bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Preliminary Semantic Differential Study on Users' Product form Perception
Authors: Luo Shi-Jian , Tang Ming-Xi , Zhu Shang-Shang , Frazer John Hamilton , Sun Shou-Qian , Pan Yun-He
Published: January 2012

This experimental study investigated how users perceived product form. The semantic differential (SD) method, cluster analysis and protocol analysis were employed to examine users' form perception of mobile phone samples with 20 subjects. The total number of samples was 75, and the image-word pairs were 20. Completed in computer by general statistics software, the cluster analysis results revealed that the samples can be described with official, active, emotional, male, delicate, and luxury. Level analysis was performed to analyze the sample features and obtained the weight factors of body, screen and screen frame, button shape and layout, and contour line, and then a computer-aided conceptual design system was built to test this experiment so as to improve the system for further intelligent conceptual design and cyber-design.
Development of Satisfaction Models for Passenger Car Interior Materials considering Statistical and Engineering Aspects of Design Variables
Authors: Ryu Taebeum , Oh Kyunghee , You Heecheon , Yun Myung Hwan
Published: January 2012

As the functionality of a passenger car has reached at a satisfactory level, customer needs for aesthetic aspects of a design such as shape and material become increased. The present study developed satisfaction models for passenger car interior materials by applying methods of variable screening and recoding. Six interior parts of a passenger car were selected including crash pad, steering wheel, transmission gearshift knob, audio panel, and wooden/metal grain. Eight to fifteen material design variables were defined for the six interior parts. A satisfaction survey was conducted to 30 vehicles with 30 participants (mean (SD) of 28.7 (6.6) in age) by using a modified magnitude estimation scale. Methods of variable screening/recoding were proposed to develop models that are stable and of statistical/practical significance. By applying the variable screening/recoding methods to the surveyed satisfaction data, satisfaction models were developed for the six interior parts. Using the satisfaction models, material designs to improve customer satisfaction were prepared and their potential effects were estimated.
Demonstrating a Methodology for Assessing Cognitive Capacities across Sensory Systems: M-SWAP
Authors: Brill J. Christopher , Mouloua Mustapha , Hancock Peter A. , Gilson Richard D. , Kennedy Robert S.
Published: January 2012

This demonstration highlights the development of and applications of a methodology for assessing cognitive workload across three sensory systems: vision, audition, and touch. The methodology, called Multi-Sensory Workload Assessment Protocol (M-SWAP), is typically administered simultaneously with the primary task of interest. Participants are presented with a random series of visual, auditory, or vibrotactile signals and are asked to respond via a response box after receiving a certain number of these signals. Counting errors are scored in terms of both classic and fuzzy signal detection metrics (hits, misses, false alarms, and correct rejections), and the number of errors is indicative of the operator's cognitive-perceptual workload. The demand level of M-SWAP is scalable, which avoids traditional ceiling effects.
Special Projects in Undergraduate Human Factors Courses: Evaluation of Power Plant Boiler Control Interface
Authors: Rantanen Esa M. , de Sather Jessica C. M. Gonzalez
Published: January 2012

A special project involving a campus utility plant HMI evaluation was offered to a group of undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory human factors class. Fifteen out of 55 students enrolled in the course volunteered for the special project. Specific subtasks were created in collaboration with the plant management and allocated to subgroups of students. These subtasks were scheduled to coincide with corresponding topics in the course. Evaluated by both the educational outcomes and the usefulness of the project deliverables to the power plant, the project clearly represents a beneficial situation to both students and instructors. The value of hands-on experience with task analysis, control room design, and HMI design to the students is undisputable. This case is also exemplary in terms of providing a service to the University community as a byproduct of the academic pursuits.
Dynamic Sitting — How Much do We Move When Working at a Computer?
Authors: Hedge Alan , Ruder Michelle
Published: January 2012

This study investigated the effects of a dynamic chair backrest on body movements while typing on a computer. Eighteen subjects typed continuously with either the chair backrest locked (30 minutes) or unlocked (30 minutes). Treatment order was counterbalanced. Results showed no significant differences between chair back conditions in either the total number of movements or specific body movements over the duration of the test. Even though body movements occurred, typing is a task that inherently requires a relatively static posture, and sitting in a chair with a dynamic back may not necessarily encourage greater movement while typing. However, use of a free moving dynamic chair back did provide better back support for subjects when they changed from upright to reclined postures.
The Impact of a Highly Adjustable Chair and Office Ergonomics Training on Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Two-Month Post Intervention Findings
Authors: Amick Benjamin C. , Robertson Michelle , De Rango Kelly , Bazzani Lianna , Moore Anne , Rooney Ted
Published: January 2012

The office ergonomic intervention is a longitudinal pre-post quasi-experimental design, with three study groups: a control group, a group receiving an office ergonomic training program, and a group receiving both the ergonomic training and a highly-adjustable ergonomic chair. The chief health outcome measure for this study is an overall bodily pain score constructed from a self-administered “scorecard”. The study population is from the claims processing and customer service departments of a large (5,000 employees) medical services company. 251 participants had enrolled in the study. Post-intervention, the chair-with-training group had a lower level of pain throughout the day compared to either the training-only or the control groups. This effect was calculated using a separate ANOVA model for each day of the week, and significance or borderline significance was obtained in each run (p = 0.001, 0.015, 0.04, 0.001, 0.05 on Monday-Friday). There was no significant effect for the training-only group.
Mind-Based Technologies. A Framework for Producing Personalized Psychological Effects
Authors: Saari Timo
Published: January 2012

Mind-Based Technologies are technologies that can facilitate immediate psychological effects, such as emotion, cognition, presence and flow in their users as they are consuming multimodal information. With personalization technologies one may vary the content and way of presenting information to enable targeted and personalized psychological effects. The key to producing such effects is to be able to model the users and predict how they may react to a particular content and way of presenting information (modalities, visual layouts, ways of interaction, user interface controls) within a certain context, task, communication device and user interface. Despite obvious complexities empirical evidence suggests that the way of presenting information to users with certain psychological profiles has predictable effects. Hence, one may propose new types of system designs that would tend to produce desired types of psychological effects for individual users by varying the way of presenting information. One possible application area of Mind-Based Technologies is decision-making systems for military use.
Interruptions in the Tower of London Task: Can Preparation Minimise Disruption?
Authors: Hodgetts Helen M. , Jones Dylan M.
Published: January 2012

Responding to computer-initiated notifications requires a shift in attention and therefore disrupts the flow of work. Two exploratory experiments investigate how this decrement can be minimised when a short preparatory time is available before switching to deal with the interrupting task. The execution phase of a computer-based Tower of London task was interrupted by the requirement to perform simple verbal reasoning problems, incurring a cost relative to continuous plan execution. The goal-activation model (Altmann & Trafton, 2002) proposes a critical time period before engaging in the interruption (the “interruption lag”) during which cues pertaining to the primary task can be encoded to facilitate subsequent task resumption. Experiment 1 demonstrated that resumption times were significantly quicker when the interruption was preceded by a three second interruption lag, and that time to complete the interrupting task was also reduced. In Experiment 2, participants chose when to engage in the secondary task. Although this did not benefit task resumption times relative to unexpected interruptions, it significantly reduced completion times on the secondary task. The results are interpreted within the framework of the goal-activation model and suggest that the interruption lag is beneficial in terms of performance on both the primary and interrupting tasks.
Serial Presentation of Computer Graphics: Training Effects and Strategy Development for Analytic and Holistic Cognitive Styles
Authors: Kramer Elizabeth , Holzworth R. James , Sohn Young Woo , Pratt James H. , Nelson Carrie
Published: January 2012

Job tasks, such as quality control, require workers to perform visual discriminations, comparing a test stimulus to a standard. In some cases, both stimuli are present and can be compared in parallel. In most cases, however, the standard stimulus is absent and workers must rely on their memory of the standard stimulus in order to make an accurate discrimination. Pratt and Sohn (2001) found that when visual discriminations are made in parallel, training content and individual differences affect strategy development and transfer performance. The present research attempts to compliment and extend Pratt and Sohn's (2001) findings by examining the role of display design and its affects on training effectiveness and strategy development. Participants were given a visual discrimination task identical to Pratt and Sohn's methodology, except stimulus sets were presented serially rather than in parallel. After training with either highly similar or highly dissimilar stimuli, participants transferred to novel stimuli of medium similarity level. Preliminary findings indicate that manipulating display design does not impact training results. Just as Pratt and Sohn discovered, training content does not influence transfer performance for individuals with an analytic cognitive style, but hard training is necessary for individuals with a holistic cognitive style to perform as well as the analytic group. Graphical design and individual differences in cognitive style are discussed.
An Investigation of Individual Differences in Relation to Warning Compliance and User Affect: Preliminary Findings
Authors: Weaver Jeanne L. , Helmick Jessica A. , Burke Kelly A.
Published: January 2012

Consumers frequently encounter warning labels and safety precautions on the products they purchase, whether it is at home or in the workplace. Studies on the physical aspects of warning labels have been extensively considered, such as variability in font size, weight, size contrast, etc. Although it is important to consider the physical characteristics of the warning label, individual characteristics as they pertain to consumers are also important to consider. For example, Weaver, et al. found that health orientation and sensation seeking were significantly related to behavioral compliance to warnings. The current study investigated the extent to which participant characteristics would relate to warning compliance when exposed to a noise stressor.
Evaluation of an Electrogoniometer for Wrist Position Measurements
Authors: Hughes Laura E. , Babski-Reeves Kari
Published: January 2012

In evaluating work tasks, electrogoniometers provide a simple tool for assessing wrist postures and motions. However, crosstalk and zero drift erode the accuracy and reliability of these devices. As a result, a revised biaxial electrogoniometer has been developed specifically designed for measuring wrist posture. The manufacturer claims that it addresses the problem of increased error rates associated with forearm rotation and extreme wrist angles by incorporating a shorter length flexible wire between the two telescopic ends. This study evaluated the electrogoniometer to determine if accuracy and reliability are improved as compared to results of other studies using similar devices and methods. Overall, the revised device significantly reduces crosstalk and zero drift, but it is unclear to what extent the revised device contributed to the reduction in error versus procedural changes, which included recalibration of the device between different levels of pronation and supination of the forearm. Forearm rotation was significant in determining error and zero drift for both flexion/extension and radial/ulnar measurements, and the amount of error and zero drift significantly increased for more extreme wrist angles. Gender, hand length percentile grouping, and order of angle presentation did not significantly affect electrogoniometric readings.
A New Method for Estimating Biomechanical Loading in Grip
Authors: Irwin C. B. , Radwin R. G.
Published: January 2012

The coupling between the hands and cylindrical handles was studied using simple gripping tasks and vector force measurements. Load transfer and twisting tasks were performed using bare aluminum handles and handles covered with a high friction material. Both tasks were performed using dry and oil saturated handles for three loads. Twelve subjects (6 males and 6 females) participated. Load and surface friction were changed to alter shearing and compression force requirements, which significantly affected grip force magnitude (p<.001). The transverse plane force vector angle did not change for the lifting task (p >.01), but significantly changed with torque and friction for the twisting task (p <.01). The total resolved force vector acting on the hand was measured and the associated biomechanical loading of finger flexor tendons was estimated. Estimates of tendon tension were also made for grip strength vector force data for 61 employees grasping five cylinder diameters. Estimated flexor tendon forces monotonically increased with increasing handle diameter while grip force magnitude declined for the largest handle diameters. Design of a new dynamometer is also described.
The Effects of Personality Type and Stress on Muscle Activity during Simulated Work Tasks
Authors: Glasscock Naomi F. , Mirka Gary A. , Sommerich Carolyn M. , Klein Katherine W.
Published: January 2012

The research presented here explores the relationships between individual (e.g., personality type) and environment (e.g., time stress) psychosocial factors and muscle activity. Twenty-five subjects participated in this laboratory study. Personality type was assessed using the Jenkins Activity Survey. Participants (12 Type A and 13 Type B) performed a pipetting task under verbally imposed “no time stress” and “time stress” conditions. Independent variables included personality type, gender, condition order, and stress condition. Dependent measures included normalized integrated electromyography (NIEMG) from ten muscles. The effect of personality type on muscle activity was completely moderated by gender. Type A female dominant flexor activity was 57% of the Type B activity. Type A male dominant flexor activity was 188% of the Type B activity. Time stress increased muscle activity by 9 to 23% in six of the muscles sampled. However, the dominant flexor and extensor activities only increased (by 25 to 29%) for females. This study demonstrates the feasibility and importance of including individual and environment psychosocial factors in biomechanical evaluations.
Logarithmic Power-Frequency: An Alternative Method for Emg-Based Fatigue Assessment
Authors: Yassierli Y. , Nussbaum Maury A.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore different methods of processing EMG signals with a goal of obtaining more sensitive measures of fatigue. Two groups of 28 and 16 participants performed isometric efforts in arm abduction and torso extension until exhaustion respectively at three exertion levels (30, 50 and 70% of maximum). Electromyographic signals were recorded from the middle deltoid muscle and the erector Spinae muscles at the L4/L5 level for the first and the second group, respectively. Three new parameters, peak amplitude frequency, slope of lower frequency, and slope of higher frequency, were derived from logarithmic power versus logarithmic frequency over a 20–200 Hz bandwidth. Changes of these parameters over time were found to be sensitive to fatigue and to different levels of exertion. The first two parameters were more sensitive than median power frequency during arm abductions, but less sensitive than mean power frequency. In torso extensions, the slope of higher frequency gave better performance than the slope of lower frequency. This alternative method appears to have promise for future EMG-based assessments of localized muscle fatigue.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Risk Factors and Shoulder & Neck Symptoms in Academic Personnel
Authors: Rice Valerie J. Berg , Mays Mary Z.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this report was to identify the level of risk for shoulder and neck, work-related musculoskeletal injuries among faculty, administrators, and support staff at the Army Medical Department Center and School, Academy of Health Sciences. The Department of Defense (DoD) Job Requirements and Physical Demands (JRPD) survey was used to examine risk factors associated with work activities and organizational factors, as well as self-reported healthcare and symptoms of employees. Over half of the 414-person sample (54%) reported job-related symptoms in the shoulder and neck region. Those experiencing symptoms were more likely to be female, older, civilian (as opposed to active duty military), and have worked more than 5 years on their job (p < 0.01). Job characteristics associated with symptoms included postures associated with static loads, including holding arms in an outstretched position, working with the neck held in flexion or extension, and cradling a phone between the neck and shoulder. Organizational risk factors included high workload, conflicting demands, and inability to access pertinent information (p < 0.05).
Conducting a Systems Evaluation to Address Workplace Radiation Exposure Hazard
Authors: Vredenburgh Alison G. , Zackowitz Ilene B.
Published: January 2012

Human factors consulting and practice in the area of safety management has been motivated by a variety of practical and theoretical interests, including injury reduction. When conducting a human factors analysis involving a hazard, the first course of action is to “design out” the hazard when possible. The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of a systems approach to design out an exposure hazard in an industrial setting. The benefits of a systems approach will be discussed. An example of a complex industrial system with a potential radiation hazard will be analyzed.
Ergonomic and Existing Seat Designs Compared on Underground Mine Haulage Vehicles
Authors: Mayton Alan , Ambrose Dean , Jobes Chris , Kittusamy N. Kumar
Published: January 2012

NIOSH researchers conducted a study to compare seat designs on underground coal mine haulage vehicles. The objective of the study was to support prior findings that NIOSH-designed seats, which incorporated ergonomic design features (e.g., viscoelastic foam padding and low-back support), are improved designs. Based on measured levels of vehicle jarring/jolting and perceived discomfort, researchers evaluated four different designs — two in-use and two NIOSH-developed, ergonomic designs. Researchers collected data using a short questionnaire, a linear, visual analog scale, and accelerometers with a data recorder. Results showed that vehicle operators favored the NIOSH seats with added adjustability, low-back support, and improved seat padding over the existing seats. In addition, the measurements indicated all NIOSH seats performed better than the existing seat, under the no-load (worse of two) conditions, in reducing peak acceleration, crest factor, and RMS acceleration. The authors summarize the data collected and operator preferences for seat designs and different foam padding arrangements.
Upper Limb Dynamic Mechanical and Anatomical Properties among Assembly Operators
Authors: Sesto M. E. , Radwin R. G. , Block W. F. , Best T. M.
Published: January 2012

This study investigated upper limb mechanical and anatomical properties in assembly workers. Fourteen male assembly workers were recruited from selected jobs including power hand tool users and non-power hand tool users. Active dynamic mechanical properties of the upper extremity were measured using a free vibration apparatus. All workers underwent a physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging and completed a symptom survey. Employees were categorized as asymptomatic versus symptomatic based on reported forearm symptoms and physical exam findings. Symptomatic individuals had 46% less mechanical stiffness and a 59% less mass moment of inertia of the forearm than the asymptomatic group. Workers were stratified based on power tool use and two of the seven subjects who regularly used power nutrunners demonstrated MRIT2 enhancement, which is indicative of muscle edema. T2 MRI enhancement was not demonstrated in the seven subjects who did not regularly use power nutrunners.
Use of Normalized Hand Size for Subjective Rating and Performance of Handle Diameter in a Maximum Horizontal Torque Task
Authors: Kong Yong-Ku , Lowe Brian D.
Published: January 2012

An experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of handle diameter on handle comfort, finger force capability, and torque, and to predict the optimal handle diameter based on a ‘Normalized Hand Size (NHS)’ in a maximum horizontal torque task. Subjective ratings, a force glove and LIDO WorkSET were used to assess comfort, finger force capability, and torque output on six experimental handles (from 25 to 50 mm). Analysis of subjective ratings showed that the 45 mm handle diameter was the most comfortable followed by the 50 mm handle. These two handles (50 and 45 mm) showed significantly larger torque, and lower finger forces than the other handles. The ratio of handle circumference to hand length, the NHS, was applied and resulted in 86.3% and 90.7% as the ratios to obtain maximum comfort and torque, respectively. From these data the optimal handle diameters can be recommended according to users' hand sizes in horizontal torque tasks. More sophisticated methods are being used to represent mathematically the relationships between handle diameter, finger force capability, and maximum torque output.
Effects of Vertical Land-Vehicle Ride Motion on Human Reach Performance and Perceived Task Difficulty
Authors: Rider Kevin A. , Park Woojin , Prohaska Michael P.
Published: January 2012

Vehicle motions can adversely affect the ability of an operator to quickly and accurately reach for targets located inside vehicles. Although previous ergonomic studies investigated human performance during reach tasks, few of them considered effects of non-stationary working environments. This lack of knowledge is a problem, as ergonomic guidelines are not currently available for the design of land-based vehicle interiors. The present study aims to assess the effects of vertical vehicle ride motion on accuracy, movement completion time, and perceived difficulty rating during target-directed reaching tasks. The Ride Motion Simulator (RMS) at the US Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) was used to simulate vertical vehicle motion with various discrete frequencies and kinematic reach movement data for two subjects were recorded using a VICON motion capture system. Movement completion time for reaches, accuracy in pointing tasks, and perceived difficulty ratings were found to be adversely affected by vertical vehicle motions.
The Privacy Attitudes Questionnaire (PAQ): Initial Development and Validation
Authors: Chignell Mark H. , Quan-Haase Anabel , Gwizdka Jacek
Published: January 2012

Privacy has been identified as a key issue in a variety of domains, including electronic commerce and public policy. While there are many discussions of privacy issues from a legal and policy perspective, there is little information on the structure of privacy as a psychometric construct. Our goal is to develop a method for measuring attitudes towards privacy that can guide the design and personalization of services. This paper reports on the development of an initial version of the PAQ. Four privacy attitudes are identified based on the factor structure of the PAQ. Cluster analysis is used to identify potential stereotypes with respect to attitudes towards privacy amongst different groups of people. Version 1.0 of the PAQ is presented in an Appendix as a 36 item questionnaire that measures the four privacy attitudes of personal information, monitoring, exposure and protection.
Building a Web-Features Taxonomy for Structuring Web Design Guidelines
Authors: Cheong Yuen-Keen , Shehab Randa L.
Published: January 2012

This paper proposes a framework for structuring web design guidelines that incorporates the hierarchies of web features and their semantic relationships with HTML and CSS. It is argued that this approach will be synchronous with the mental model of web designers, thus making the guidelines more usable. In addition, this approach embraces both external and internal aspects of web design, so there is little compromise on the coverage of web design issues. An experiment was conducted to compare the relative effectiveness of the proposed framework with other guideline structures (e.g., principle-oriented and a mixture of principle and feature-oriented). There was evidence that the principle-oriented guidelines performed worse than the other structures, but the analyses failed to establish that the proposed framework as the most effective. The experiment showed promising results but it suffered from small sample size. In spite of this, it is believed that the proposed taxonomy and framework has laid the groundwork for future research.
Articulating Pattern Differences in WWW Navigation for Culturally-Diverse User Groups Through Descriptive Analysis and Data Visualization
Authors: Langhorne Anna L. , Nelson W. Todd
Published: January 2012

As the proliferation of the WWW continues globally, the challenge of providing a usable navigation experience for culturally-diverse user groups becomes increasingly significant. One aspect of developing such an experience includes describing, categorizing, and visualizing the differences in Internet use for diverse audiences. Previously, semantic network analysis has been used to successfully identify and visualize clusters of employee Internet navigation in two U.S. companies (Langhorne, 2000). This method is further applied to analyzing the WWW behavioral patterns of a sample of ethnically-diverse students and faculty at the University of Dayton. This paper includes an account of the methods used to describe the Internet navigation of users and recommendations for future network analyses are discussed as options for articulating the characteristics of WWW navigation patterns across multicultural groups. The log files of Internet navigation histories for 66 users were analyzed using traditional descriptive statistical techniques. Implications for applying semantic analysis to the same data set are discussed.
Personnel Assignment from a Human Factors Perspective
Authors: Holness Karen S.
Published: January 2012

This paper presents a review of the personnel assignment problem, including summaries of its key factors and objectives. Previous military research in this field, such as the MANPRINT initiative and recent personnel assignment research in operations research are briefly reviewed. The relevance of personnel assignment research with a primarily human factors focus is discussed, with an emphasis on macroergonomics for achieving optimal personnel assignment solutions.
Process Improvement in an Outpatient Clinic: Application of Sociotechnical System Analysis
Authors: Hallock Melissa , Alper Samuel , Karsh Ben-Tzion
Published: January 2012

We used a sociotechnical systems analysis to improve the diagnostic testing process in one Midwestern health care organization's outpatient clinics. Outpatient clinic personnel from the clinic were interviewed about their role in the diagnostic testing process. Information on process variances was also collected. A variance matrix and a key variance control chart were constructed for the variances reported by the clinics. Key variances found in the clinic included sample misplaced, sample mislabeled, sample not delivered, sample damaged, request form problems, result tracking breakdown, slow result delivery, result never seen, and patient notification. Based on the variances found in the clinic, recommendations for improvement are given.
Error as Drama
Authors: Bogner Marilyn Sue
Published: January 2012

The commentary by Shakespeare that “All the world is a stage…” as well as the drama related words in common usage suggest a method for addressing issues of human performance. Insights provided by the analogy of error as drama include: a script governs all aspect of the actors' performances in that they react and interact with factors in the setting, the context, determined by the script; the outcome of the performance of different actors in the same role is nearly the same; and performance involves the passage of time. Thus to alter performance to reduce error, it is the script, the context, that needs to be changed, and a snapshot of performance at one point in time as in many error-reporting activities, provides a paucity of information about performance. The value of the analogy in identifying error-inducing factors in the context of health care is illustrated by its application to an example of medication misadministration.
Validation Engineering in the Ergonomics of Medical Systems: Application Perspectives
Authors: Horst Richard L. , Samaras G. M.
Published: January 2012

As discussed in the foregoing companion presentation, Validation Engineering (VE) provides a structured, systematic approach to risk reduction that is more cost-effective than ad hoc methods and maximizes the likelihood that design efforts will yield safe and effective products or processes. Here we discuss issues that arise in applying this VE approach to ergonomic problems in the design of medical systems. To demonstrate its value, several well-known incidents of medical error will be interpreted in terms of how the application of a systematic VE approach might have mitigated or avoided the adverse outcomes. In so doing, the importance of measurement in dealing with such ergonomic problems is emphasized and examples will be shown of metrics that can help cast these problems, and possible interventions, in a VE framework. This will be followed by a discussion of a number of software tools that are available to help manage the practical implementation of a VE process.
Ergonomic Redesign of a Laparoscopic Grasper
Authors: Doné Kathryn , Morse Jonathan , Verner Lawton , Hallbeck Susan , Oleynikov Dmitry
Published: January 2012

Laparoscopic surgery requires surgeons to perform complex procedures using a standardized set of tools. Most tools, including the common laparoscopic grasper, do not currently provide surgeons with comfortable, intuitive control. A new laparoscopic grasper has been designed which follows ergonomic principles for the handle and actuation of an articulated tip. This tool has been prototyped and will be tested by surgeons. This tool will benefit both the surgeon with reduced discomfort and the patient with a safer procedure.
Improving Acceptance and Adoption of Informatics Tools: Acute Cardiac Care
Authors: Lai Fuji , MacMillan Jean , Daudelin Denise , Kent David
Published: January 2012

Medical decision-support tools such as those for acute cardiac ischemia (ACI) (the ACI-Time-Insensitive Predictive Instrument [ACI-TIPI]) have demonstrated statistical validity and clinical impact for patient safety but have seen limited adoption and use by clinicians. The goals of this study were (1) to understand the ACI diagnosis decision process and to identify “barriers” to the acceptance and use of the ACI-TIPI by clinicians; and (2) to develop and test the effectiveness of a brief web-based “demystifying” ACI-TIPI tutorial in removing these barriers. The tutorial had a significant effect on many of these barriers with the tutorial-educated physician group reporting greater awareness and understanding of the ACI-TIPI risk-assessment score; more confidence in the score; and greater perceived usefulness, and use, of the score. The ultimate product is not only strategies for promoting use of the ACI-TIPI, but also validated methods for designing such informatics tools for adoption in a multitude of medical domains.
Designing an Information Display for Clinical Decision Making in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Miller Anne , Sanderson Penelope
Published: January 2012

The Recursive-Diagnostic Framework (RDF) is presented as a way of modelling information in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The RDF motivated an exploratory field study of ICU information use, resulting in an ICU information inventory and the definition of 10 design goals. In conjunction with these outputs the RDF also informed the design of a paper prototype. The overall design structure was based on the physiological dimension of the RDF. From the information inventory, elements of situation (the decision dimension of the RDF) were added. Specific design elements were developed, evaluated, and refined iteratively using scenarios based in the data sets of six de-identified patient records. The RDF and the outputs of analysis were useful in determining the overall structure of the design and the grouping of complex decision and physiological data, while the design goals from the exploratory field study assisted in maintaining design priorities and focus.
Observational Analysis of Video Records of Team Performance
Authors: Mackenzie Colin , Xiao Yan ,   Group IPO
Published: January 2012

Observation is a traditional ethnographic approach for data collection in real dynamic workplaces. Video recording of brief, risky, but beneficial tasks was investigated for use as an enhancement of observation to assess team performance. Audio-video recording took place in a trauma center using cameras attached to the ceiling of resuscitation bays. Chest tube insertion, a task with an easily defined start and finish time, was video recorded at two levels of urgency. An expert defined task analysis was determined by interview and questionnaires and was used to identify performance problems and opportunities for task improvement. The findings were that video recording has important advantages over observation as a reusable record to extract qualitative and quantitative data. However, observation is easier, less time consuming and a less quantitable data collection tool. Particular benefits of video were the fine-grained analyses of second by second behavioral and verbal interactions and events or tasks not noted by the care providers at the time. A task analysis template was useful used to aggregate findings across multiple task accomplishments and identified task performance decrements with increased urgency. Video data contributed to identification of latent system failures and ergonomic issues that were often central to interpretation and causal hypothesis development surrounding performance problems. Video is a powerful feedback and training tool that can be used to obtain ‘buy in’ from care providers for change. Video-derived performance measures can define and be used to promote best practice performance in dynamic risky and complex medical workplaces.
A Work Domain Analysis for Diabetes Management
Authors: Thompson Laura K. , Hickson Janna C. L. , Burns Catherine M.
Published: January 2012

This paper discusses the results of a Work Domain Analysis (WDA) applied to the management of diabetes. The goal is to develop a conceptual framework to help diabetic patients understand and manage their disease. The results of the WDA will be used to design and implement mobile and desktop information displays that will be used by the patient and their health care team. This poses additional challenges in demonstrating if and how Ecological Interface Design can be used to design medical information displays on various mobile devices. When applied to this medical domain, the usefulness of the WDA to the design of medical information displays becomes restricted because of the complex, interconnected processes involved and the limited amount of sensor data available. Alternatively, the Work Domain representation can be used as a teaching resource or used to define requirements for future monitoring technologies.
Collaborative Management of Complex Coordination Systems: Operating Room Schedule Coordination
Authors: Seagull F. Jacob , Plasters Cheryl , Xiao Yan , Mackenzie Colin F.
Published: January 2012

The complexity of large-scale technical and collaborative work-systems requires significant effort for coordination, and balancing the differing individual actors' goals and information needs. The process of coordinating a suite of surgical operating rooms (ORs) is one example of such as complex system. Examining the information usage in this setting can provide functional requirements for technology to support these coordination activities. Data from observations and interviews in an OR suite were synthesized into five principal functional requirements for such a technology system. To provide necessary functionality, any new technology system must (a) serve as a common referent for communication, (b) provide a communal memory tool for planning (c) serve as catalyst for collaborative and distributed cognition (d) allow parallel manipulation for multiple user-groups, (e) allow flexible content-reconfiguration. Examples of each function are provided, and theoretical implications discussed.
Human-Centered Design of Image-Guided Interventions for Minimally-Invasive Surgeries: Toward a Methodology
Authors: DeLucia Patricia R. , Mather Robert D. , Griswold John A. , Mitra Sunanda
Published: January 2012

Image-guided interventions are used increasingly in medical procedures, particularly in minimally-invasive surgery (MIS). Despite the benefits of such technologies for patients, there are drawbacks for surgeons. These include reduced field of view (FOV), aperture viewing, and passive viewing. We measured the impact of specific features of imaging devices on tasks relevant to MIS. Results suggest that (a) impairments in navigation due to reduced FOV can be moderated with methods that help users develop mental models of three-dimensional space; (b) illusions of motion due to aperture viewing can be moderated by manipulating properties of the aperture; (c) active control may result in better navigation than passive viewing. Our results suggest several avenues to pursue toward the aim of improving image-guided interventions.
Accessibility of Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems for Blind and Visually Impadred People
Authors: Uslan Mark , Burton Darren , Eghtesadi Khosrow
Published: January 2012

In the U.S., there are about 17 million people with diabetes. Blindness and visual impairment is prevalent among people with diabetes. Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems (BGMS's) have revolutionized diabetes self care, but none of the 30 or so commercially available monitoring systems was designed to be fully accessible to blind and visually impaired persons.

Seventeen (17) BGMS's were evaluated for accessible use by people who are blind or visually impaired. Features and functionalities — e.g., operating procedures, user interface design, device specifications, and computer interface capabilities — were examined and tabulated as was usability and accessibility. Additionally, twelve (12) people who are blind or visually impaired and who were issued BGMS's by their physician or diabetes educator were interviewed and videotaped using their meters.

Of seventeen (17) BGMS's, only four (4) had voice output capability, an essential component of accessibility for blind and visually impaired persons. The six (6) BGMS's without voice output that had the largest display fonts were found to have few accessibility features for visually impaired persons. Users indicated that voice-output and portability were desired attributes of an accessible Blood Glucose Monitoring System. None of the BGMS's evaluated had all the required accessibility attributes, including the four systems that had voice output capability. The four systems with voice-output were much bulkier, heavier, and expensive than those that did not have this capability.

Recommendations were made for development of BGMS's that would increase effective usage by blind and visually impaired persons, including integrating Text to Speech (TTS), streamlining the blood glucose monitoring process, and applying a “Universal Design” concept for future development so that BGMS's are usable by the widest possible array of users.
Visual Search: The Effects of Display and Response Format
Authors: Lockett-Reynolds Janae N. , Christman Stephen , Goolkasian Paula
Published: January 2012

The present experiment examined how spatial judgments influenced target detection in a visual search task. Digital and analogue display formats were studied together with odd/even vs. above/below judgments. The results indicated an overall advantage for digital display formats, however, the advantage was mediated by the type of judgments that were made. Format differences were minimal when individuals were required to make judgments that involved spatial encoding. Ergonomic implications are addressed.
Effects of Experience and Task Relevance on the Ability to Detect Changes in a Real-World Task
Authors: Groff Loren S. , Chaparro Alex
Published: January 2012

The effect of task experience on the allocation of visual attention in a real-world task was investigated by comparing three different experience groups (naive, typical, and expert) on a change detection task. The flicker paradigm, developed by Rensink and colleagues ( Perception, 1995), was used to present changes in digital driving images. Change targets were balanced between the categories of vehicles, traffic signs, and objects in the environment. The types of change were balanced between object appearance or disappearance, changes of object position, and changes of object features like color or size. More experienced participants were faster at detecting changes to task relevant objects, and all viewers were faster at detecting changes to the most task relevant details of objects. Results are consistent with a search for task relevant change that is more efficient for experienced viewers due to the use of a schema guided allocation of attention, with the effect of experience being manifest in a more detailed schema.
Measuring and Modeling the Misinterpretation of 3-D Perspective Views
Authors: Smallman Harvey S. , Manes Daniel I. , Cowen Michael B.
Published: January 2012

Last year, we showed that there are systematic distortions in the perceptual reconstruction of scenes shown in 3–D perspective views (Smallman, St. John, and Cowen, 2002). We posited a new Cross-Scaling model which states that the depth cue of linear perspective, which is only relevant to widths across the scene (X), is inappropriately used to scale depths into the scene (Y), resulting in systematic misperceptions. Here, we report three experiments that test and refine this Cross-Scaling model and we relate it to a broader array of tasks and phenomena. In Exp 1, participants reproduced a square grid as it would appear to them from an oblique perspective. In Exp 2, they picked a drawing, from 25 alternatives, that closest approximated the Exp 1 scene. In Exp 3, participants completed square grids on the ground of 3-D perspective views of scenes that contained only linear perspective or foreshortening depth cues. In Exps 1 & 3, in accordance with the model, participants consistently made grids in which X and Y tapered with distance (non-veridically) equally. In Exp 2, however, participants chose as most natural, an incorrect drawing, but one other than that predicted by the model. Overall, there is apparently a general misconception among viewers about the nature of perspective projection, similar to Naive Physics misconceptions, that accounts for a wide variety of previously unrelated perceptual phenomena; these have important human factors implications.
Visual Momentum and Task Switching with 2D and 3D Displays of Geographic Terrain
Authors: Hollands J. G. , Ivanovic Nada , Enomoto Yukari
Published: January 2012

We were interested in determining if the visual momentum provided by gradual transition between two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) views of geographic terrain aided task switching. Twenty-two participants made judgments about the properties of two points placed on 2D or 3D displays of terrain. Participants performed the tasks in pairs of trials, switching tasks and displays between trials. On half the trials (continuous transition), the display dynamically rotated in depth from one display format to the other. On the other half (discrete transition), participants were immediately shown the alternate display format. The results showed that response time after transition was less for the continuous condition, and that accuracy was greater for the continuous condition, especially for the 3D display. We argue that this was because the continuous transition provided improved visual momentum between consecutive displays, and recommend the use of dynamic transition when switching views on geographic terrain.
Effects of Response Method on Error and Cyclical Bias in Proportion Judgments
Authors: Morton Andrew , Hollands J. G.
Published: January 2012

The cyclical power model accounts for multi-cycle patterns of bias commonly observed in proportion judgments by proposing the use of intermediate reference points (Hollands & Dyre, 2000). We were interested in the effect of response method on the choice of reference points (fewer points lead to greater judgment error). Participants made estimates of proportions displayed in pie charts using one of three response methods: rotation of a dial, marker placement on a horizontal line, or a numerical estimate. Fitting the model indicated a two-cycle pattern for line and numeric conditions, but a four-cycle pattern for the dial, leading to reduced error. Response method did not affect the estimated value of the Stevens exponent (0.83 on average). Competing explanations of stimulus-response compatibility and response method are considered. Implications for the design of display and control systems are discussed.