bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Task Management as Implemented in HOS-IV
Authors: Iavecchia Helene P. , Harris Regina M.
Published: January 2012

The Human Operator Simulator (HOS-IV) is a general purpose simulation tool. It can be used to simulate the dynamic interactions of the environment, the hardware/software system, as well as the operator. HOS-IV provides time and accuracy data for a core set of cognitive, perceptual, and psychomotor processes. The focus of this paper is the HOS-IV mechanism that is used to simulate global task management. A sample application that demonstrates HOS-IV task management is also presented.
Constructing and Applying Cognitive Models to Mission Management Problems in Air Anti-Submarine Warfare
Authors: Zubritzky Monica C. , Zachary Wayne W. , Ryder Joan M.
Published: January 2012

The ever-increasing capabilities of computers have resulted in a new generation of man-machine systems in which the machine acts in an intelligent manner to enhance the operator's decision-making capabilities in real-time multi-tasking (RTMT) situations. In such situations, the operator's information needs constantly change as he/she must attend to several events simultaneously and often switch from one decision-making task to another. The ability of the intelligent systems to aid humans in a flexible interactive fashion depends on the capability of the machine to predict these switches and the resulting changes in the human's information needs at a given time. These systems must therefore incorporate a model of the human operator's tasks based on information about the individual tasks and the dynamic relationships between the tasks and the occurrence of outside events. This paper focuses on the construction of such a model in the context of mission management problems of airborne Tactical Coordinators (TACCOs) in anti-submarine warfare (ASW). The model is built as a Cognitive Network of Tasks (COGNET) and is based on the integration of GOMS notation and the Blackboard architecture and is now being used to develop an adaptive intelligent interface for TACCOs.
Older Drivers' Visibility and Comfort in Night Driving: Vehicle Design Factors
Authors: Mortimer Rudolf G.
Published: January 2012

Older persons are a growing proportion in the population, among drivers and those involved in traffic accidents. Changes in visual abilities of older persons are pertinent to night driving in which they need greater brightness contrast to see and minimum glare. Vehicle headlighting and related factors are reviewed which affect visibility and comfort in night driving. Older drivers, in particular, would be aided at night by: increasing the reflectivity of objects, limiting the mounting height of headlamps, appropriate reflectivities of mirrors for control of glare, automatic headlamp alignment, automatic headlamp cleaning and beam patterns that emphasize glare control.
Arithmetic Stroop Interference as a Function of Age: Maintenance and Modification of Automatic Processes
Authors: Rogers Wendy A. , Fisk Arthur D.
Published: January 2012

This experiment investigated whether well-learned “automatic” processes remain stable as a function of age, as well as whether the ability to modify automatic processes is disrupted for older adults. We used an arithmetic “Stroop” task. Nineteen young (mean 22) and 19 old adults (mean 75) participated in three sessions for a total of 450 trials. The young subjects had faster verification times, overall, than the old adults. Both young and old subjects showed significant Stroop interference. These results support the hypothesis that automatic processes, in this case access of addition and multiplication tables, are maintained for old adults. Furthermore, both groups reduced their RT with practice. For the young adults, there was a decrease in interference with practice suggesting that they were learning to inhibit the automatic process of performing the arithmetical operation. However, the old adults showed no significant decrease in interference, which implies that they were impaired in their ability to inhibit automatic processes, even when those processes interfered with performance. Theoretical and practical training implications are discussed.
Gerontechnology™, the Modelling of Normal Aging
Authors: Graafmans Jan A.M. , Brouwers Tonny
Published: January 2012

Demographics announce the rise of an array of small and bigger challenges, which cannot be taken up adequately by a single research discipline, industrial branche or central administration. The segregation and segmentation of our society causes limiting conditions in facing the most substantial and acute societal problems. The complexity and versatility of these problems require a policy that has to be conceptualized. The concept “gerontechnology” is introduced to cover and provide some coherent elements in order to establish a strategy, that is aiming at an efficient and effective use of essential resources, to match developments induced by an aging population. Normal aging processes can be described within this concept using the man-machine-environment interaction model that is loaded with sets of variables that are characteristic for an aging human function. Sets of variables are distinguished at three levels with increasing complexity from basic research on parameters of aging, via human factors research on grey human factors, to market research on daily consumer needs of the elderly. Two projects are presented as examples of respectively an industrial and a basic research approach in this domain.
Dysphagia New Technologies in Aging
Authors: Boysen Allen , Haber Paul
Published: January 2012

The normal process of swallowing is an extremely complicated and highly integrated process, only part of which is under voluntary control. The normal process of swallowing requires that the neuromuscular structure, the cartilaginous and bony elements and their innervation will be intact. A number of high technology and semitechnology procedures have been developed which will help elucidate the cause of the swallowing problem. These include: videofluoroscopy, scintigraphy, manometry, fiberoptic endoscopy, ultra-sound, and clinical auscultation. A deglutition team consisting of otolaryn-gologist, neurologist, speech-language pathologist, radiologist, nurse practitioner, and dietitian can have a major impact on determining the cause of the swallowing dificulty and correcting it.
What can you Learn from a Low-Fidelity Prototype?
Authors: Virzi Robert A.
Published: January 2012

A case is made for using low-fidelity prototypes early in the design phase of new services. The rationale for this is based upon (1) a model of how user interface designs progress and (2) a call to expediency. The design process is viewed as the successive application of constraints that serve to prune the space of all user interfaces. Some constraints are external (i.e., placed on the service by limits of technology or cost). Other constraints are derived by application of heuristic design principles. Even after these constraints have been applied, the design is still not fully constrained and the designer must make high-level design decisions. At these choice points, I propose that low-fidelity prototyping is an appropriate means of gathering design information as it is an expedient solution and may serve as a method of testing the central tendency of entire classes of user interfaces.
Evaluation of Audio Response Time Delay Requirements for Digitized Audio
Authors: Van Balen Paula M. , Eisler Leslie R.
Published: January 2012

As digital voice data is increasingly replacing analog in system applications, user interface requirements supporting this technology must be established. This experiment was conducted to determine whether system response time affected a user's ability to control movement of recorded speech while keying in a verbatim report of the speech content. Experienced subjects performed a transcription task under four different response times. Upon completion of the task, the subject ordered the response times from shortest to longest and rank-ordered their preferences for response delay times. Performance data was collected to discover if response time differences affected performance.

Subjects were unable to identify the response time delays correctly; and, based on the preference rankings, the subjects were most satisfied with a response time delay range between 100 ms and 150 ms and least satisfied with a response time delay of 250 ms. Subjects stated that with the longest and shortest response time delays they had trouble positioning in the audio. Response time delays did not affect subject performance, although other significant results were found.
Short Term Memory Demands in Processing Synthetic Speech
Authors: Thomas Margaret , Gilson Richard , Ziulkowski Sharon , Gibbons Stephen
Published: January 2012

The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the demands placed on the short term memory system by synthetic speech. We compared performance in a typical auditory short term memory task as a function of whether the items were presented by a human voice or by a text-to-speech computer voice generator. Immediate serial recall of digit strings was significantly poorer when presented by synthetic speech than when presented by natural speech. The results are consistent with the idea that comprehension of synthetic speech imposes increased resource demands on the short term memory system.
Proto Tymer: Human Performance Instrumentation for HyperCard® Prototyping
Authors: Miller Dwight P. , Stone Andrew C.
Published: January 2012

As a result of the popularity of using HyperCard® to rapidly prototype equipment and computer interfaces on Macintoshè personal computers, the need ensued to evaluate prototype usability by collecting subjects' interactive performance data in real time. Sandia National Laboratories, in collaboration with Stone Design Software, has developed ProtoTymer2, a HyperCardè stack that can time and record users' interactive sessions with prototypes developed using HyperCardè. While operating in the background, ProtoTymer records the times, locations, and targets (objects clicked) of a subject's inputs during an interactive session. At the conclusion of the session, the resultant data file can be reviewed, summarized, printed, or transferred to a spreadsheet for statistical or graphical analysis. This paper describes ProtoTymer's design approach, features, limitations, and considerations for future versions.
Towards a Generic Strategy for Empirical Evaluation of Interactive Computing Systems
Authors: Hewett Thomas T.
Published: January 2012

Increasingly, the design of interactive computing systems appears to be a process of iterative design and re-design. One important factor in successful iterative design is iterative evaluation-evaluation as part of each design cycle. This paper argues that different evaluation-design cycles may require different types of methodologies and different types of questions or measures to fully satisfy differing evaluation goals. Furthermore, evaluation procedures and measures themselves need to be designed and re-designed, a process more easily accomplished during system development. Examples based upon design projects illustrate some of the ways in which the nature and uses of evaluation procedures and information may change in different cycles of iterative evaluation.
A Context-Based Model of Attention Switching in Computer-Human Interaction Domains
Authors: Zachary Wayne
Published: January 2012

COGNET (Cognitive Network of Tasks) is a model-building framework for real-time attention sharing cognitive processes. It is particularly designed for the construction of computational models of human-computer interaction. COGNET is unique in that it leads to context-sensitive models of attention switching based on the human operator's knowledge of the real-world domain being modeled. A COGNET model combines an augmented version of the GOMS task analysis language with the blackboard architecture of control. This paper discusses the theoretical organization of the COGNET framework, as well as the augmented GOMS/blackboard tools used to build COGNET models.
Operator Models for Supervisory Control Systems
Authors: Jones Patricia M. , Mitchell Christine M.
Published: January 2012

This paper presents a conceptual discussion of four human operator models that are potentially useful for supervisory control applications: the operator function model (Mitchell, 1987), the problem behavior graph (Newell and Simon, 1972), the decision ladder (Rasmussen, 1986), and goal-means network (Woods and Hollnagel, 1987). These models are characterized along the dimensions proposed by Jones and Mitchell (1987) and are further examined in-depth with the use of verbal protocols collected concurrently with the performance of a supervisory control task.
Evaluating the Accuracy of a Large-Vocabulary Speech Recognition System
Authors: Brown Norman R. , Vosburgh Ann Marie
Published: January 2012

This paper presents a conceptual discussion of four human operator models that are potentially useful for supervisory control applications: the operator function model (Mitchell, 1987), the problem behavior graph (Newell and Simon, 1972), the decision ladder (Rasmussen, 1986), and goal-means network (Woods and Hollnagel, 1987). These models are characterized along the dimensions proposed by Jones and Mitchell (1987) and are further examined in-depth with the use of verbal protocols collected concurrently with the performance of a supervisory control task.
An Investigation of Techniques for Occasional Numeric Data Entry
Authors: Greenstein Joel S. , Baijal Anish
Published: January 2012

This work tested six techniques for the occasional entry of unstructured numeric data in the context of a primarily mouse-based, cursor-positioning, human-computer dialogue. Two of the techniques used a separate keypad for numeric data entry. The other four techniques used the mouse already being used for the cursor positioning dialogue. The keypad techniques were more efficient than the mouse techniques for all of the numeric sequence lengths considered. There were no significant differences in efficiency between the two keypad techniques. Among the mouse-based techniques, an approach based on a displayed image of a calculator keypad was consistently among the most efficient.
Operator Behavioral Biases Using High-Resolution Touch Input Devices
Authors: Beringer Dennis B. , Bowman Mary James
Published: January 2012

Real-world applications of touch-input technology often do not occur under ideal conditions. Users often must contend with off-axis viewing and nonoptimal positioning, introducing the possibility of vertical or horizontal bias error. In the present study the effects of screen angle relative to line of sight and positioning of targets were examined with a high-resolution (1 pixel or about 1/12 mm) resistive touch input device thought to have minimal parallax. Results replicated earlier findings of Beringer & Peterson (1985) in that a 17-degree declination of the touch surface below orthogonal to line of sight induced a high-touch bias error of 9 pixels (about 3/4 mm) whereas orthogonality of the interface to line of sight virtually eliminated bias. Both software and behavioral compensation strategies are discussed.
Panel on Visual Interface Design
Authors: Williams Evelyn , Hewlett-Packard Evelyn
Published: January 2012

User interface design has many components. Usable computer interfaces should be easy to learn, result in high user productivity and high user satisfaction. There are a number of components in user interface design that affect the usability of the interface. Within the human factors community we tend to emphasize the ergonomic and cognitive components of the computer interface. There is another component that is frequently ignored, the visual interface design. This panel will present information on the visual component in various user-computer interfaces and will discuss the contributions of the visual designer to the interfaces and usability.
A User Interface for a Battlefield Distributed Information System
Authors: Glenn Floyd , Hicinbothom James , Schwartz Stanley , Smith Ken , Heilman Eric
Published: January 2012

This effort was conducted to redesign and improve the user interface for the Distributed Fact Base (DFB) component of the Army's Smart Weapon System / Information Distribution System (SWS/IDS), which is being initially developed to support battlefield fire control for fighting echelons up to the brigade level. The SWS/IDS consists of multiple clusters of powerful workstations that are networked together over low-speed radio links. The IDS manages the efficient updating and interrogating of nodes of the DFB so as to maximize system performance within communication channel capacity limits, thereby minimizing the amount of information exchange among battlefield units. The user interfaces address the distributed character of both the information and the decision processes as well as the essential complexity of the knowledge domain. Interface design is being accomplished using a general design methodology for distributed intelligent systems that entails systematic consideration of system and user objectives, cognitive capabilities and limitations of the user, and available technology options. An object-oriented approach was used for developing an enhanced interface for map, chart, and list applications using newly devised interface design tools known as Object-Action Specification Tables (OASTs) and an Object-Action Specification Language (OASL). The OASTs are tables that indicate which actions can be performed on which display and control objects and which control objects can perform which actions on other objects. Wherever an object-action combination is feasible, an entry in OASL indicates how the action is accomplished (e.g., by selection of pull-right menu item; mouse-button click with mouse cursor on screen icon; etc.).
Highlighting in Alphanumeric Displays: The Efficacy of Monochrome Methods
Authors: Spoto Cheryl G. , Babu A.J.G.
Published: January 2012

Highlighting is used to attract attention to displayed information. Prior work has called into question the efficacy reverse video as a highlighting method in alphanumeric displays. Brightness is highly recommended in guideline documents, but no empirical study of its efficacy in alphanumeric displays has been published. An experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy of these methods in monochromatic, alphanumeric displays. Search time was significantly faster for reverse video than for high intensity highlighting. Reverse video may attract attention better than high intensity video. Heavy use of reverse video may aid in the systematic search of unhighlighted items. The results are analyzed in terms of a mathematical model.
Designing Screen Icons: Ranking and Matching Studies
Authors: Nolan Peter R.
Published: January 2012

Two studies from a screen icon testing program are reported. An appropriateness ranking study is a preliminary procedure that screens several candidate designs and results in a single image content for each icon. Subjects preferred the more concrete icons to the more abstract ones. Familiar image content was also preferred. The matching study determined how well the icons worked as a related set, and how likely it is that individual icons would be confused with each other. The icons for Clock, Drawing, and Voice score high on correct and low on incorrect. The symmetric and asymmetric confusions are identified and explained in terms of visual and conceptual similarity. There is a discussion of the methodology used.
Problem Solving in Naive Users
Authors: Lewis C. Michael , Jamison Wesley
Published: January 2012

Unix Tutor is a menu interface to UNIX being developed at the University of Pittsburgh as a training aid for new users. This paper compares mental models currently supported by the interface and those used by novices by examining subject logs from experiments. The paper concludes that Unix Tutor provides good support for consistent aspects of the operating system but fails to support models novices need to deal with inconsistencies. Design enhancements are suggested for resolving this problem.
Competitive Evaluation in Industry: Some Comments
Authors: Byrne Jani Gabriel
Published: January 2012

This paper examines competitive evaluations in industry. Competitive evaluations involve systematic comparisons between two or more products on similar (or equated) attributes. These attributes can be either usability criteria or usability characteristics. Three topics are discussed: applications of competitive evaluation information that could be useful to product development; industry pitfalls associated with conducting an evaluation; and timing of the evaluation in the product development process as it relates to the goals of the organization. The paper concludes with general suggestions concerning conducting competitive evaluations in industry.
Now that the First Class has Graduated: Some Thoughts on Beginning and Maintaining a Human Factors Program
Authors: Dingus Thomas A.
Published: January 2012

The objective of this paper is to describe the experience of beginning and maintaining a human factors graduate program, and to provide some thoughts on and insights into the program's future. The curriculum developed for the program is described, as well as impressions about student requirements and success, coursework, the job market, industry support and the potential for program expansion.
Ergonomic Models of the Human at Work
Authors: Kroemer Karl H. E.
Published: January 2012

A COHF/NRC Workshop assessed the status of anthropometric, biomechanical, and human-machine interface models. Their development into an integrated model, or compatible modules, appears feasible and needed.
End-Effector Velocity and Input Frequency Effects on Teleoperator Performance
Authors: Draper John V. , Handel Stephen
Published: January 2012

End-effector velocity defines two types of servomanipulators: operator-paced systems and machine-paced systems. Input frequency limits below human bandwidth may also cause machine-pacing. Two experiments varied end-effector velocity limits (1.01 meters per second, 86.4 centimeters per second, and 76.2 centimeters per second) and input frequency limits (0.16 Hz, 0.32 Hz, 0.64 Hz, and 1.27 Hz). Multivariate analyses of variance found statistically significant input frequency limit effects in one experiment, and significant input frequency and velocity limit effects in the second experiment. Machine-pacing caused by input frequency occurred in the range hypothesized (between 0.32 Hz and 0.64 Hz). The critical velocity limit appeared to be lower than expected (between 76.2 cm and 86.4 cm per second). These results are valuable for future teleoperator designs.
Dollars and Sense: Using Effect Size Estimates to Make Design Decisions
Authors: Weimer Jon , Hart Arlie
Published: January 2012

An alternative to using large numbers of test participants is offered for HF professionals with limited budgets. This alternative justifies design decisions using effect size estimates which have been calculated from published data germane to the design of the particular system. The calculations for effect size estimation are given in simple algebra, using only the information available from published ANOVA summary tables.
Integrated Research Paradigm for Complex Experimentation
Authors: Williges Robert C. , Williges Beverly H.
Published: January 2012

Most human factors design problems involve large data spaces with so many factors that a single experiment investigating all of these factors simultaneously is unreasonable. The design of a computer-based telephone inquiry system is presented as an example interface which required consideration of over 100 independent variables which could affect end-user performance. An integrated research paradigm involving the three major steps of selecting, describing, and optimizing these independent variables is presented. Specific methods and design implications are described for each of these steps. This overall strategy for sequential experimentation is discussed in terms of its usefulness in human factors design applications.
Isokinetic Strengths and Working Posture
Authors: Mital Anil , Genaidy Ashraf M.
Published: January 2012

This paper presents isokinetic (dynamic) pull-up strength profiles of males and females, engaged in infrequent force exertion, in fifteen different working postures ranging from kneeling to standing. Maximum pull-up force was exerted with two hands in the stooped posture. Least force was exerted with the preferred hand at reach distance, in the sagittal plane (arm fully extended), in the sitting posture. As expected, large differences existed in the force exertion capability of males and females.
Effects of Measured versus Proposed Horizontal Distance on the NIOSH Action Limit and Maximum Permissible Limit for Manual Materials Handling
Authors: Garg Arun
Published: January 2012

The objective of this research was to compare action limits and maximum permissible limits based on measured horizontal distances with those based on the rule of thumb proposed in the NIOSH Guide. Thirteen male subjects were required to lift three different boxes (25, 38 and 51 cm wide), at four different frequencies (0.2, 3, 6 and 9 lifts min−1), and at two heights (floor level to bench height (0.8 m) and bench height to 1.5 m). Each lift was performed for one hour and horizontal distances for all thirteen subjects were measured at the origin of lift. Action limits and maximum permissible limits were computed for all lifting tasks using the measured and the proposed horizontal distances. The actual measured horizontal distances were much greater than those based on half the box width plus 15 cm. The action and the maximum permissible limits based on measured horizontal distances were significantly lower than those based on H = W/2 + 15 cm. For the floor to 0.8 m lifts, the AL and MPL based on measured horizontal distances were 74% (range = 67% to 80%) of those based on H = 15 + W/2. The corresponding ratio for the 0.8 m to 1.5 m lifts was 62% (range = 56% to 66%).
Activity Patterns of Several Trunk Muscles during an Asymmetric, Non-Isokinetic Lifting Motion
Authors: Sommerich Carolyn M.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle recruitment patterns for a task routinely performed in industry, under conditions which might be encountered in industry rather than in a controlled laboratory setting. Subjects encountered two asymmetric loading conditions (minimal and substantial) and two trunk motion speed conditions (normal and fast) and performed several repetitions of each condition. Electromyographic (EMG) voltage data pertaining to four pairs of trunk muscles were collected for analysis. The timing of certain events in each signal (start, peak, and end times of elevated activity) were determined. From these events, networks were constructed which portrayed average muscle recruitment order results which were found to occur under all loading and velocity conditions encountered by the subjects. Only two event-pairs were found to occur consistently for all subjects. Event-pairs which were related to changes in resistance or velocity were found for each subject. Some subjects shared event-pairs, but only one pair was found to occur for all subjects.
Ranges of Motion in the Human Wrist
Authors: Neese Regina M. , Konz Stephan , Reams Mark
Published: January 2012

Measurements of wrist ranges of motion were made for 40 males and 83 females; only 1 subject worked in a factory. Age ranged from 16 to 88. Flexion was 57° for females and 56° for males; extension was 53° for females and 50° for males. Adduction was 24° for both females and males; abduction was 55° for females and 57° for males. Pronation was 139° for females and 130° for males; supination was 89° for females and 78° for males. Pronation increased significantly with age (r2 = 21%).
Predictive Models of Hand Torque Strength for Circular Electrical Connectors
Authors: Adams S. Keith , Ma Xianqiang
Published: January 2012

Maintenance and its associated costs have become a serious problem for nearly all military and civilian organizations using aircraft and other complex hardware. This paper describes extensions of development work designed to provide basic elemental task configuration versus strength data for tightening and loosening circular electrical connectors by proposing a mathematical formulation of the problem, showing a model relating hand torque strength to specific task variables and dimensions, and giving the results of predictive tests in which predicted hand torque strength was compared against values obtained in a comprehensive statistically balanced set of hand torque strength tests. Results strongly support the theoretical basis and structure of the predictive model and indicate directions for refinement as more data are obtained in future applications.
Human Lifting Strength in Different Postures
Authors: Chomcherngpat C. , Mandhani P. , Lum C. , Martin C.
Published: January 2012

A laboratory study was conducted to determine static lifting strengths on 13 males and 12 females from 18 to 28 years of age. Using the strength monitor, the average strength and peak strength were measured in four different postures: standing, sitting, lying on stomach with elbows support, and without elbow support. Five sets of data were collected at constant heights. There was a significant difference in lifting strengths between standing lifts and lying on stomach without elbow-support postures; maximum lift occurred in the standing position. It was found that there was no significant difference in lifting strengths between sitting and lying on stomach with elbows sup port. The average female strengths were found to be about 49% to 55% of male subjects in all postures.
Training: An Essential Aspect of Human Factors in Technology Transfer to Developing Countries
Authors: Robertson Michelle M. , Di Giovanni Eric P.
Published: January 2012

The creation and planning of a successful international training program is dependent upon the establishment and implementation of a systematic approach or process which integrates the educational goals, with the development needs for the country. This paper examines various planning processes, approaches, techniques and models of training systems and the critical elements necessary to design, develop and implement a cost-effective training system in developing countries. General alternatives and possible options for development and improvement of international training systems, which incorporate unique characteristics, socio-cultural factors and cultural mores are presented in six models.
Effects of Crew Coordination and Level of Instruction on Process Control Operator Behavior
Authors: Switzer Fred , Idaszak Jacqueline
Published: January 2012

The effects of crew coordination and level of instruction on performance, system monitoring, operators' internal representation of the system, communication, and reaction were assessed in a laboratory simulation of a process control plant. Results indicated that crew coordination and procedures or principles-based instruction enhanced performance, but no interaction between these factors was found. System monitoring behavior was not affected by coordination or level of instruction but subjects receiving procedures or principles-based instruction perceived the task as requiring a higher level of effort. Internal representation and communication data are currently being analyzed.
On the Loss and Restoration of End User Acceptance
Authors: Schwalm Robert C. , Carlson Linda C.
Published: January 2012

This paper identifies, through a case study, some of the specific factors contributing to the erosion of user acceptance during the redesign of an automated system and the specific steps taken to restore user acceptance. Among the factors contributing to a shift in user attitude are resistance to a new computer environment, a temporary emphasis during design on computer (vs user) issues, less frequent user reviews, and concerns about job security. Steps taken to restore user acceptance include increased contact with end users, familiarizing users with the computer environment, and clarification of system and user roles.
Manipulating Display Feedback Parameters for Enhanced Data Entry Performance
Authors: Rudd James , Geller E. Scott
Published: January 2012

Despite its widespread use, little is known regarding the manner in which to implement performance monitoring systems to enhance CRT-based task design and employee productivity. For example, no empirical studies to date have investigated the effects of varied levels of CRT-based performance goals and feedback on data entry performance. Theories of learned helplessness, as well as empirical data, suggest that in cases of very difficult goals and very frequent feedback, performance will be negatively affected.

A 3 (Goal Difficulty) × 3 (Feedback Frequency) completely randomized experiment, with 90 clerical workers serving as test participants, did not support this hypothesis. Instead, the performance of test participants who received the most difficult goals and most frequent feedback showed 25% higher performance scores than the average of the other groups and 12% higher than the next highest performing group. However, the performance of these test participants in the medium-difficulty goal/frequent feedback group was significantly lower than the average of the rest of the groups. Questionnaire data indicated that these test participants perceived the frequent feedback to be significantly more disruptive of their performance. These results are discussed in terms of their implication for the design of CRT-based performance tasks.
Recycling “Ergonomic” Tools for “Macroergonomic” Use
Authors: Dray Susan , Davis-Coury Lane , Hedge Alan , Imada Andrew , McGee Jeninne , Robertson Michelle , Wilson John
Published: January 2012

The field of macroergonomics has received ever-increasing interest in both of the field of Human Factors, since it was first identified as a “field” some 5 years ago and named. Often colleagues (from Human Factors and from outside the field) ask “But what do you actually do?” along with “But is that Human Factors?” This panel will discuss some of the tools which macroergonomists actually use, and show how they are, in many cases, common to the profession but used in a more holistic fashion. We hope this will lead to a better understanding of alternative uses for common tools and will encourage creative approaches to expansion and enhancements.
Cross-Cultural Comparison of Status Effects on Group Decision Making
Authors: Dubrovsky Vitaly , Kolla Siva , Sethna Beheruz N.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was a comparison of influence of formal status on group decision making for two cultures, the United States and India. Two identical experiments were conducted on American and Indian subjects. In both samples 36 male and female students, 12 graduate MBA and 24 freshmen or sophomores were randomly assigned to 12 groups of three in such a way that each group comprised of one graduate and two undergraduate members. Graduate students and undergraduates respectively represented high and low “specific” statuses, while male and female students respectively represented high and low “diffuse” statuses. Prior to group discussions, the participants introduced themselves to the group by stating, among other things, their academic status. Two standard “choice-dilemma” problems were discussed by each group with the order of the problems randomly counterbalanced. The experimental procedure followed the “risky shift” paradigm. Analysis of variance revealed that educational status had significant effects for both samples: graduate students “complied” and were persuaded less and were perceived as more competent-influential than undergraduates. However, there was a substantial difference between the Indian and the U.S. samples in the status effects of gender: gender had significant main status effects on “compliance”, persuasion, and perceived competence-influence only for the Indian sample. These findings are consistent with our understanding of relatively more status-conscious and male-dominated society in India than in USA.
Gender Differences in Posture Effects on Cognition
Authors: Vercruyssen Max , Cann Michael T. , Hancock P. A.
Published: January 2012

To investigate the effects of and body posture on reaction time, 28 healthy university students (14 male and 14 female) served as subjects performing four-choice visual reaction tasks while sitting and standing, with intersession practice and a complete duplication of the study on a second day. Intratask manipulations were stimulus degradation, stimulus-response compatibility, and the response-stimulus interval (foreperiod uncertainty). Results showed main effects for all intratask variables and practice with interactions related to gender, posture, and degradation. Significant gender differences in the effects of posture and degradation were such that females had a slight advantage over males on tasks which emphasize early stages of processing. In general, it is concluded that the large disparity of findings within the gender-related psychomotor literature may be largely a function of methodological differences between studies. This investigation showed that experimental findings may vary according to the particular task used and the circumstances under which it was performed.
Performance-Based Tests, Personality Attributes, and Training Outcome among Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) Vehicle Operators
Authors: Nontasak T. , Dolgin D. L. , Griffin G. R.
Published: January 2012

To date, only limited entry requirements exist for selection of vehicle operators for the U.S. Navy landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vehicle training program. What these requirements should be has not been empirically determined, hence a research effort in this area is needed. An additional impetus for such research has been a series of costly accidents resulting from operator error. Our objectives were to develop a cognitive, psychomotor, multiple-task, and personality-oriented test battery having the potential to predict the training outcome of LCAC operators and serving as an LCAC-personnel screening system. Automated tests used included Dichotlc Listening, Psychomotor, Manikin, One-dimensional Compensatory Tracking, Digit Cancellation, and Risk-taking. Significant predictors of training grade criteria included a multiple Dichotic Listening test. Training grade also correlated with the stick-rudder-throttle conditions of the Psychomotor task and with the One-dimensional Compensatory Tracking task when performed in combination with the Digit Cancellation task. Risk-taking tendencies were also significantly related to overall training grade. These findings suggest that components of the test battery have the potential to predict LCAC training performance.
Some Causes of Automobile-Motorcycle Collisions
Authors: Wulf Gabriele , Hancock P. A. , Rahimi Mansour
Published: January 2012

Motorcycles are overrepresented in fatal motor-vehicle accidents. In the attempt to reduce the frequency of automobile-motorcycle collisions, numerous studies have manipulated motorcycle and motoryclist characteristics to enhance conspicuity. In this paper, we review of studies that have examined the effectiveness of these measures. Furthermore, we identify factors yet to be considered in the empirical research in this area that may contribute to collisions between cars and motorcycles. These include information-processing failures at the identification and decision stage, as well as relatively stable and volatile factors potentially responsible for different information-processing failures.
Development of New Licensing Standards for Commercial Vehicle Drivers
Authors: Mackie Robert R. , Wylie C. Dennis
Published: January 2012

The extensive involvement of heavy truck and bus drivers in highway accidents each year has prompted a call by Congress for the states to adopt new standards for commercial driver licensure. The project described here was aimed at defining those standards and developing a testing program that will ensure the standards are met. The testing program includes seven knowledge and three skills tests which are administered in various combinations depending on the type of vehicle the operator proposes to drive and, in some cases, on the type of cargo to be hauled.

The new testing program recently underwent a successful operational evaluation involving 942 heavy vehicle drivers in eight locations across the U.S. The results showed that the development tests meet all of the necessary criteria for test validity and reliability. The drivers showed large individual differences in essential knowledge and skills, as measured by the several tests. It is expected that the newly developed program will be adopted by a majority of states as a means of meeting the more stringent Federal requirements for licensure that are soon to be implemented.
Human Factors and the Medical Use of Nuclear Byproduct Material
Authors: Serig Dennis
Published: January 2012

A human factors analyst visited facilities involved in medical use of nuclear byproduct material. The purpose was preliminary identification of factors which can contribute to human errors leading to medical misadministrations. Results indicated a broad range of such factors. The analyst's observations are being used to guide further research into human factors and the medical use of byproduct material.
Human Factors in Incident Investigation
Authors: Armstrong Mark E.
Published: January 2012

The Savannah River Site (SRS), located in South Carolina, is a key Department of Energy production and research facility for nuclear materials. Incident investigations performed at the Savannah River Site showed the cause of approximately 75% of all operating incidents in non-reactor facilities to be human error. The technical incident reporting system in place required the investigator to list the cause of an incident in broad terms (i.e., Personnel Error, Equipment Error) and to categorize it according to subclassifications (i.e., Operator Error, Supervisor Error, Mechanic Error). The reporting system, using these classifications, tended to emphasize “what happened” during an incident and “who was involved”, instead of getting to the details of “why” an incident occurred. The high rate of human error as the cause of incidents indicated that further analysis was in order.

Human factors personnel in the Facility Safety Evaluation Section (FSES - an oversight organization with emphasis on non-reactor facilities) wanted to determine the causes of human error in a way that would identify more precisely why the errors occurred. To satisfy these needs, FSES is implementing a root cause analysis program for SRS. Root cause analysis consists of two parts; the first being Events and Causal Factor (E&CF) Charting; and the second, Root Cause Coding using a Root Cause Tree. The objectives were to provide a systematic method for identifying the root causes of a given incident in order to make detailed recommendations for preventing its recurrence, and to provide a database of incident root causes for identifying problem areas across incidents. Root cause analysis would guide the incident investigator to state “why” an incident occurred using detailed cause codes (e.g., Incomplete Training, Labels Less Than Adequate). Root cause trending would enable FSES to track the causes of human error, recommend solutions, and track corrective actions. FSES developed a one day workshop to train several hundred incident investigators at SRS to perform investigations using the root cause analysis method. This presentation will discuss the development and implementation of the root cause analysis system at SRS by FSES human factors professionals.
Identification of an Accident Pattern to Focus on from Presumed Accidents
Authors: Kusukami Ken , Ikeda Toshihisa
Published: January 2012

Problems in incident survey and analysis in Japan are discussed and a new method of ‘survey and analysis of presumed accidents’ is proposed. The survey is conducted with an anonymous questionnaire method on workers in 3 Japanese Railways factories. Workers are asked to describe the presumed accident to which the highest priority of measures should be given, and the accidents are analyzed statistically. As a result, it is shown that an accident pattern can be selected to focus on in safety management. This method can be used for substantial preventive safety management based on features of workplaces.
Making Manprint Work: The Lessons of the FAADS Experience
Authors: Hawley John K. , dePontbriand Rene J. , Frederickson Edward W.
Published: January 2012

Over the past three years, the U.S. Army Research Institute (ARI) and its support contractor, Horizons Technology, Inc. (HTI), have been involved in a wide-ranging MANPRINT (Manpower and Personnel Integration) effort for the Army's Forward Area Air Defense System (FAADS). Elements of this effort have included: program planning, acquisition management support, studies and analyses, test and evaluation support, and support to the source selection process. The paper presents the observations of several key members of the support team on the requirements for a successful operational MANPRINT program. Several additional perspectives regarding MANPRINT concept definition, research and development needs, and methodological considerations are also provided.
Operator Workload in the Army Materiel Acquisition Process
Authors: Bulger John P. , Hill Susan G. , Christ Richard E.
Published: January 2012

The Army developer community needs to be attuned to the need for addressing operator workload issues within the framework of the materiel acquisition process. Brief descriptions are given of: (a) the major acquisition approaches; (b) the Manpower and Personnel Integration (MANPRINT) program; and, (c) operator workload. The interrelationships between these three areas are considered. Workload is important because it affects the ability of the operator to perform required tasks; hence, system performance can be affected by workload. MANPRINT provides a framework for addressing operator workload issues and for formalizing workload analysis requirements.
The Role of Human Information Processing Models in System Development
Authors: Kantowitz Barry H.
Published: January 2012

Humans are complicated devices. Thus, systems in which people are embedded necessarily are complex. In order to better develop such systems, a means to organize and understand human complexity is required. Theoretical models of human information processing are one cognitive-engineering tool to help system development. This paper discusses the kinds of models that might be effective in solving practical problems. Suggestions are given for selecting a useful model from the plethora of available theoretical models. These issues are illustrated in the context of current research aimed at providing a general model of human cognition and action for application to the development, operation, and maintenance of nuclear power plants in Japan.
User-Computer Interface Issues for Future Ship Combat Consoles
Authors: Osga Glenn A.
Published: January 2012

As we approach the 1990's the surface navy is facing critical procurement decisions for the design of consoles for shipboard combat information centers. Studies are being conducted to identify the impact of current designs on performance, and to construct and test prototypes for future designs. The goal is to develop guidelines for future consoles which are performance based and which will guide both near and long-term design strategy. A methodology is being applied which incorporates job description, procedural simplification, and display re-design. Although much progess has been made, and potential design improvements identified for a single user-type in an anti-air warfare capacity, the scope of this effort leaves many design questions unanswered for the numerous types of combat information center operations and personnel.