bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Natural Wear Progression on Shoe Floor Traction – A Pilot Study
Authors: Hemler Sarah. L. , Redfern Mark S. , Haight Joel M. , Beschorner Kurt E.
Published: September 2018

Slips and falls in the workplace are a major concern for injuries. Worn shoes are a known risk factor for slips and falls. The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze changes in shoe traction performance under fluid contaminant conditions as the shoes were progressively worn. Four subjects wore two different shoes with varying tread patterns. Shoes were tested after each month of wear. The two types of shoes responded to wear differently; one shoe experienced a substantial decrease in available coefficient of friction (ACOF) while the other shoe showed no substantive change. Loads supported by the fluid during slipping increased with wear of the shoes. Furthermore, ACOF was influenced by the shoe type and the walking distance. This study suggests that the impact of wear on shoe performance is dependent on the shoe design. Thus, future studies are needed to understand specific effects of shoe design.
Vastus and Patellar Protection with Range of motion Pad – Advanced Personal Protective Equipment for the Lower Body
Authors: Stone Richard T. , Moeller Brandon , Schnieders Thomas , Mumani Ahmad
Published: September 2018

The standard knee pad is considered the most ineffective personal protective equipment in the American football player’s uniform. This study quantitatively and qualitatively assesses personal protective equipment for the lower body for U.S. football players against the VAPPR Pad (Vastus And Patellar Protection with Range of motion), the next iteration of lower body protection. The study consisted of player surveys, material drop testing, and Performance Drill testing including broad-jump, L-drill, pro-agility, and gait analysis with 138 participants in the initial survey and 25 men in the physical testing. Results of the Performance Drill Testing proved that unpadded players perform at higher levels than padded players; established no difference in performance between the unpadded players and players wearing the VAPPR Pad; and validated the VAPPR Pad’s superiority to the standard knee pad.
Warnings for Hurricane Irma: Trust of Warning Type and Perceptions of Self-Efficacy and Susceptibility
Authors: Parker Jason A. , Whitmer Daphne E. , Sims Valerie K.
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the types of risk communication received about Hurricane Irma by a university sample, along with their perceptions of self-efficacy and susceptibility to the storm. Three days after the storm, 176 individuals completed a survey that asked about how they received alerts, the frequency of the alerts received, and their trust in the different risk communication mediums. Additionally, respondents completed a susceptibility measure, a self-efficacy measure, and a storm fear questionnaire. Results showed that most people received alerts from their university alert system or social media. Participants trusted risk communication the most from text alerts and radio reports, but the least from social media. Additionally, results showed that those who received more alerts also had higher levels of perceived susceptibility to the hurricane, except for those who received 16 to 20 alerts. Perceived self-efficacy was not related to the number of alerts received. These data suggest that although many urge the use of social media for spreading emergency warnings, people distrust social media for risk communication, and that this mistrust may be due to recent cases of misinformation spreading on various platforms. In addition, these data suggest that there may be a “critical point” of alerting, such that receiving more than 5 hurricane alerts may lead to significant increase in perceptions of susceptibility to the storm. Future research should investigate the critical point of effective alerting and the effect that trust in the different mediums of alert technology has on motivation to comply with the warning’s protective action recommendations.
Which Factors Predict Consumer Willingness to Ride in Driverless Vehicles?
Authors: Anania Emily C. , Mehta Rian , Marte Daniel , Rice Stephen , Winter Scott R.
Published: September 2018

Driverless vehicles are already in development and predicted to enter the market in a matter of years. Previous research centered on driverless vehicles has aimed to gauge whether or not consumers are willing to ride in different types of driverless vehicles. However, the current research investigated different variables that may influence consumer willingness to ride in a driverless vehicle. Variables investigated included demographic variables, emotions, and other information collected by researchers based on a theoretical framework. Participants responded to a willingness to ride scale, as well as different questionnaires and demographic surveys. Out of thirteen possible predictor variables, three were significant: happiness, fear, and value. In a regression model, these three variables accounted for 77% of the variance in the data. These findings contribute to the knowledge of consumer perceptions, as well as inform the current market. Implications for future research, as well as limitations, are also discussed.
Extraneous Factors in Usability Testing: Evidence of Decision Fatigue During Sequential Usability Judgments
Authors: Robertson Ian , Kortum Philip
Published: September 2018

Previous work has examined if cognitive fatigue caused subjects to negatively evaluate products on subjective usability measures but failed to find an effect. The authors suggested that methodological issues may have caused variance, which masked any experimental effect. This study tested that claim by eliminating the extra source of variance. Twenty-six participants voted using six prototype paper voting ballots. The ballots were randomly assigned, with three used before a fatigue manipulation and three after. All the ballots were of a similar usability profile as determined in previous studies. Each ballot was used and evaluated by the subjects using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the pre-and post-fatigue means were compared, with no significant differences found. Although the reduction in variance did not affect the results, it was discovered that sequential usability judgments may result in decision fatigue. Subjective usability judgments may become increasingly negative with each additional judgment. Evidence from other experiments support this trend and further research may be warranted. Implications for usability researchers and practitioners are discussed.
Impact of Physical Fatigue State on Military Mission Oriented Obstacle Course Timing Performance
Authors: Mitchell K. Blake , DeSimone Linda , Brown Stephanie A.T.
Published: September 2018

Military oriented obstacle course timing has been used to evaluate different clothing and individual equipment designs and configurations. However, it is unclear if completing operationally relevant fatigue tasks prior to course completion will highlight differences in physical performance due to wearing different equipment configurations. Fifty-one experienced, active duty soldiers completed the course in a rested and fatigued state in three equipment configurations of varying weights and encumbrance. A controlled paced (3 mph) three mile foot march was used to induce fatigue. Time to complete the whole course and each of the 11 obstacle segments were measured. Fatigue state and configurations were found to be significantly different for total course time, where the fatigued moderate configuration was similar in performance to the fully loaded rested configuration. Similar results were also seen for the individual obstacle segment time measurements; however the walls and casualty drag obstacles may be slightly less sensitive.
Developing Training Research to Improve Cyber Defense of Industrial Control Systems
Authors: Canham Matthew , Fiore Stephen M. , Caulkins Bruce D.
Published: September 2018

Cyber-attacks are a common aspect of modern life. While cyber based attacks can expose private information or shut down online services, some of the most potentially dangerous attacks change the sensor and control data utilized by Industrial Control Systems for the intended purpose of causing severe damage to the technical processes that these systems control. The damage caused by the Stuxnet worm is one of the most infamous examples of this type of attack. Because only the most advanced levels of adversaries are able to mount successful attacks against these systems, detecting them is extremely challenging. Automated detection systems have not yet evolved to the point of being capable of consistently and successfully detecting these attacks, and for this reason, human operators will need to be involved in Industrial Control Systems protection for the foreseeable future. We propose several potential training-based solutions to aid the defense of these systems.
Stance and Transition Movement Effects on Marksmanship Performance of Expert Shooters During a Simulated Multiple Target Engagement Task
Authors: Brown Stephanie A. T. , Villa Jose D. , Hancock Clifford L. , Hasselquist Leif
Published: September 2018

A primary Soldier skill is the ability to quickly and effectively acquire and engage threats. This research evaluates shooting stances and transition movements of expert shooters when conducting multiple engagements requiring gross body movement across a 50 degree arc. Seven participants were classified during post analysis as utilizing two different unsupported standing firing positions (a narrow-based and wide-based stance) in a loaded and unloaded condition. Marksmanship was assessed using traditional lethality measures, a mobility timing measure, and weapon handling/stability measures. Significant differences were found across performance between the two positions. In a follow-on analysis, participants were categorized into stance type (fighter stance vs. isosceles stance) and transitional movement method (lifted feet vs. grounded). Significant decrements in performance were seen for the isosceles stance and the lift-foot method after the transition to target 2. These results suggest that stance and transition methods are extremely influential on lower-body stability and marksmanship performance.
Social Skill Focuses of Virtual Reality Systems for Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder; A Systematic Review
Authors: Thai Elaine , Nathan-Roberts Dan
Published: September 2018

A systematic review of virtual reality (VR) systems for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is detailed. The aim of this proceeding is to determine which social skills focuses are most important and how their potential improvements should be measured. Following the PRISMA guidelines, 48 articles were identified, and a total of 12 articles that met the a priori criteria were given full review. All 12 studies aimed to train some social skill, but there was no agreement among which single theme was most essential. The ones that received the most attention were facial expression and emotion recognition, appropriate behaviors and responses, and initiating social interactions. Only 9 studies used direct measures to assess changes made as a result of the VR systems. The ones most commonly used were subjective measures and participants’ body movements and gestures. The collective impacts and limitations of the studies are presented, as well as implications for future work.
How Immersion, Presence, Emotion, & Workload Differ in Virtual Reality and Traditional Game Mediums
Authors: Lum Heather C. , Greatbatch Richard , Waldfogle Grace , Benedict Jacob
Published: September 2018

The gaming experience is a critical component in the development and evolution of games. This study aims to assess the differences between virtual reality and a more traditional gaming experience in levels of emotion, immersion, and presence. We know that virtual reality is changing the way that people play games, but the extent to which virtual reality creates a more immersive and more present environment is still largely debated. Most of us can feel a difference but where does it lie? Similarly, if we are indeed more immersed and present, does that impact our perceived workload and how we feel about the task? These questions are examined in more detail in this paper. Results of this study may help give statistical support to various factors that are related to the virtual reality experience. These findings may extrapolate to a larger context for training simulations for military applications as well as consumer domains.
Scoping Review of Virtual Environments for Assessing Episodic Memory
Authors: Barclay Paul A. , Parker Jason , Sims Valerie
Published: September 2018

To assess cognitive deficits in everyday tasks, clinical neuropsychologists have started to move toward neuropsychological testing performed in immersive virtual environments. Ideally, this type of assessment can provide greater ecological validity along with sufficient experimental control for accurate assessment. This paper presents a scoping review of studies using virtual assessment of episodic memory, a cognitive ability with a high level of clinical utility in differentiating neurological disorders. Gaps are identified and the implications of these gaps explored, especially about environmental locations and modes of interaction. Future study is suggested as to better understand and mitigate the effects of these issues on clinical practice.
Effects of Cognitive Load and Anticipation on Driver Responses to a Critical Traffic Event
Authors: Engström Johan , Ljung Aust Mikael , Viström Matias
Published: September 2018

Existing studies on the effects of cognitive load on drivers’ responses to critical traffic events have yielded inconsistent results. The recently proposed cognitive control hypothesis offers a potential explanation for this discrepancy by suggesting that cognitive load selectively impairs aspects of driving relying on cognitive control, that is, novel, non-practiced or inherently difficult tasks, but leaves automatized responses unaffected. The present driving simulator study addressed one specific prediction of the cognitive control hypothesis, namely that the effect of cognitive load on responses to a traffic event should depend on whether the event it anticipated. The results generally supported this prediction, showing no effects of cognitive load on braking and gaze responses to an initial non-anticipated event and gradually increasing cognitive load effects as the scenario was repeated.
Why women do not use the helmet when riding a bicycle
Authors: Valero-Mora Pedro , Shinar David , Ledesma Ruben , Haworth Narelle
Published: September 2018

Women seem to use the helmet when riding a bicycle less frequently than men. Two possible explanations for this behavior are that 1) it is less appalling to them because of lack of comfort or other reasons, or 2) they use bicycles in a more cautious way than men so they feel that they do not need the helmet as much. The present paper explores these two explanations in 5,691 cyclists that responded to an online survey conducted in 17 countries as part of an EU COST project. Answers to questions related to the two aforementioned explanations were analyzed graphically and three questions that showed the most conspicuous differences between males and females were identified. These were: ‘Helmets are a problem because they disturb your hair’, ‘I am a fast rider’, and ‘I am a skilled rider’. The responses to these three questions plus their interactions with the gender of the respondent were used as predictors of the proportion of helmet wear. The results showed that: 1) the three questions predicted the use of the helmet, 2) the interaction between gender and hair disturbance was not significant, and 3) the interactions between gender and being a fast cyclist and being a skilled rider were both statistically significant showing that women that regard themselves as slow riders or skillful riders use relatively less the helmet than men in similar conditions.
Transitioning Nuclear Power Plant Main Control Room From Paper Based Procedures to Computer Based Procedures
Authors: Lew Roger , Boring Ronald L. , Ulrich Thomas A.
Published: September 2018

The United States (U.S.) has 99 operating Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). The majority of these were designed and commissioned in the 1970s and 1980s. Plants are modernizing their control systems and main control rooms to be able to continue operating past their original 40-year license agreements. U.S. NPP main control rooms are migrating towards hybrid controls with both digital and analog systems. Digital upgrades, while costly, provide improved reliability, reduced maintenance cost, and the potential for fewer unplanned outages and fewer human errors. U.S. utilities have been slow to embrace computerized procedure system (CBP) research, even though CBPs demonstrate clear operational and human factors benefits. Most of the CBP research has been oriented to new reactor designs or full digital control rooms and is not applicable to the piecemeal modernization approach favored by U.S. plants. Research is needed to examine how CBPs impact operations in hybrid control rooms, and how current paper based procedures can be efficiently migrated to computerized platforms. Work is underway to develop tools and perform the obligatory research needed to design and validate CBPs for modernized U.S. nuclear control rooms.
Combining Safety Climate and Behavior-Based Safety to Achieve Compliance: A Sociotechnical Systems Model
Authors: Da Silva Jaqueline Pereira
Published: September 2018

Research in the areas of safety climate and behavior-based safety has demonstrated that both concepts can have a positive effect in reducing injuries and losses. Safety climate draws attention to the importance of a strong culture of safety, which can have an impact on employees’ adherence to and the success of safety measures. Behavior-based safety emphasizes positive reinforcement to correct workers’ behaviors in order to reduce accidents in the workplace. In this paper, the author proposes a model to argue that safety climate and behavior-based safety influence Campbell’s performance factors, and therefore should be applied together in the analysis of safety outcomes. In addressing the issue of workers’ lack of compliance with safety measures, the author also discuss how safety climate and behavior-based safety can be integrated to positively affect safety performance.
Sensibuildity: The Design of a Communication System to Identify and Prevent Work-Related Injuries in the Construction Industry
Authors: Alzayed Mohammad Alsager , Costa Eduardo Castro e , Agarwal Pratik , Kakarlamudi Sai , Bilén Sven G. , Miller Scarlett
Published: September 2018

Up to 14 billion dollars are spent in the construction industry annually as a result of work-related injuries. The current study was developed in an effort to minimize the costs associated with these short-and long-term injuries through the use of wearable technologies and a two-phase study that included 13 semi-structured interviews and a usability investigation with 12 participants. Through the user interviews, a system was developed that includes a wearable vibration feedback mechanism that alerts users of postures that impose a risk of incurring musculoskeletal disorders and a smartphone application that reports on their postures. The results of the usability investigation showed that the solution is perceived to be more informative and engaging in enhancing safety awareness than existing practices. The results of this study display the need and effectiveness of incorporating wearable technologies as a means of providing effective feedback to construction workers and, hence, mitigate the risks of incurring work-related injuries.
Prioritizing Design Goals for a Medical Simulator Using Pairwise Comparisons
Authors: Dorton Steve , Frommer Ian , Bailey Margaret , Sotomayor Teresita
Published: September 2018

A simulator is being developed to teach psychomotor skills for the lateral canthotomy and cantholysis procedure to medical providers, filling a current training gap at military medical training facilities. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) agree on training system design goals; however, there is a lack of consensus on the relative order and magnitude of the priorities of each goal. The designs and implementations to achieve each goal have several interdependencies and tradeoffs, which require a comparison between different sets of design goals. A survey of pairwise comparisons was distributed to SMEs and two methods (a simple method and the Bradley-Terry model) were used to develop a unidimensional scale of prioritizations for each design goal. There was agreement in results across the simple method (calculating the proportion of times an alternative was chosen as preferable) and the Bradley-Terry model. The Bradley-Terry method offered a means to calculate measures of uncertainty, showing nuances where scores may overlap. This prioritization method enabled the research and development team to reconcile differing SME opinions. This also allowed for informed design decisions to ensure that the training system met expectations of SMEs and end users. Future efforts will involve developing scores for relevant sets of demographics to determine if there is concurrence and dissent in priorities.
Decluttering Geographic Data View Displays
Authors: Rantanen Esa M. , Hochberg Limor , Di Mingyang , Klabjan Diego
Published: September 2018

To reduce clutter on wide-area geographic data view displays of electric power systems, substations in geographically compact areas should be spread out and line overlaps and intersections minimized. Such patterns optimized with respect to given constraints can be modeled as a multicommodity flow problem. Due to the size of the developed model, we developed two clustering-based iterative algorithms to decompose the global network into smaller regions and then iteratively solve the subproblem in each region by read-justing some values. Three solutions were selected for experimental evaluation. The experimental results were somewhat inconclusive, due to naïve participants, simple task, and limitations of the eye tracker. Nevertheless, two of the decluttered maps appeared to have distinct advantage over the baseline map, where substations were simply connected by straight lines, in terms of performance time and workload.
Findings From an Operator-In-The-Loop Study on System Overview Displays in a Modernized Nuclear Power Plant
Authors: Boring Ronald L. , Ulrich Thomas A. , Lew Roger
Published: September 2018

The second Operator Study of System Overviews (OSSO-2) was conducted with a three-person reactor operator crew in the Human Systems Simulation Laboratory (HSSL) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in August, 2017. The study supported control room modernization at a nuclear power plant and featured a benchmark comparison of three variants of a turbine control system (TCS): the existing analog TCS, a proposed standalone digital TCS with two displays, and the digital TCS with the addition of a third display depicting a system overview screen. TCS prototypes were developed at INL to allow evaluation of operator performance and preferences during realistic turbine scenarios in the full-scope simulator. The study revealed that completion of turbine startup was several minutes faster with the digital TCS variants than with the conventional analog TCS. Eye tracking revealed visual fixations were more widely distributed in the overview vs. standalone TCS condition, suggesting the overview screen may have cued reactor operators to verify values across the boards. Reviewing key plant parameters showed smoother transitions during load following for the digital vs. analog TCS. The study provides evidence that the new digital TCS could be used successfully by operators without extensive training or rewriting of the operating procedures, suggesting high usability for the digital TCS design. Further advantages were realized through the addition of the system overview screen to provide crews with at-a-glance indicators of key turbine parameters.
Stress Detection Techniques in Different Work Domains
Authors: Rodriguez-Paras Carolina , Khanade Kunal , Sasangohar Farzan
Published: September 2018

Nurses represent a large portion of shift workers in United States. Nurses often work long hours, have high workload, and usually participate in multitasking, all of which may lead to high stress, turnover, and burn-out. The turnover rate among nurses tends to be higher than other healthcare professions. Some studies have analyzed the nursing culture to determine the factors that lead to such high turnover and stress. How-ever, most of the studies have relied on self-reported instruments. While objective metrics to assess stress using physiological measures exist, these methods are rarely used in healthcare. The current study documents the findings from a literature review of stress detection techniques in other work domains (e.g., aviation, transportation). Stress detection techniques are explained, along with potential applications to the healthcare sector.
Assessing Dynamic Value for Safety Gear During a Rock Climbing Task
Authors: Wright Emily , Pinyan Elizabeth C. , Wickens Christopher D. , Keller John , McLaughlin Anne C.
Published: September 2018

Value is a component of the SEEV model of attention combined with measures of salience, effort, and expectancy to characterize areas of interest in a visual workspace. In the current project, an assessment of dynamic value was created by prompting rock climbers to assess their post-hoc priority for placing safety gear at various points during a climb when the risk of injury from a fall varied. Analyses determined that, for expert and non-expert rock climbers, gear placement priority rose as time since the most recent gear placement increased, after controlling for climbing speed. Prediction of the attentional value of a target via dynamic estimates may be applied in other highly dynamic environments.
A Semi-Naturalistic Grocery List Recall Task as a Working Memory Distractor
Authors: Louie Jennifer F. , Mouloua Mustapha
Published: September 2018

The present study evaluates the usefulness of a semi-naturalistic task as a working memory distractor. Previous studies not finding a relationship between working memory and distraction may not have used a distractor which loaded onto working memory. To address these limitations, we created a semi-naturalistic distractor meeting Kane et al.’s (2007) domain-general criteria of working memory where the primary task tapped into executive attention and the secondary task tapped into memory storage. Finally, participants completed two driving scenarios: one while engaging in the distractor task, and one while not engaging in any distraction, to evaluate the distractor’s effects on driving performance. Theoretical and practical implications on driver safety are discussed.
Developing Video or Multimedia Instructions for Older Adults
Authors: Pryor Makenzie , McLaughlin Anne Collins
Published: September 2018

Providing adequate instructions is important to ensuring users can complete a desired task, especially when the task is novel. Multimedia instructions, which can include text and pictures, or videos rather than only text, allows for the development of more supportive and useful instructions. However, task features and demands should be considered with the capabilities and limitations of the user to create optimal instructions. This paper identifies the tasks and instruction combinations in existing literature most beneficial for older adults, situates the results of these studies in the cognitive aging literature, and presents recommendations for future instruction development.
A Mobile Application for Collecting Task Time Data for Value Stream Mapping of the Final 50 Feet of Urban Goods Delivery Processes
Authors: Kim Haena , Boyle Ling Ng , Goodchild Anne
Published: September 2018

Delivery options have become very diverse with online shoppers demanding faster delivery options (e.g, 2-day delivery, same day delivery options) and more personalized services. For this reason, transportation planners, retailers, and delivery companies are seeking ways to better understand how best to deliver goods and services in urban areas while minimizing disruption to traffic, parking, and building operations. This includes understanding vertical and horizontal goods movements within urban areas. The goal of this project is to capture the delivery processes within urban buildings in order to minimize these disruptions. This is achieved using a systems approach to understanding the flow of activities and workers as they deliver goods within urban buildings. A mobile application was designed to collect the start and stop times for each task within the delivery process for 31 carriers as they deliver goods within a 62-story office building. The process flow map helped identify bottlenecks and areas for improvements in the final segment of the delivery operations. It also highlighted consistent tasks conducted by all carriers as well as differences with given carrier type. This information is useful to help decision-makers plan appropriately for the design of future cities that encompass a variety of delivery processes.
The National Academies Board on Human System Integration Panel: Integrating Social and Behavioral Sciences Within the Weather Enterprise
Authors: Warden Toby , Bass Ellen J. , Kalsher Michael J. , Ling Chen , O’Brien Marita
Published: September 2018

The National Academies Board on Human-Systems Integration (BOHSI) has organized this session. An initial presentation by the Staff Director and the Chair of BOHSI will provide an overview of the Academies and BOHSI. Then the panel chair will present the findings of the 2017 National Academies consensus study entitled “Integrating Social and Behavioral Sciences Within the Weather Enterprise”, a collaborative effort overseen by the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate and the Board on Human-Systems Integration. The presentation will include discussion of the critical need for integrating social and behavioral sciences into the weather enterprise. It will also include a summary of relevant research, private sector activities, current research to operations progress, data collection activities, funding support and barriers to progress. It will summarize research gaps and present a framework to sustainably use social and behavioral science research in the weather enterprise. Panelists will address issues related to future opportunities for human factors researchers and practitioners and will engage the audience in a discussion of these issues.
Characterizing Driver Trust in Vehicle Control Algorithm Parameters
Authors: Domeyer Joshua , Venkatraman Vindhya , Price Morgan , Lee John D
Published: September 2018

Human factors research in vehicle automation has focused on user interfaces such as performance feedback through visual and auditory displays (Blanco et al., 2015). Another approach is to use vehicle dynamics and vibrations as communicative tools for guiding attention (e.g., Morando, Victor, & Dozza, 2016; Walker, Stanton, & Young, 2006; Wiese & Lee, 2007). In our previous study (Price, Venkatraman, Gibson, Lee, & Mutlu, 2016), we showed that the steering wheel deadband, or lateral movement of the vehicle while maintaining lane position, was negatively associated with trust—more lateral movement led to less trust in the algorithm. The present study extends these findings by using Bayesian statistical methods with new control algorithm data. Although the inclusion of additional algorithm characteristics did not improve the trust model, the use of Bayesian statistical methods provides a useful tool to incorporate prior knowledge into an analysis.
Peripheral Monitoring of Traffic in Conditionally Automated Driving
Authors: Radlmayr Jonas , Brüch Karin , Schmidt Kathrin , Solbeck Christine , Wehner Tristan
Published: September 2018

Conditionally automated vehicles (level 3) allow drivers to engage in visual, non-driving related tasks (NDRTs) while the automation is active. System limits require drivers to reengage in the dynamic driving task in take-over situations. If the NDRT is visually engaging, situation awareness (SA) necessary for a successful take-over can decrease. This study analyzed, if the SA of drivers increases while monitoring the surrounding traffic peripherally. A semi-transparent balloon game in the head-up display operationalized the engagement into a visual NDRT with the possibility of peripheral monitoring. In addition, participants without the possibility of monitoring due to simulated heavy fog (second group) were tested along with a third group that could monitor surroundings self-determined without a NDRT. The between-subject design included 57 participants. Results showed that self-determined monitoring leads to higher situation awareness compared to peripheral monitoring and no monitoring. This did not result in better take-over performances.
Evaluation of a Motion Seat System for Reduction of a Driver’s Passive Task-Related (TR) Fatigue
Authors: Lee Seunghoon , Kim Minjae , Choi Sunwoo , You Heecheon
Published: September 2018

A passive task-related (TR) fatigue that occurs monotonous driving environment can degrade driver's alertness and performance, thereby impairing driving safety. This study evaluated the driver's passive TR fatigue reduction effect of the motion seat system in terms of driving performance, physiological response, and subjective fatigue. 17 Korean drivers (6 females and 11 males) measured the driving performance (standard deviation of lane position, SDLP; break reaction time, BRT), percentage of eye closure (PERCLOS), and standard deviation of NN interval (SDNN) of the ECG during simulated driving for 90 minutes on a monotonous highway. The evaluation of the driving consisted of the first half (45 min) and the second half (45 min), while static seat condition in the first half and seat motion (bow, wave motion profile) condition in the second half. During static seat condition driving, SDLP, BRT, and PERCLOS were significantly higher (α = .05) in the second half compared with first half by 6.0 cm, 92.8 msec and 1.3%, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between first half and second half under motion seat conditions. In addition, subjective passive mental fatigue was observed to be 1.2 times lower during motion seat conditions than static seat condition ( p < 0.01). The results of this study indicated that motion seat system have some effect on the driver’s passive TR fatigue reduction. Our findings may not extend to on road driving condition because we tested only simulation driving condition. Therefore, effect of motion seat system on driver’s passive TR fatigue need to be evaluated in future studies under real road condition.
Understanding Why Railroad Yard Crews Run Through Misaligned Switches Through the Lens of Sociotechnical Systems
Authors: Roth Emilie M. , Multer Jordan , France Megan , Safar Hadar , Grice Rachel
Published: September 2018

We conducted a study to examine the factors that contribute to run through switches (RTS) in passenger rail yard operations. RTS occur when a train runs through a misaligned switch. It can result in damage to the switch that, if not detected and repaired, can increase the risk of derailment of a subsequent train coming in the opposite direction. The study was conducted at one passenger railroad and included interviews and focus groups with employees at different levels in the organization, as well as observations of yard operations. A sociotechnical systems perspective was used to identify physical infrastructure, individual, team and organizational contributors to RTS. This included performing a Systems Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) to identify how interacting factors can lead to RTS. This paper provides a summary of the main results. It illustrates the value of adopting a sociotechnical lens when investigating safety incidents that involve human performance.
Texting While Walking Induces Gait Pattern Alterations in Healthy Older Adults
Authors: Pau Massimiliano , Porta Micaela , Pilloni Giuseppina , Corona Federica , Fastame Maria Chiara , Hitchcott Paul Kenneth , Penna Maria Pietronilla
Published: September 2018

The use of a mobile phone for texting purposes results in distracted walking which may lead to injuries. In particular, texting while walking has been shown to induce significant alterations in gait patterns. This study aimed to assess whether changes in the main spatio-temporal parameters of gait when simultaneously engaged in texting on a smartphone and walking are different in older adults relative to young and middle- aged individuals. A total of 57 participants divided in three groups (19 older adults aged over 65, 19 young aged 20-40 and 19 middle-aged aged 41-64) were tested in two conditions: walking, and walking while texting on a smartphone. Spatio-temporal parameters of gait were assessed using a wearable accelerometer located on the lower back. The results show that texting induced similar reduction of gait speed, stride length and cadence in all groups. Slight (although significant) alterations of stance, swing and double support phases duration were found only for middle-aged participants. Such findings suggest that modifications of gait patterns due to texting seem unaffected by age, probably due to different perceptions of the cognitive complexity of the task and differential prioritization of its motor and cognitive aspects.
Effect of Response Method on Driver Responses to Auditory Warnings in Simulated Semi-autonomous Driving
Authors: Mishler Scott , Chen Jing
Published: September 2018

We examined how drivers’ response to automation warnings could improve driver performance by testing the traditional direct-response method against a new indirect-response method. A direct response, for which drivers manually take over control of the car after hearing the warning and seeing the scenario, was compared to an indirect response, for which drivers press a “yes” or “no” button to assist the automation in making a correct choice. Results showed no reaction time (RT) difference between the response methods, but accuracy was better for the direct response. Subtracting the action-execution time from RT showed that the indirect response took longer to mentally process, explaining why the indirect method was not faster and pointing to a potential source of increased errors. Buttons presses in the indirect method could eventually be faster, but better ways to convey the warning to the user and improve the human-machine interface are needed in future research.
The Effect of Cognitive-Based Training on Young Drivers’ Speed Management Behavior: An On-Road Study
Authors: Molloy Oleksandra , Molesworth Brett , Williamson Ann
Published: September 2018

The aim of the present study was to examine the utility of two cognitive-based training methods, namely self-explanation and feedback (i.e., combined and auditory alert) on young novice drivers’ speed management behavior. Seventy-five young drivers, randomly allocated to five groups, completed three on-road drives in an instrumented vehicle. Four groups received training (e.g., combined feedback, auditory alert feedback, self-explanation, and self-explanation with combined feedback). The fifth group received no training, hence was the control. The results showed that combined feedback was the most successful in reducing the maximum speed travelled in the two speed zones under examination – 50km/h and 80km/h. These effects were present immediately following training as well as one week later. Surprisingly, the auditory alert feedback provided from technology tested in the present research, in some cases adversely affected young drivers’ speed management behavior. These findings have important implications for the development of a new approach to improve young drivers’ speed management behavior.
Effects of Image Segmentation and Target Number on Visual Search: An Eye-Tracking Study
Authors: Liu Kaifeng , Ka-lun Or Calvin
Published: September 2018

This is an eye-tracking study examining the effects of image segmentation and target number on visual search performance. A two-way repeated-measures computer-based visual search test was used for data collection. Thirty students participated in the test, in which they were asked to search for all of the Landolt Cs in 80 arrays of closed rings. The dependent variables were search time, accuracy, fixation count, and average fixation duration. Our principal findings were that some of the segmentation methods significantly improved accuracy, and reduced search time, fixation count, and average fixation duration, compared with the no-segmentation condition. Increased target number was found to be associated with longer search time, lower accuracy, more fixations, and longer average fixation duration. Our study indicates that although visual search tasks with multiple targets are relatively difficult, the visual search accuracy and efficiency can potentially be improved with the aid of image segmentation.
Biomechanical Testing of an Upper-Extremity Occupational Exoskeleton - Preliminary Report on Methodologies and Pilot Data
Authors: Kudernatsch Simon , Peterson Donald R.
Published: September 2018

Current and rapidly emerging occupational exoskeleton and exosuit technologies target increases in worker performance and safety through reductions of potentially harmful biomechanical exposures. While long-term effectiveness of these technologies cannot be readily evaluated, short-term effectiveness could be; however, the development of standardized assessment methods for exoskeleton and exosuit performance lags behind. In this study, three generalized methods to assess the performance characteristics of active and passive exoskeleton modes, including kinematic compliance, are introduced. The methods consisted of an isometric pull test, an isometric hold test, and an anatomical functional range of motion (FRM) test. Pilot data was captured from one subject wearing a low-cost actively and passively controlled occupational exoskeleton prototype called Robotic Exoskeleton for Upper Extremity Strength Augmentation (REUESA). Comparison of data between assessment measurements taken with and without the use of the REUESA system showed reductions in surface electromyographic (sEMG) muscle activity levels and reductions in FRMs. The experimental assessment methodology introduced in this paper may provide a platform for the ongoing development and improvement of standardized assessment methods for exoskeleton and exosuits, especially within the efforts of ASTM International Standards Committee F48.
Development of a Measure of Physical Discomfort for Combat Helmets Worn by Dismounted Soldiers
Authors: Davis Sheena E. , Milanese Steve F. , Furnell Alistair , Grimmer Karen A.
Published: September 2018

Physical comfort is a key ergonomic consideration when evaluating combat helmets because discomfort, which can exhibit as pressure spots, headaches, and migraines, can lead to distraction and have a detrimental effect on operational performance. Debate exists as to whether comfort and discomfort are two separate states or whether they are two points on the same scale. The aim of this study was to identify which distinction was relevant for the assessment of a combat helmet and to use this as a basis for selecting an outcome measure from a wide group of measures reported in literature. However, no existing measure was deemed suitable by users (dismounted soldiers) and a new outcome measure for the assessment of physical discomfort of combat helmets was developed with the users.
Discussion Panel: Motion Sickness in Virtual Environments
Authors: Muth Eric , Keshavarz Behrang , Smart L. James , So Richard , Beadle Sarah
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this panel is to provide information on motion sickness in virtual environments and discuss human factors issues associated with visually induced motion sickness. With the continued growth of virtual reality devices comes challenges, one of which is the pervasiveness of motion sickness. A panel of experts on motion sickness will join to discuss how they incite and study sickness in their research, providing lessons on how it can impact other research topics and be avoided in future studies. Panelists use methods such as postural sway, psychophysiological measures, and subjective measures to study different aspects of motion sickness. Technology used by these experts ranges from rotating chairs to high fidelity driving simulators. This panel is oriented for those with simulators who want to know what interventions they can employ to alleviate sickness in their research, those who create virtual environments, and those who use virtual reality devices in their research. Considerations for the design of virtual and augmented reality devices and content will be discussed.
The Reality of Virtual Reality: A Comparison of Pedestrian Behavior in Real and Virtual Environments
Authors: Bhagavathula Rajaram , Williams Brian , Owens Justin , Gibbons Ronald
Published: September 2018

Virtual reality (VR) can be a very effective tool to evaluate built environment to support improvement of pedestrian and other vulnerable road user safety. However, in order to draw actionable conclusions from VR it is important to understand the degree to which pedestrians’ perceptions and behaviors match across real and virtual environments. In this study, participants experienced equivalent real and virtual environments and performed similar tasks in each. Tasks included pedestrian’ intention to cross, estimation of speed and distance of an approaching vehicle, and the perceived safety and risk of crossing a road. Pedestrians’ presence was also measured in all environments. Result showed that there were no differences between the real and virtual environments for most of the tasks. Significant differences between real and virtual environments were observed in the estimation of speed and measures of presence. These results have important implications for using VR as tool to evaluate pedestrian safety in built environments.
Effect of levels of immersion on performance and presence in virtual occupational tasks
Authors: Rose Tyler , Chen* Karen B.
Published: September 2018

Occupational training has seen a shift towards newer, more immersive and interactive instruction delivery methods, including virtual reality. Much of this research, however, has not fully examined immersion and presence as primary characteristic that could influence training outcomes. Additionally, a variety of objective measures as indicators of presence virtual environments have received recent, yet limited research attention. This pilot study examined human performance and presence in virtual reality by monitoring cardiac activity during a simple occupational training task at varying levels of immersion. Physiologic response, via heart rate, and task performance did not see a statistically significant response to immersion in a simple occupational assembly task. Findings suggested that the level of immersion did not affect task performance in terms of accuracy. It is possible that simulations of simple occupational tasks for training task accuracy do not require high levels of immersion. Subjective presence response was marginally affected by immersion, and it exhibited a statistically significant correlation to heart rate. It is possible that certain types of physiological measures are more appropriate objective indicators of presence in different simulation contexts.