrial systems, people not only work as individuals, but also a member of one or more teams. This research investigates the effect of human mental workload and metacognition between an individual and team-based dynamic control task. Although advanced technology provides the ability to develop more effective training approaches to inexperienced workers, building effective team training methods is an unremitting research area. In this research, a human-in-the-loop simulation experiment was conducted to compare human mental workload between individual-based and team-based groups and to reveal the relationship between metacognition and human mental workload. Within the Anti-Air warfare Coordinator (AAWC) simulation domain, the experimental group was exposed to a team-based environment, while the control group conducted the same task in an individual-based environment. Our results show that different metacognitive monitoring processes exist between team-based and individual-based dynamic control tasks. Based on these, we suggest a possible metacognitive framework in dynamic control tasks.
Comparison of Virtual Reality Training vs. Integrated Training in the Development of Physical Skills
Authors: McLaurin Elease J. , Stone Richard T.
Published: October 2012

The results of this study show that both fully virtual and virtual reality (VR) integrated into real world training programs are appropriate for use in the domain of weld training, depending on the level of task difficulty. Differences were virtually indistinguishable between participants in the fully virtual and the integrated training group at the low and medium task difficulty levels. At the highest level of difficulty it became apparent that the VR system was no longer solely sufficient for training.
A Method to Create Dynamic Motions of Digital Human Models and a Case Study
Authors: Kang Bora , Lee Donghun , Chung Min K. , Kyung Gyouhyung , Nam Kyunghyun
Published: October 2012

For ergonomic design and product evaluation, a digital human model simulation (DHMS) system is widely used in many areas. In this study, a systematic method was proposed to create dynamic motions of digital human model (DHM) in the RAMSIS software, one of the DHMS systems and a case study was implemented to create ingress and egress motions in a car mockup; a motion capture system collected the trajectory data of markers attached to the participants’ body parts. In the RAMSIS software, a digital human model, “Manikin,” was created with their anthropometric data. Also, the dynamic motions of Manikin were created by the Actor and the Character, DHMs from another DHMS system (MotionBuilder) by using the trajectory data of its joint points. In a case study, participants performed experiments to enter and exit the car mockup with 37 markers attached to their bodies for the motion capture system. Through the proposed systematic method, ingress and egress motions of its Manikin were successfully created.
Development and Evaluation of a Virtual Assembly Trainer
Authors: Abidi Mustufa H. , Ahmad Ali , El-Tamimi Abdulaziz M. , Al-Ahmari Abdulrahman M.
Published: October 2012

This paper discusses the development and evaluation of a virtual assembly training system for the first Saudi Arabian car prototype (Gazal-1) fender assembly. An evaluation study was conducted to compare 3 training scenarios: Traditional Engineering (TE), Computer Aided Design Environment (CADE), and immersive virtual reality (IVR). 15 students from King Saud University were randomly assigned to the different training conditions. After that, transfer of training to the actual assembly was evaluated. Performance measures used to assess transfer of training include time to complete task and number of frustration points during task. The results of the evaluation study suggest that the participants of IVR training condition performed better than the other two conditions. Therefore, virtual assembly simulation using virtual reality systems might be useful for training operators who will be conducting assembly operations.
Effects of foveal retinal slip on visually induced motion sickness: a pilot study
Authors: Guo C.T. , So R.H.Y.
Published: October 2012

This experiment isolated and studied the effects of eye motions on visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) from the effects of foveal retinal slip velocity on VIMS. Eye motion has been shown to contribute to motion sickness. However, most previous work manipulated eye motion using eye fixation pointer. In so doing eye motion suppression was co-founded with increase in the relative velocity between the eyes and the visual stimulus (retinal slip velocity). Retinal slip is a necessary condition in perception of visual motion and could affect VIMS. However, due to difficulties in controlling eye motion in isolation of retinal slip, few work examined this topic. Guo et al. (2011) studied the effect of eye motion by controlling retinal slip velocity and showed that eye motion can still have significant effects on VIMS after retinal slip velocity is controlled. In this study, four conditions represent the factorial combinations of high (+) and low (-) levels of eye motions (EM) and foveal retinal slip velocity (FRSV). Peripheral retinal slip velocity was kept the same throughout the four conditions. A real time eye-slaved pointer was used to achieve the design and presentation of the conditions. Eight subjects participated in the experiment and within subject design was used. Results of Wilcoxon signed rank tests on preliminary data indicated that reduction of foveal retinal slip while keeping eye movements and peripheral retinal slip the same can significantly reduce levels of VIMS (post-exposure total simulator sickness questionnaire scores: p < 0.02 and 7-point nausea ratings: p < 0.05). Implications of these preliminary results are discussed in the paper.
The Effects of Haptic and Visual Aiding on Psychomotor Task Strategy Development During Virtual Reality-Based Training
Authors: Clamann Michael , Kaber David B.
Published: October 2012

The objective of this work was to observe how haptic and visual assistance in virtual reality (VR) task performance can affect individual strategy selection. Participants received psychomotor training with a VR simulation of a block design (BD) test, as part of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale for Intelligence. Training included one of three forms of assistance: haptic, visual, or a combination of both. Strategy was evaluated in terms of accuracy in orienting blocks in pattern reproduction. Results revealed participants to develop personal strategies when receiving only haptic assistance. When receiving visual assistance, participants tended to rely on the aiding instead of a strategy. Participants performed best with visual assistance and showed significant improvement during training, based on the aiding. Participants also performed well with the combination of haptic and visual assistance, but showed little improvement during training. The results confirm that properly-designed assistance can help users with different perceptual styles (e.g., field dependence) benefit from more efficient strategies.
A Novel Method for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Shoe-Tread Designs Relevant to Slip and Fall Accidents
Authors: Beschorner Kurt E. , Singh Gurjeet
Published: October 2012

Slip and falls account for a large share of occupational accidents. Slips are typically initiated when an insufficient amount of friction is present between the shoe and floor surfaces during walking. Shoe tread is thought to enhance the friction by channeling fluid contaminants away from the shoe and floor surface thus mitigating the fluid’s ability to lubricate the two surfaces and reduce friction. This study presents a novel method for evaluating the effectiveness of shoe tread by measuring fluid pressures during simulated slips. Sensors embedded into the floor measured fluid pressure while a robotic slip-tester simulated a human slip. A work shoe with three different tread depths (no, medium and full tread) was tested against a vinyl floor using a diluted (90%) glycerol and diluted detergent (2% detergent, 98% water) contaminant. Fluid pressures were high in the no tread condition but negligible in the other two tread depth conditions for the diluted glycerol and were negligible for all diluted detergent conditions. The no tread (COF: 0.005) also had lower friction coefficient values than treaded conditions (COF: 0.08-0.38). This study suggests that the effectiveness of tread to reduce the lubricating quality of the fluid can be directly measured using a robotic slip-tester and a fluid pressure sensor embedded in the floor. This method has the potential for developing tread depth recommendations and in evaluating the validity of slip-testers to simulate under-shoe conditions.
Cerebral Artery Velocity Determined by Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography in Patients With β-Thalassemia Intermedia Compared to β-Thalassemia Major
Authors: Karimi Mehran , Haghpanah Sezaneh , Ashjazadeh Nahid , Shariat Abdolhamid , Nazeri Masoume , Emami Sajad , Forough Amin Abolhasani , Petramfar Peyman , Yaghoubi Ehsan
Published: October 2012

We aimed to compare cerebral artery velocity and relevant clinical factors in patients with β-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI), β-thalassemia major (β-TM), and healthy individuals. For this study, 60 patients with β-TM and 64 with β-TI were randomly selected. Sixty healthy adults comprised the control group. Time average maximum mean velocity (TAMMV) was measured in large cerebral arteries with transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography. In all arteries, TAMMV was significantly higher in the β-TI group than that of β-TM or controls ( P < .001). Patients with β-TM had significantly higher TAMMV than controls in most arteries evaluated ( P < .001). Overall, the lack of regular blood transfusions, splenectomy, and lower age (to a lesser extent) was found to be independent influencing factors contributing to high cerebral artery velocities. Further detailed longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results and to determine the risk of silent infarction and stroke in patients with thalassemia and abnormal TCD, with particular focus on patients with β-TI.