bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cerebral Hemovelocity and the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART)
Authors: Funke Gregory , Funke Matthew , Dillard Michael , Finomore Victor , Shaw Tyler , Epling Samantha , Warm Joel S. , Parasuraman Raja
Published: October 2012

Vigilance tasks in the traditional format (TVF) require observers to respond to critical signals on their monitored displays and withhold responding to neutral events. The Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) features the opposite response requirements which supposedly lead it to promote a mindless, non-thoughtful approach to the vigilance task. To test that possibility, this study compared the SART to the TVF in terms of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) secured in the performance of a simulated UAV monitoring assignment. Previous studies have consistently shown that CBFV declines significantly over time for observers who monitor in the TVF while it remains temporally stable in control observers who view the display without a work imperative – perhaps a maximum case of mindlessness. In the present study, CBFV declined over time in a similar manner for observers performing under SART and TVF conditions while it remained stable over time for non-engaged controls. The results are consistent with studies using psychophysical, workload, and stress measures that challenge the view that the SART is an engine of mindlessness.
Using Variable-Rate Alerting to Counter Boredom in Human Supervisory Control
Authors: Mkrtchyan Armen A. , Macbeth Jamie C. , Solovey Erin T. , Ryan Jason C. , Cummings M. L.
Published: October 2012

A low task load, long duration experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of cyclical attention switching strategies on operator performance in supervisory domains. The impetus for such a study stems from the lack of prior work to improve human-system performance in low task load supervisory domains through the use of design interventions. In this study, a design intervention in the form of auditory alerts is introduced and the effects of the alerts are examined. The test bed consists of a video game-like simulation environment, which allows a single operator the ability to supervise multiple unmanned vehicles. Each participant in the study completed two different four hour sessions, with and without the alerts. The results suggest that the alerts can be useful for operators who are distracted for a considerable amount of time, but that the alerts may not be appropriate for operators who are able to sustain directed attention for prolonged periods.
Combating Vigilance Decrements in a Sustained Attention Task: Lack of Support for the Utility of a Cognitive Intervention Secondary Task
Authors: Carretta Thomas R. , French Guy A.
Published: October 2012

Results from previous studies (St. John & Risser, 2007, 2009) indicate the addition of a simple cognitive secondary task may mitigate vigilance decrements for a sustained attention task involving target acquisition. The effectiveness of the cognitive task increased when its onset was triggered by physiological indicators of inattention. The current study examined the generalizability of this methodology with a few modifications. A no intervention condition was added to provide a baseline and a short perceptual vigilance task (AVT) was added to examine the construct validity of the experimental task (ET). Finally, instead of using physiological indicators to trigger the intervention, a schedule was used that resembled that of the physiological intervention. Although vigilance decrements were observed for both the AVT and ET, only a weak relationship was observed between the two tasks. ET performance was not affected by the cognitive intervention. The weak relationship between the AVT and ET scores suggests that they are not measuring the same constructs. Further, the failure to replicate previous findings casts doubts on the robustness of the cognitive intervention for mitigating performance decrements on real-world tasks, especially when its onset is not linked with physiological indicators of inattention.
Effect of Task Modality on Dual-Task Performance, Response Time, and Ratings of Operator Workload
Authors: Scerra Veronica E. , Brill J. Christopher
Published: October 2012

The purpose of this study was to use established measures of attentional reserve capacity to test for the existence of tactile-specific resources in the context of Wickens’ (1984, 2002) Multiple Resource Theory. Participants performed a primary counting task in the tactile modality and were presented with a concurrent secondary attention task in the visual, auditory, and tactile modalities. The data indicate a significant difference in performance based on whether the dual-task conditions were performed crossmodally or unimodally, in terms of percent correct and response time to target stimuli. Specifically, participants performed significantly worse in tactile-tactile dual-task conditions, suggesting performance was degraded as a function of resource depletion. Furthermore, participants rated the unimodal dual-task conditions as significantly harder, using a subjective workload rating, than either of the dual-task crossmodal conditions, or the single task condition. The results suggest that task interference was a function of resource limitation rather than structural interference, providing direct empirical evidence supporting the inclusion of tactile resources in Wickens’ Multiple Resource Theory.
Effects of the Multi-Modal Communication tool on Communication and Change Detection for Command & Control Operators
Authors: Finomore Victor , Satterfield Kelly , Sitz Adam , Castle Courtney , Funke Gregory , Shaw Tyler , Funke Matthew
Published: October 2012

Due to the highly demanding and stressful mission set encountered by Command and Control (C2) operators, researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory have developed a network-centric, multi-modal communication-monitoring suite. In previous studies, this tool has been shown to increase communication monitoring effectiveness and reduced workload for participants monitoring communication displays. However, in addition to communication displays, C2 operators often have the additional burden of monitoring tactical displays in order to create real-time representations of dynamic battlefield conditions. Creating this real-time picture is necessary to efficiently plan, coordinate, and control assets to accomplish mission objectives. This multi-tasking environment across different displays leaves C2 operators susceptible to missed information. The current study examined the performance and workload associated with monitoring both communication and tactical displays for critical information or changed events with varying communication management tools. Results indicated that the Multi-Modal Communication suite aided performance on both the communication and change detection task when compared with standard radio and chat displays. In addition, Multi-Modal Communication suite was found to reduce the perceived mental workload of this complex task.
Reliability of a Cued Combat Identification Aid on Soldier Performance and Trust
Authors: Chancey Eric T. , Bliss James P.
Published: October 2012

Personal combat identification (CID) aids have been developed to assist Soldiers in the appropriate allocation of lethal force. Because of the dynamic nature of the battlefield, CID aids may be situationally unreliable. The purpose of the current study was to explore the effects of varying the reliability levels of CID aids on Soldier performance using a simulated marksmanship trainer. Twelve Army ROTC students and two active duty USMC volunteers engaged in three separate “shoot/don’t-shoot” tasks using three separate simulated CID aids of different reliability levels (90%, 75%, and 60%). Improved target identification accuracy and reaction time were observed when the participants used more reliable CID aids. Higher trust ratings were associated with the more reliable aids. The results suggest that these types of automated aids may be useful in terms of both lethality and as a fratricide prevention tool, provided there is a high reliability associated with the system.
Aurally Aided Visual Threat Acquisition in a Virtual Urban Battlespace
Authors: Robinson Eric , Simpson Brian , Finomore Victor , Cowgill Jeffery , Shalin Valerie L. , Hampton Andrew , Moore Thomas , Rapoch Terry , Gilkey Robert
Published: October 2012

Many of today’s military operations take place in large urban environments, which present unique challenges due to limited line of sight and increased concealment for enemy forces. This experiment evaluated the potential of a 3D audio display to aid threat detection and localization in a complex visual environment. Subjects rode as part of a convoy through a simulated city where they encountered snipers surrounded by distracting personnel. We compared 3D audio cues to verbal descriptions of the sniper’s location and to simple audio warnings of the presence of a sniper. Consistent with past research, subjects located the sniper more quickly in the 3D audio condition compared to both the semantic description and simple warning conditions. The 3D audio display was faster than the other displays across all azimuths but, in contrast to previous findings, the advantage did not increase consistently with increasing azimuth.
The Effects of Cell Phone Use and Automation on Driver Performance and Subjective State in Simulated Driving
Authors: Neubauer Catherine , Matthews Gerald , Saxby Dyani
Published: October 2012

Cell phone use has been identified as a threat to driver safety. Impairments may depend on the type of cell phone usage such as calling back and text messaging. The present study investigated whether the impact of phone use depends on the state of fatigue of the driver. A manipulation of full vehicle automation was used to induce a state of passive fatigue during a simulated drive. Participants were also assigned to one of four cell phone response conditions (Cell Phone, Text Message, Free-Choice or Control). Subjective responses, vehicle control and speed of response to an emergency event were assessed. Cell phone use did not mitigate stress and fatigue produced by vehicle automation. We also replicated existing findings that phone use, especially texting, impairs normal driving performance. However, phone use during automation was associated with a faster braking response following transition to normal control, suggesting that there may be circumstances under which phone use enhances alertness. Safety implications of the findings are discussed.
Evaluation of Two Types of In-Vehicle Music Retrieval and Navigation Systems
Authors: Zhang Jingyi , Borowsky Avinoam , Schmidt-Nielsen Bent , Harsham Bret , Weinberg Garrett , Romoser Matthew R.E. , Fisher Donald L.
Published: October 2012

It has been documented that use of an In-Vehicle Information System [IVIS] can impair driving performance. In general, voice-controlled IVISs are considered less distracting than those controlled by touch and are therefore considered as less interfering with the driving task. However, certain types of voice-controlled IVISs may be better (less distracting) than others. In this study, we evaluated two variants of a voice-controlled in-vehicle music retrieval and navigation system in order to investigate the effect of a common affordance where the IVIS controls the pace and timing of a multi-turn interaction. Participants were asked to drive various scenarios in a simulator while engaging with either a user-paced IVIS or a system-paced IVIS. Driving performance measures and IVIS usability measures were collected. Our results indicated that when the driving task imposes higher mental effort (e.g., on a curved roadway), the user-paced IVIS was found to be more effective and safer to use, whereas when the driving task imposes low mental effort (e.g., on a straight roadway), the user-paced and the system-paced IVIS was less effective but still safer.
Operator Performance in Long Duration Control Operations: Switching from Low to High Task Load
Authors: Thornburg Kristopher M. , Peterse Henricus P.M. , Liu Andrew M.
Published: October 2012

Long duration, low task load environments are typical for nuclear power plant control rooms, where operators, after hours of operating under a low task load situation, may have to shift to a high task load situation. The effects of time-on-task and boredom due to low task load will be an important consideration for the design of new nuclear power plant control rooms, which will rely more heavily on automation. This paper describes a research study of performance in a simulated nuclear control room environment, where 36 participants responded to an alarm during a 4 hour long experiment where the alarm onset time and the availability of distractions were varied. The results indicate that operators perform better in a sterile environment and that the duration of non-active time before the alarm influences operator performance.
Human Reliability Analysis in Major Accident Risk Analyses in the Norwegian Petroleum Industry
Authors: Gould Kristian S. , Ringstad Arne J. , van de Merwe Koen
Published: October 2012

Major accidents in the petroleum industry can have severe consequences for people and the environment, as seen in recent cases such as the Deepwater Horizon. Human factors have been shown to play an important role both in the cause and mitigation of these accidents. However, major accident risk analyses in the oil and gas industry has previously not included assessments of human reliability. As part of our company’s overall safety strategy, we have recently made an effort to apply human reliability assessments in major accident risk analyses of offshore activities such as drilling and production of oil. This paper outlines our strategy for use of human reliability assessment, our experiences from practice, and methodological challenges that must be improved for it to become established in the offshore petroleum industry.
The application of the SPAR-H method in managed-pressure drilling operations
Authors: van de Merwe Koen , Øie Sondre , Gould Kristian
Published: October 2012

This paper aims to share insights gained in the application of the Standardized Plant Analysis Risk-Human Reliability Analysis (SPAR-H) technique applied to a normal-operations scenario for a managed pressure drilling concept. SPAR-H was used to identify the potential for error for each individual task related to the concept. A Systematic Human Error and Prediction Approach (SHERPA) was performed to gain more insight into the qualitative aspects of the operation including the potential consequences for safety should a task be performed erroneously. For this project, the relative Human Error Probabilities (HEP) values of SPAR-H were used rather than HEPs as absolute performance indicators. With this approach, an evaluation of the concept was performed in terms of its potential for human error and a prioritized set of improvements for the concept was presented. Such application of SPAR-H was found to be a useful approach to aiding project managers in directing focus towards those issues that require most attention.
A Personalized Speech Warning Facilitates Compliance in an Immersive Virtual Environment
Authors: Duarte Emília , Rebelo Francisco , Teles Júlia , Wogalter Michael S.
Published: October 2012

The effect of a personalized technology-based warning on compliance was assessed using an immersive virtual environment (IVE). Sixty university students performed an end-of-day routine security check in the IVE. Participants were asked to search for and activate safety-related devices, which involved entering several rooms. Just prior to abandoning the first room, participants were incidentally exposed to a posted warning (mandatory to disconnect the music generator) consisting of either a personal warning (i.e., a speech message with the participant’s first name) or an impersonal warning (i.e., a auditory beep signal). Compliance was determined by observing whether or not the participants pressed the button-switch as directed by the warning. Results reveal that compliance rate was significantly greater when the warning was personalized. No significant gender differences were found. Implications of these results are discussed in terms of the benefits of effective warnings.
Overview of a Reconfigurable Simulator for Main Control Room Upgrades in Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Boring Ronald L.
Published: October 2012

This paper provides background on a reconfigurable control room simulator for nuclear power plants. The main control rooms in current nuclear power plants feature analog technology that is growing obsolete. The need to upgrade control rooms serves the practical need of maintainability as well as the opportunity to implement newer digital technologies with added functionality. There currently exists no dedicated research simulator for use in human factors design and evaluation activities for nuclear power plant modernization in the U.S. The new research simulator discussed in this paper provides a test bed in which operator performance on new control room concepts can be benchmarked against existing control rooms and in which new technologies can be validated for safety and usability prior to deployment.
Effects of Gender and Hand Dominance on Children’s Capacity to Hang onto an Overhead Rung with One Hand
Authors: Young Justin , Ehrlich Peter , Ulin Sheryl , Woolley Chuck , Armstrong Thomas , Galecki Andrzej , Ashton-Miller James
Published: October 2012

Falls from playground equipment are a major cause of childhood injury and death. The purpose of this experiment was to quantify children’s maximum capacity to hang onto a rung and to determine how this strength varies for factors such as hand dominance and gender. Breakaway strength (a measure of the maximum capacity to hang onto a handhold) was measured for 130 children ages 5-11 on a 38.1mm diameter horizontal cylinder. Breakaway strength was significantly affected by hand dominance ( p=0.022) and gender ( p=0.015), with breakaway strength being greater for males and the dominant hand. Significant covariate predictors for breakaway strength included hand length and the interaction between gender and grip strength. Breakaway strength increased with grip strength and age, and more so for males than females. Breakaway strength normalized by bodyweight shows that female participants on average and young children (age 5) of both sexes could not support their bodyweight with one hand. The results suggest that playground handholds similar to the handhold tested here may not be suitable for all children.
Transportation Research into Practice: A Multi-Agency Government Perspective
Authors: Neiderman Eric , Popkin Stephen M. , Donovan Colleen , Philips Brian H. , Chappell Sheryl , Monk Chris , Lohrenz Maura C.
Published: October 2012

Safety is the top priority of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), with much of its $1B of annual research and development budget focused on this priority. Each organization within DOT, and its oversight origination, the National Transportation Safety Board, have research programs that independently and jointly aim to impact and address these current and emerging safety issues, many of which are rooted in human factors causes. This panel will provide insight into understanding these issues, and how research was designed to deliver fieldable results that produced tangible safety benefits.
An empirical usability evaluation of the Human Factors website
Authors: Phillips Elizabeth , Dietz Aaron S.
Published: October 2012

The purpose of the present study is to conduct an empirical design and user perception analysis of the website for the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES), and to use this information to make relevant design recommendations for improving the quality of the website. As the central hub for online interactions with the society, it is important that hfes.org effectively and efficiently communicate messages and highlight its activities concerning its membership, publications, and services. The goal of this paper is not to present a caustic review of the Society’s shortcomings, but offer a critical analysis, supported by literature and data, of various website design elements that may be holding HFES back from maintaining a professional web presence, and to illustrate why maintaining a professional web presence is beneficial for the HFES community at large. The present paper outlines an empirical usability evaluation of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society website, hfes.org . An initial proposal and method for data collection are outlined. Results of the study will be presented the Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
Social drivers of technology adoption and use in the workplace productivity context
Authors: Matson Zannah , Donmez Birsen , Savan Beth , Photiadis David , Farahani Elham , Dafoe Joanna
Published: October 2012

In a usability test of a pre-commercialization product designed to minimize interruptions, we examined the ease of use and intuitiveness of the product through lab testing, while also surveying test participants on their perception of interruptions in the workplace. The results suggest that despite high ratings of ease of use and tool intuitiveness, participants were uncertain about likelihood of use in the office context. This discrepancy indicates usability is perhaps a necessary but insufficient driver of adoption, and other factors, such as the establishment of a receptive context and supportive social norms, are also important considerations when predicting new technological adoptions.
The Effects of Interruption Context on Task Performance
Authors: Eatchel Kelly A. , Kramer Heidi , Drews Frank
Published: October 2012

This study examines the effects of contextual similarity or dissimilarity of interruptions during task performance. Participants engaged in a series of working memory tasks using a computer interface. While performing these tasks they were intermittently interrupted and required to perform a different task. Each participant was interrupted with four different tasks that varied in context from identically related information given during the primary task to unrelated contextual information. Performance was assessed based on the total number of errors during each task before and after an interruption. Results revealed an increase in error rate when a participant was interrupted with a contextually dissimilar task compared to the primary task. These findings suggest that a person who experiences an interruption by a task with contextually identical information to the primary task will make fewer errors following the completion of the interruption compared to a task with contextually dissimilar information.
Framework for designing Adaptive Automation
Authors: Yoo Hyo-sang
Published: October 2012

Adaptive automation (AA) has been proposed as a solution for problems associated with using static automation. Despite the potential benefits of AA systems, several limitations impede the construction of an effective operational AA system. Hence, the goal of the present paper is to provide general guidelines for constructing an AA system while addressing some of the associated design issues. Recommendations for future studies are presented, where the focus should be on accurate detection of dramatic transitions between Operator Functional States (OFSs) and possibly its precursor, if it exists, and build AA system based on what we are actually capable of clearly identifying.
Examining the Effects of Cue Valence and Attention Load on Prospective Memory
Authors: Kohn Spencer C. , Fink Nicole P. , Pak Richard , McLaughlin Anne Collins
Published: October 2012

Previous research has shown that emotion can affect memory. The current study examines the influence of target cues’ valence on prospective memory performance under both nondivided and divided attention loads. We predict that positive and negative valence words will lead to better prospective memory performance than neutral words. Understanding exactly how target cue valence impacts prospective remembering is vital in the future research and design of memory aids.
Embedding Secondary Tasks in Video Games to Measure Real-Time Cognitive Load: An Approach to Developing Adaptive Video Games
Authors: Sharek David , Wiebe Eric
Published: October 2012

The goal of this study was to evaluate the use of an embedded secondary task in a video game as a measure of real-time cognitive load. Results show that performance in the secondary task was negatively correlated with the level of difficulty a player experienced, however secondary task performance and summative cognitive load self-report measures were not correlated. The ability to capture real-time data during gameplay indicates that secondary task performance could be used as a more sensitive measure of cognitive load compared with the summative cognitive load scores. Embedding secondary tasks in video games has the potential to be used to provide input for adaptive algorithms that sustain player engagement during gameplay.
Faces as Ambient Displays: Assessing the attention-demanding characteristics of facial expressions
Authors: Bass Brock M. , Pak Richard
Published: October 2012

Ambient displays are used to provide information to a user in a non-distracting manner. The purpose of this research is to examine the efficacy of facial expressions as ambient displays. Facial emotion recognition requires very little if any conscious attention, which makes it an excellent candidate for the ambient presentation of information. This study will investigate whether using facial expressions as an ambient display permits humans to gain information with ease. This study will assess the attention-demanding characteristics of Chernoff faces in a dual-task experiment. The data from this study could be helpful in understanding whether humans are able to use facial expressions for gaining quick and concise information about a particular system or device.
Neural Correlates of Physical and Mental Fatigue
Authors: Shortz Ashley E. , Van Dyke Sarah , Mehta Ranjana K.
Published: October 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine the neural and muscular correlates of physical and mental fatigue. Twelve young and healthy participants (balanced by gender) performed three fatiguing conditions: 1) isometric handgrip task (HG) at 30% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC); 2) mental arithmetic (MA); and 3) combined handgrip and mental arithmetic (HG+MA). Prefrontal cortex activation, muscle activity, and task performance measures (force fluctuations and mental performance) were obtained continuously during the fatiguing conditions. Results indicated no significant difference in muscle activity and force fluctuations between the HG and HG+MA condition. Compared to the HG condition, an initial increase in the prefrontal cortex activation was observed during the HG+MA condition, with a subsequent decrease at exhaustion. Cortical activation during the MA condition was significantly lower than the other conditions across the entire duration of the fatiguing trial. Participants performed poorly with mental arithmetic during the HG+MA condition compared to the MA condition. The results suggest that the dynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex during the combined HG+MA condition, compared to the HG or MA condition, occur due to the interaction of physical and mental fatigue, which may have important implications for physical and cognitive performance.
Looking Back: Examining the Trends of Driver Distraction from 2007-2011
Authors: Rupp Michael A.
Published: October 2012

Advances in both vehicle and roadway technologies prevent vehicle fatalities; however, this also allows a wider availability of secondary activities that can be performed while driving. Fatalities caused by distraction have increased while overall vehicle fatalities have decreased. Although, driver distraction has been thoroughly researched, few studies have concentrated on the overall trends. Examining the trends of previous studies allows researchers to identify deficiencies within this field in order to focus future efforts in those areas. This paper identifies the research trends regarding the topic of driver distraction as published in four journals between the years of 2007 and 2011.
The Effects of Reading and Writing Text-Based Messages While Driving
Authors: Yager Christine E. , Cooper Joel M. , Chrysler Susan T.
Published: October 2012

Previous research, using driving simulation, crash data, and naturalistic methods, has begun to shed light on the dangers of texting while driving. Perhaps because of the dangers, no published work has experimentally investigated the dangers of texting while driving using an actual vehicle. Additionally, previous research does not clearly differentiate the dangers associated with reading and writing text-based messages. To address these issues, 42 participants drove an instrumented research vehicle on a closed driving course. Participants drove under control, text reading, and text writing conditions using a QWERTY keyboard mobile phone. Baseline text reading and writing data were also collected outside of the research vehicle. When reading or writing text-based messages, drivers exhibited reductions in reaction time that were nearly twice as great as previously thought. Drivers also exhibited nearly identical impairment in the reading and writing conditions, suggesting that both reading and writing text-based messages may be equally dangerous. These results have immediate implications for improving our understanding of the dangers of texting while driving and may be useful for future public policy discussions.
Driver Response to Unexpected Automatic Braking/Haptic Warning While Backing
Authors: Kochhar Dev S. , Talamonti Walter J. , Tijerina Louis
Published: October 2012

Two studies were conducted to examine driver behavior in response to an unexpected automatic braking/haptic event while backing. One study emulated a False Positive condition (no object present in reversing path at/after braking event onset). A second study involved a True Positive condition (obstacle present at/after braking event onset). Results of the False Positive study indicated that, at braking event onset, drivers either already had their foot on the brake, or quickly placed it there. Shortly thereafter many drivers began to exhibit exploratory behavior to test the state of their vehicle, e.g. release of brake pedal, squeezing the accelerator pedal, etc. Results of the True Positive study also indicated that drivers either already had their foot on the brake or quickly placed it there. However, a higher percentage of participants held the brake pressed. Their exploratory behavior to test the state of the vehicle involved brake pedal release only. No driver pushed the accelerator pedal when an obstacle was visible in the rear-camera display. Driver eye gaze and head movements were observed for both False Positive and True Positive scenarios. Results are presented and their implications are discussed.
Differences in Novice and Experienced Driver Response to Lane Departure Warnings that Provide Active Intervention
Authors: Hollopeter Nicole , Brown Timothy , Thomas Geb
Published: October 2012

It is widely known that young drivers are over-represented in the crash data for reasons such as risk perception and acceptance, age, gender, experience, exposure, and social contexts. The current mitigations implemented to address this issue consist mainly of graduated driver’s licenses and parental involvement programs. However, as technology begins to find its way into transportation in the form of advanced driver assistance systems, there is a need to understand whether these technologies will be a benefit or a detriment to young novice drivers. This effort investigates the reactions of young novice drivers to a control intervention lane departure warning. The results show less urgent reactions to the warning from novice drivers compared to the older more experienced drivers tested. Young novice males were found to have degraded performance compared to their novice female peers as well as older more experienced male drivers. This study provides useful insights concerning the necessary investigations of effects of advanced driver assistance systems on young novice drivers and the associated young driver safety epidemic.
Consumer Complaints and Traffic Fatalities: Insights from the NHTSA Vehicle Owner’s Complaint Database
Authors: Ghazizadeh Mahtab , Lee John D.
Published: October 2012

Driving simulators, crash databases, and more recently, naturalistic studies all help understand how changes to vehicle design affect driving safety. The rapid computerization of cars makes it increasingly important to capitalize on these sources and exploit others. The present study explores a rarely analyzed data source on traffic fatalities: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle owner’s complaint database. The textual data within the event description field of each complaint is extracted and analyzed using a text mining approach that involves the use of latent semantic analysis (LSA) for reducing the dimensionality of the problem. Hierarchical clustering is then employed to identify clusters of complaints that share content. Clusters are described in terms of the most frequent terms and the time trends of the complaints within them. The analysis highlights how text mining analysis can help unlock the wealth of information contained in consumer complaint databases.
Using Agent-Based Modeling to Predict the Diffusion of Safe Teenage Driving Behavior Through an Online Social Network
Authors: Roberts Shannon C. , Lee John D.
Published: October 2012

Objective: To use agent-based modeling to examine how peer influence in a social network affects behavior change among teenage drivers. Background: Teenagers are involved in more fatal driving crashes than any other age group. A solution to the problem is to utilize both feedback systems and online social networks to promote safe driving behavior. Methods: Using a combination of intention (from the Theory of Planned Behavior) and habit, agent-based modeling was used to predict the spread of safe driving behavior through an online social network after the implementation of a feedback system Results: The initial conditions of the social network (e.g., the number of agents to initially engage in safe driving behavior and the number of opinion leaders who use the feedback system), as well as the threshold used to determine intention drive safely had a significant effect on the final number of agents to engage in safe driving behavior. Conclusion: Agent-based modeling suggests that leveraging the power of feedback systems and social networks can lead to a positive change in teenage driving behavior. Application: Agent-based modeling can be a viable tool in predicting teenage driver behavior given the correct choice of parameters.
Automated Driving: Human-Factors Issues and Design Solutions
Authors: Saffarian M. , de Winter J. C. F. , Happee R.
Published: October 2012

The goal of this paper is to outline human-factors issues associated with automated driving, with a focus on car following. First, we review the challenges of having automated driving systems from a human-factors perspective. Next, we identify human-machine interaction needs for automated vehicles and propose some available solutions. Finally, we propose design requirements for Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control.
Speed and Accuracy in Driver Emergency Avoidance
Authors: Ayres Thomas , Kubose Tate
Published: October 2012

When faced with a potential hazard, drivers often need to evaluate the situation and choose an avoidance maneuver quickly. Studies of emergency perception-response time by drivers have reported a range of mean values, and a number of factors have been identified or proposed to account for some of the variability between and within studies. One factor that has not attracted much attention in this literature is response accuracy. We propose that examination of this literature from within a speed/accuracy tradeoff framework may help explain some of the range of findings in driver reaction time research. This perspective may be useful when applying research results to practical questions such as motor vehicle accident reconstruction.
A Pilot Study of Three-Dimensional Child Anthropometry for Vehicle Safety Analysis
Authors: Reed Matthew P.
Published: October 2012

The publicly available anthropometric data for U.S. children were published in 1977, lack body shape data, and do not include measurements in supported sitting postures that are needed for vehicle safety applications. A pilot study was conducted of methods using standard anthropometry, laser scanning, and three-dimensional coordinate measurement to develop the data needed to improve the sizes and shapes of crash dummies and other design tools used to develop and assess child restraints, belt-positioning boosters, and vehicle seat and belt restraint systems. A total of 15 children ages 4 to 11 were measured in this pilot study.
Differences in Feedback use for Correct and Incorrect Responses
Authors: Kelley Christopher M. , McLaughlin Anne Collins
Published: October 2012

Feedback’s effects on behavior during learning are not well understood. Recent research results suggest feedback on incorrect responses may affect cognitive processes and behavior differently than feedback on correct responses (Butler, Karpicke, & Roediger, 2007; Pashler, Cepeda,Wixted, & Rohrer, 2005). In the current study we investigated how feedback on different types of response accuracies affected learning in a simple rule based task under varying difficulty levels. Feedback was manipulated by being provided after correct responses only, incorrect responses only, or all responses. Results suggested feedback on incorrect responses was used differently than feedback on correct responses and was influenced by the difficulty of the task. Specifically, feedback on incorrect responses resulted in more learning than feedback on correct responses when task difficulty was higher; however, this effect was eliminated when task difficulty was lower.
Cognition and Kinesiology: A Dual-Strategy Approach to Remembering Choreography
Authors: Kramarova Olga , Youmans Robert J.
Published: October 2012

Dancers often have difficulty remembering choreography they see in a class or workshop. This project investigated strategies dancers can use to effectively learn choreography so that they will be more likely to perform it correctly in the future. Using the Nintendo Wii’s Just Dance video game, we developed and tested two new strategies designed to improve dancers’ abilities to cluster movements and organize choreography in ways that made it easier for dancers to remember (Hanna, 2008; Stinson, 1985). The results largely supported the hypothesis that providing dancers with organizational strategies can improve how well dancers remember choreography, a finding that may generalize to other forms of physical learning (e.g. yoga, martial arts, etc.) We conclude by suggesting that the incorporation of organizational strategies in dance-related games may improve usability, increase customer gratification, and maximize the potential health benefits of physical games related to increased physical activity and exercise.
Evaluating the Effect of Startling and Surprising Events in Immersive Training Systems for Emergency Response
Authors: Haus Mirjam , Rooney Chris , Barnett Jane , Westley David , Wong William
Published: October 2012

In emergency situations, emergency service personnel are often confronted with unexpected events that are difficult to manage. The aim of this study is to identify and understand the impact of complex and startling cues generated by these events to contribute to the development of realistic virtual-world training simulations. Two factors were explored for this purpose: the complexity of the action relevance check and the intensity of the unexpected event, which were varied across four experimental conditions of a simulated emergency reaction time task. Results showed that startling participants did not interrupt their on-going task, but that increasing the complexity of the task did. From this, we propose that unexpected events in training simulations should additionally expose trainees to complex and realistic situations, rather than simply startling them with sudden audio/visual stimuli.
Inter-Rater Reliability of Video-Based Ergonomic Job Analysis for Maintenance Work in Mineral Processing and Coal Preparation Plants
Authors: Heberger John R. , Nasarwanji Mahiyar F. , Paquet Victor , Pollard Jonisha P. , Dempsey Patrick G.
Published: October 2012

A large proportion of fatal and non-fatal injuries in mineral processing and coal preparation plants can be attributed to maintenance and repair work. Maintenance work in the mining industry has received little attention due to the challenges associated with collecting and evaluating information on exposures to risk factors and possibly due to the adverse working conditions. The goal of this study was to develop a reliable method to systematically quantify exposures to environmental attributes and physical task demands for maintenance work in mineral processing and coal preparation plants. Hierarchical task analysis was carried out for commonly observed and reported maintenance tasks. A detailed taxonomy of environmental features and physical task demands thought to contribute to injury was created. Two raters independently coded 41 videos using the Multimedia Video Task Analysis™ software to measure the percentage of task time that workers were exposed to each of the variables defined in the taxonomy. For most exposure variables, the mean differences in exposures coded between raters were low and the correlations of exposure durations were high. For variables in which the mean differences in exposure were considered to be too high, modifications to the approach were made to improve measurement reliability. This study provides some evidence to suggest that video based ergonomic job analysis is a viable tool for characterizing the environmental and physical demands of maintenance work in mineral processing and coal preparation plants.
Clearance Space Envelopes of Wheeled Mobility Device Users for Computer Workstations
Authors: D’Souza Clive , Paquet Victor , Steinfeld Edward
Published: October 2012

Operator clearance spaces under computer workstations and other work surfaces are necessary to ensure that seated operators have adequate space for their lower extremities in order to use the working surface without any obstruction. In this paper we present operator clearances at workstations designed to accommodate occupants of manual and powered wheelchairs (n=322). Six body dimensions critical to workstation design were used in two different methods to compute the clearance envelope dimensions. When compared with clearance space requirements for able-bodied seated operators at workstations specified in the ANSI/HFES 100-2007 standards for computer workstation design, the findings showed wheeled mobility device users required greater widths, work surface heights, and clearance depths than those specified in the standard.
Effects of Font Size and Reflective Glare on Text-Based Task Performance and Postural Change Behavior of Presbyopic and Nonpresbyopic Computer Users
Authors: Ko Peiyi , Mohapatra Anand , Bailey Ian , Sheedy James , Rempel David
Published: October 2012

Nineteen young (18-35 year-old) and seven older presbyopic (55-65 year-old, wearing bifocal or progressive glasses) subjects with the same average visual acuity at near distance participated in this full-factorial, repeated measures study with two trial factors: font size (capital letter heights of 1.78, 2.23, and 3.56 mm) and reflective glare. The monitor location was fixed, but subjects were allowed to move their bodies and the chair while performing visually demanding tasks. The productivity improved up to 30% when using a large font size (average visual angle 23.4 arcmin) compared to a smaller font size (14.2 or 16.4 arcmin, p < .0001). The relative contributions of torso flexion (78%), head forward (3%), and chair reposition (4%) to changes in the viewing distance remained constant across font size conditions. Reflective glare had no effect on productivity measures but led to reduction of viewing distance ( p < .0001). There were no significant differences between the two age groups.
Usability testing the Afghan Language Aptitude Battery: Evaluating Cognitive Tests for Non-Traditional Populations
Authors: Campbell Susan G. , Bunting Michael F.
Published: October 2012

We present two closely-related approaches to product evaluation in less-commonly taught languages with native speaker informants and test participants. The Afghan Language Aptitude Battery (ALAB) was designed to be used to identify promising Afghan candidates for English language instruction before they started training in Afghanistan. In evaluating the battery, however, we were limited to testing in the United States. We asked Afghan service members who were already enrolled in language courses to act as usability participants and solicited their input on the design of the tests, the quality of the translations, and on the battery’s suitability for use in Afghanistan. Our testing found that the students were able to accomplish the tests, though the elements were unfamiliar, but that the instructions required extensive revisions in order to make them understandable to a less-educated audience in Afghanistan. The difference in the outcomes of our two evaluations suggests that translation evaluation should be done separately from test evaluation.
Experimental Evaluation of the Dermoskeleton Concept: Addressing the Soldiers Overload Challenge
Authors: Ste-Croix Chris , Tack David , Boucher Denis , Ruel Francois , Pageau Gilles , Bedard Stephane
Published: October 2012

Many nations have developed programs aimed at reducing the weight burden of the soldiers using various technologies. A human augmentation approach based on the application of biomechatronics and artificial intelligence, and referred to as the “Dermoskeleton” concept or Knee Stress Release Device (KSRD™), aims to address the distributed weight overload challenge. This device attaches to the outer sections of both legs and provides assistance during walking. This report describes a user evaluation of the KSRD™ beta version using regular force members of the Canadian Forces. Results suggest that the KSRD™ beta version performance improves as more load is added onto the soldier. The addition of the KSRD™ beta version produced similar physiological effects as adding weight to the participants’ total load. Several recommendations are provided with respect to future studies involving future versions of the KSRD™.
Identifying Battlefield Information Collection Strategies to Support ‘Every Soldier is a Sensor’ Training
Authors: Krupenia Stas Simon , Cuizinaud Mathilde , Muller Tijmen , van der Hulst Anja H.
Published: October 2012

The trend towards network-centric warfare has been accompanied by a shift towards the ‘Every Soldier is a Sensor’ (ES2) concept where battlefield information collection is completed by regular soldiers within a company/platoon (U.S. Army, 2008). To support the development of ES2 training we investigated a priori battlefield information collection strategies. Twenty military participants completed a reconnaissance mission in a virtual environment during which multiple events occurred. Participants decided whether or not to collect information about these events. After the mission participants categorized events as having an Information Type (Population, Geography, Hostile) and a Relevance (for Current Operations, Future Operations, or Command and Control). Results suggest that across individuals neither Information Type nor Relevance predicts the probability of recording information although Geographic events were slightly more influential. Within participants there was a somewhat stable collection pattern. The results highlight the importance of training for ES2 and provide a starting point for developing training programs.