bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of VR-based Immersive High-altitude Scene in Inducing Stress Response
Authors: Liu Juan , Zhang Yulin , Wang Zhubin , Zhao Guozhen
Published: November 2019

Cognitive impairment under stress is a topic of concern in the field of human factors. Compared to traditional stress-inducing paradigms, the current study aimed to establish a repeatable and easy-to-operate stress-inducing paradigm and verify its effectiveness in inducing an individual’s stress response. A VR-based immersive high-altitude scene and a corresponding simulated long prop was created and three stress-inducing tasks (“experiencing the high-altitude”, “rescuing the cat”, and “avoiding flying birds”) were designed. A cognitive task (n-back) was nested into the VR scene as well to assess the effects of stress on the cognitive performance. Participants were asked to accomplish the three stress-inducing tasks on the long board and the same n-back task before and after the stress. Both reported stress level and salivary cortisol level were collected. Results showed that the current VR-based immersive high-altitude scene was able to induce an individual’s stress response according to both subjective and objective indices, which could reach the similar level as that of the previous VR-based Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) paradigm.
Developers’ Behavioral Characteristic and Its Impact On Performance: A Case Study Of Iot Development Product Design
Authors: Park Jongsoon , Kuhns David
Published: November 2019

The IoT industry is facing a significant demand to provide more efficient paths for developer communities. At the same time, products are often developed without consideration of usability or are limited to general usability heuristics. Moreover, there is not much research on developers’ behavioral characteristics and its impact on human performance. This paper attempts to show how understanding their skill-, rule-, and knowledge-based behaviors can benefit developer experience and performance efficiency. This study references recent developer products to highlight 1) characteristics of developer behavior and 2) key system design considerations that help improve developer performance. We also discuss gaps identified in industry practices and the opportunities towards more consideration of the cognitive aspects in developer product design processes.
Lessons learned from conducting Alzheimer’s disease caregiver mHealth app training and focus group sessions
Authors: Brown Janetta , Kim Hyung Nam
Published: November 2019

This paper describes the challenges and lessons learned from conducting mobile health application (mHealth app) training and focus group sessions for Alzheimer’s disease caregivers. We review the process behind planning, recruitment, and conducting the training and focus group sessions. Insights presented were gained from preparation for the study, participant discussion, participant user experience with the mHealth apps, and the authors’ observations during both sessions. We found that proper preparation for conducting training and focus group sessions goes far beyond literature reviews and pilot testing. Establishing relationships and preliminary volunteerism with potential support group programs can enrich the experience of the researchers and participants involved in the investigation. The impartation of knowledge is reciprocal, but in this case, mutual trust and respect for the adult learning process were the deciding factors behind the authors’ success.
Effects of Visual Complexity Levels and Information Decluttering Methods for Cockpit Displays on Human Search Performance
Authors: Kim Sung Ho , Lee Ji Hwan , Park Donggun , Lee Yushin , Yun Myung Hwan
Published: November 2019

Clutter problem of modern cockpit displays can occur frequently due to a large amount of information. So, decluttering less important information is required to minimize search time to find target information and prevent human error in interpreting display information. This study is to compare human search performance by visual complexity levels and decluttering methods of cockpit displays. Visual complexity of cockpit displays was designed to be three levels (High, medium, and low) by combining four design variables (number of stimuli, number of colors, number of icons, and variance of divisions) affecting visual complexity. A threat scoring equation was developed to determine what information to be decluttered and four decluttering methods (removal, dimming, dotting, and small sizing) were used to figure out how to declutter the information effectively. Human search performance was measured through search time of visual search task in terms of speed and number of hits of signal detection task in terms of accuracy. The main effect of visual complexity levels and the interaction effect were not significant in both search time and number of hits. Meanwhile, the main effect of decluttering methods was significant in search time. Especially, dotting was the most effective decluttering method in terms of speed and accuracy of human perception performance. The results of this study can be applied to information processing of cockpit displays and then contribute to improve pilot situation awareness.
Sex-related Differences in Spatial Ability and Signal Detection Task Performance
Authors: Bendell Rhyse , Jentsch Florian
Published: November 2019

Sex-related differences in spatial ability have regularly shown a slight performance advantage among males on standard tests; however, the impact of these differences in real-world tasks that may depend on spatial ability has rarely been investigated. We conducted an experiment to evaluate the relationship between sex-related differences in spatial ability as quantified by two measures (Thurstone’s Mental Rotation test and the Spatial Reasoning Instrument), and performance in a conventional signal detection task. Mixed results showed some support for slightly improved male spatial ability. We then conducted a follow-up experiment to investigate sex-related differences in spatial ability and with respect to performance in a continuous signal detection task. Slight male advantages in performance of the spatial ability measures emerged, and also in the continuous signal detection task, but not for the conventional signal detection task.
Subjective Measurement of Trust: Is It on the Level?
Authors: Wei Jiajun , Bolton Matthew L. , Humphrey Laura
Published: November 2019

Psychometrics are increasingly being used to evaluate trust in the automation of safety-critical systems. There is no consensus on what the highest level of measurement is for psychometric trust. This is important as the level of measurement determines what mathematics and statistics can be meaningfully applied to ratings. In this work, we introduce a new method for determining what the maximum level of measurement is for psychometric ratings. We use this to assess the level of measurement of trust in automation using human ratings about the behavior of unmanned aerial systems performing search tasks. Results show that trust is best represented at an ordinal level and that it can be treated as interval in most situations. It is unlikely that trust in automation ratings are ratio. We discuss these results, their implications, and future research.
Control and automation systems onboard the vessel: Lessons in human-centered design learned from 20 years of marine occurrences in Canada
Authors: Gauthier Michelle , Kruithof Gerard , Narlis Christina , Jolliffe Wendy A. M.
Published: November 2019

Vessel control and automation systems that are not designed according to human-centered design (HCD) and coding principles risk being used inappropriately or incorrectly by vessel crews or pilots. As integrated bridge and automated control systems become more common, it becomes even more important to design human-machine interfaces (HMI) that allow for effective operation and control, while providing concise feedback to aid the operator in the decision-making process. This research examined the influence of HMI design issues on the safe and effective control of vessels 150 gross tonnage or greater through a review of Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigated marine reportable occurrences that resulted in a published TSB report. Between 1998 and 2018, 31 (16%) of 192 such TSB investigations identified one or more HMI issue as a contributing or risk factor in a marine accident. Some of the HMI issues included: non-intuitive and complex navigation system design, non-standardized controls (steering, power, propulsion, abort mechanism) and poor system feedback. Despite the availability of marine guidance on Human Factors (HF) principles from well-reputed organizations like the major classification societies and the ISO (International Organization for Standardization), the current findings demonstrate that HCD methods are not always well-understood or consistently applied to the design and modernizations of vessels. A larger effort, such as a HF in design program, is required to promote the application and understanding of HCD principles in marine system design and operations to help improve safety while reducing the potential for use error.
Graphical Authentication Passcode Memorability: Context, Length, and Number
Authors: Cain Ashley A. , Still Jeremiah D.
Published: November 2019

Authentication verifies users’ identities to protect against costly attacks. Graphical authentication schemes utilize pictures as passcodes rather than strings of characters, numbers, and symbols. Pictures are more memorable than alphanumeric passwords. Two studies investigated the memorability of graphical passcodes when users need to remember multiple passcodes or longer passcodes. Longer passcodes provide advantages to security by protecting against brute force attacks, and multiple passcodes need to be investigated as users need to authenticate for numerous accounts. It was found that participants have strong item retention for passcodes of up to eight images and for up to eight accounts. Also, these studies examined whether context can facilitate memorability. The impact of context was not found as assumed in the literature. Overall, memorability was still higher for all the number and length passcode conditions compared with alphanumeric passwords. These studies take steps toward understanding the readiness of graphical schemes as an authentication option.
Accident analysis in practice: A review of Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) applications in the peer reviewed academic literature
Authors: Hulme Adam , Stanton Neville A. , Walker Guy H. , Waterson Patrick , Salmon Paul M.
Published: November 2019

The Human Factors Analysis & Classification System (HFACS) is arguably the most popular accident analysis method within Human Factors and Ergonomics. This literature review examines and reports on peer reviewed studies that have applied HFACS to analyse and understand the cause of accidents in a diverse set of domains. Four databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science) were searched for articles published up to the date 31 July 2018. A total of 43 HFACS studies were included. The most popular accident contexts were aviation, maritime, and rail. A greater number of contributory factors were found at the lower end of the sociotechnical systems analyzed, including the human operator and operating environment levels. Notably, more than 60% of the studies used HFACS in a modified form to analyse how a network of interacting latent and active factors contributed to the occurrence of an accident.
Influence of Flooring on Lower Extremity Blood Oxygenation and Volume during Prolonged Standing
Authors: Wiltman Stephanie A. , Pechtl Kenneth S. , Huppert Theodore J. , Chambers April J.
Published: November 2019

Prolonged standing is an occupational hazard that may evoke many cardiovascular problems. This study investigates the effects of anti-fatigue mats on hemoglobin levels—related to blood pooling—in the lower extremities during prolonged standing. Fifteen subjects (6 M, 9 F; Age = 26 ± 3 years; BMI = 23.2 ± 2.5 kg/m2) stood for one hour on a hard floor and anti-fatigue mat. Oxygenated (HbO), deoxygenated (HbR), and total (HbT) hemoglobin levels were measured for the soleus muscle using near infrared spectroscopy. A mixed-effects model was performed indicating that time, flooring, and their interaction effect were significantly associated with levels of HbO (time, p<0.0001; floor, p=0.0056; interaction, p=0.0033), HbR (time, p<0.0001), and HbT (time, p<0.0001; floor, p=0.0060; interaction, p=0.0062). Results indicate that hemoglobin levels change with time, and flooring has an effect. Blood pooling seems to be the mechanism. Anti-fatigue mats may have a positive effect on cardiovascular outcomes.
Are Cyber Attackers Thinking Fast and Slow? Exploratory Analysis Reveals Evidence of Decision-Making Biases in Red Teamers
Authors: Gutzwiller Robert S. , Ferguson-Walter Kimberly J. , Fugate Sunny J.
Published: November 2019

We report on whether cyber attacker behaviors contain decision making biases. Data from a prior experiment were analyzed in an exploratory fashion, making use of think-aloud responses from a small group of red teamers. The analysis provided new observational evidence of traditional decision-making biases in red team behaviors (confirmation bias, anchoring, and take-the-best heuristic use). These biases may disrupt red team decisions and goals, and simultaneously increase their risk of detection. Interestingly, at least part of the bias induction may be related to the use of cyber deception. Future directions include the development of behavioral measurement techniques for these and additional cognitive biases in cyber operators, examining the role of attacker traits, and identifying the conditions where biases can be induced successfully in experimental conditions.
Holding on Tight: Relationship Between Grip Strength and Marksmanship Stability
Authors: Christopher John J. , Schindler Jessica , Villa Jose , Hussey Erika , Ramsay John , Brown Stephanie A. T.
Published: November 2019

Evaluating marksmanship performance is crucial for Warfighters and competitive shooters alike. Traditionally, only accuracy or hit/miss has been used as the quantitative metric to report performance. In this study, grip strength from U.S. Army Soldiers is compared to marksmanship stability metrics recorded after a field training mission. The data analysis revealed that there is a relationship between grip strength and stability, especially in the less stable standing position. The horizontal and vertical stability measures, as well as trigger control offer new insights into weapon control during target acquisition and trigger pull. These metrics, combined with accuracy and precision, offer a more robust evaluation of a shooter’s performance. Correlating these metrics to grip strength shows a relationship between a shooter’s strength and performance, and can lead to targeted training for better performance. Future studies should continue to use stability metrics when defining performance, as well as investigate additional strength metrics.
The Design of Experiments in Occupational Ergonomics Research: Issues and Challenges
Authors: Fox Bob , Mines Dan , Cort Joel , Jones Monica , Lu Ming-Lun , Potvin Jim , Rempel David
Published: November 2019

As with all scientific disciplines involving research (laboratory or field), the design of an experiment, and the statistical methods used, are critical factors in research rigor, thus in our ability to compare, evaluate and communicate research findings. Courses in experimental design and statistics are required for the pursuit of advanced training in ergonomics. Across various scientific fields, there has been renewed interest in, and scrutiny of, statistical methods in establishing the validity and “truthfulness” of data, opinions, interpretations and projections of outcomes. Ergonomics researchers use distinct research methods (e.g., laboratory vs field; cross-sectional v. experimental, etc.) and must contend with a variety of constraints based on resources, availability of participants and access to the workplace. The variety of study designs chosen will challenge researchers as well as practitioners when comparing their results across published studies and attempting to generalize findings to new settings.

This discussion panel will explore several the questions and issues related to research design and draw on specific studies from the literature. Topics and discussion will include study design (laboratory v field); different forms of experimental design (RCT v opportunistic); sample size and heterogeneity; non-parametric methods and differences in outcome measures and study durations. Following the presentations, ample time will be set aside for discussions of key issues with the panelists and audience. This session is relevant for the practitioners who must understand, interpret and apply the results of research to real-world problems.
HFES Goes to Washington
Authors: Endsley Mica , Saab Nick , Cao Caroline , Handley Holly , Harris-Adamson Carisa
Published: November 2019

Learn how HFES members can get involved in advocating for the science of human factors and ergonomics (HF/E). This panel will present an overview of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society’s activities in working to promote the science of HF/E in Congress and across government agencies. The activities of the Government Relations Committee will be discussed, to include outreach to Congress and responses to pending legislation, as well as the development of policy statements on Human Systems Integration, Airline Seating, and Autonomous Vehicles.

Nicholas Saab will provide a discussion of the many activities Lewis-Burke Associates engages in on behalf of HFES. As our government relations experts, Lewis-Burke tracks relevant legislation, and activities and opportunities for HF/E involvement in supporting government operations across its many agencies. They help represent the society on the ground in DC and provide inputs on our behalf across a wide range of topics.

New to HFES, the Science Policy Fellows program was established in 2018 to provide a valuable opportunity for members to learn how to navigate the federal policy process and successfully advocate for human factors and ergonomics on the national stage. They receive extensive training in public affairs, advocacy, and outreach, and represent HFES in an annual Capitol Hill day in Washington, DC. In addition to working with the Government Relations Committee, the Science Policy Fellows are each developing a tailored outreach program to include continued participation in Capitol Hill Day and interactions with policy makers in DC, supporting the Society’s policy objectives at the local and/or state level, serving on the GRC or a subcommittee, or other activities developed by each participant. Our 2018 Science Policy Fellows, Caroline Cao, Holly Handley and Carisa Harris-Adamson, will each present on their experiences and activities.

This special session provides an opportunity for HFES members to learn more about how the society is representing and supporting our profession in Washington, and about how they can get involved in promoting human factors and ergonomics at the local, state or national level.
National Occupational Research Agenda for Musculoskeletal Health
Authors: Lu Ming-Lun , Rempel David M. , Marras William S. , Fox Robert R. , Babski-Reeves Kari , McGowan Blake , Meyers Alysha R. , Gallagher Sean
Published: November 2019

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a common health problem in many industries. National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) is a research framework for the nation and for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The process for developing the 2016-2026 NORA for the Prevention of WMSDs is presented along with the identified five critical areas of research: (1) defining the incidence and impact of MSDs; (2) understanding the risk factors for WMSDs; (3) describing the underlying mechanism of MSDs; (4) developing and evaluating interventions to prevent MSDs and limit disability due to MSDs; and (5) disseminating and implementing interventions to prevent WMSDs and limit disability. The research agenda is being promoted by the NORA Musculoskeletal Health Council which is comprised of 32 volunteer members from universities, businesses, professional societies, worker organizations and government agencies. Stakeholders for the prevention of WMSDs are encouraged to collaborate with the NORA Musculoskeletal Health Council on addressing the research agenda.
The 3-minute Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) Embedded in a Wrist-worn Device: Time of Day Effects
Authors: Matsangas Panagiotis , Shattuck Nita Lewis , Mortimore Katherine , Paghasian Christopher , Greene Frances
Published: November 2019

The study assesses the utility of the 3-minute version of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) embedded in a wrist-worn device (interstimulus interval – ISI =1 - 4 seconds) to detect changes in performance between a morning and an afternoon data collection session. The experiment utilized a randomized, within-subject, repeated-measures design with two factors, device type (wrist-worn PVT, laptop PVT, Go/No-Go task) and time of day (morning, afternoon). Results showed that performance in both the wrist-worn 3-minute PVT (ISI = 1 – 4 seconds) and the 5-minute Go/No-Go task (180 trials, 80% Go/20% No Go; ISI = 0.5 – 1.0 seconds) differed between the morning and the afternoon sessions but not the laptop-based PVT. We discuss these findings under the light of the differences in task characteristics between the wrist-worn and the laptop PVT
Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Agenda for Advancing Intelligence Analysis
Authors: Bhatt Sujeeta , Wanchisen Barbara , Cooke Nancy , Carley Kathleen , Medina Carmen
Published: November 2019

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) conducted a decadal survey (anticipated report release date is 5 March 2019) to explore and identify promising research opportunities in the social and behavioral sciences (SBS) for applications to national security. The report also provides guidance for the development of a 10-year research agenda and identifies key opportunities for SBS research to strengthen intelligence analysis. Although often used as a research roadmap in the space sciences, the use of the decadal process to survey SBS research and to support research planning in the Intelligence Community (IC) is unprecedented. The decadal survey — the first conducted in this context -- highlights ways to promote interdisciplinary collaboration so that the insights and ideas of SBS researchers are fully integrated with the needs and objectives of the IC.
Optical and inertial motion capture joint angle comparison using Jack™
Authors: Sfalcin Bianca , Ji Xiaoxu , Gouw Adrian de , Potvin Jim , Cort Joel
Published: November 2019

Current digital ergonomic simulation processes utilize a single posture within a workstation to evaluate the risk of injury, however there is a desire from the manufacturing industry to move towards full dynamic human ergonomic simulations. These dynamic simulations would benefit ergonomists and engineers by allowing for evaluation of tasks completed within an entire workstation. However, dynamic simulations require a great time commitment, on behalf of the user, to complete. Motion capture technology can be used to reduce the users time; however, the gold standard optical-based technology is limited to laboratory-based examinations. Inertial-based capture technologies might be a solution as it would allow for direct capture of the workers within the manufacturing environment, however this technology needs to be assessed for accuracy. Twenty participants completed four multi-task events simulating real work, in a laboratory, while instrumented with inertial and optical based motion capture systems. The collected kinematic data was used to drive the motions of a digital Jack™ manikin within its digital environment, and comparisons between joint angles produced from the software were conducted between the optical system and two inertial systems. Results indicate significant joint angle error relative between the optical system and the inertial systems, however, one of the systems showed less error than the other. These errors can impact overall accuracy and representation of work within a human modeling environment.
Measuring Rotary-Wing Aviator Workload Within Four Workload Domains
Authors: Feltman Kathryn A. , Bernhardt Kyle A. , Kelley Amanda M.
Published: November 2019

Rotary-wing aviators’ complete unique flight tasks compared to their fixed-wing counterparts. These tasks likely translate into experiences of workload that differ as well. However, the workload experienced by rotary-wing aviators, particularly in the context of military operational scenarios, is less documented in the literature, particularly in terms of overall flight operations rather than maneuvers specific to an operation, such as medical evacuations.
Analog and Digital Clock Refresher Training for Improvement in Identifying Aviation Traffic
Authors: Dattel Andrew R. , Henry Andrew , D’Souza Godfrey , Zhang Tianxin , Perini Rebecca L. , Tagoe Beathia , Song Ji Yeon , Babin Andrew K. , Lim Bee-Ling
Published: November 2019

Air traffic controllers frequently point out other airplanes using a clock analogy (e.g., “Traffic 10 o’clock,”). This study explored the extent to which young pilots, who grew up in the digital age, understand an analog clock metaphor. Fourteen pilots were randomly assigned to either an analog clock or a digital clock refresher training group. Participants flew a 15-minute flight scenario pretest. During the pretest, participants heard prerecorded announcements of potential traffic factors. After the pretest, the analog group viewed 100 slides of analog clocks and the digital group viewed 100 slides of digital clocks set for various times. Following the refresher training participants flew a posttest that was similar in difficulty to the pretest. No differences in time to identify traffic between the pretest and posttest were found for the analog group. However, participants in the digital group identified flight traffic faster during the posttest when compared to the pretest.
A Wearable Intervention for Laptop Users
Authors: Kim Byungsoo , Liu Hongyang , Joines Sharon
Published: November 2019

The paper aims to investigate the potential impact of a wearable glasses-type intervention regarding the posture and the productivity of laptop users in a standard working environment. Participants performed reading and typing tasks with a laptop with and without wearing the wearable device to compare the results. Posture markers were placed on the participant’s body to measure neck flexion and head tilt. Typing speed was measured in words per minute (WPM). The results of this study indicated that participants’ head tilt and neck flexion angles are significantly different during the reading and typing tasks with the intervention as compared to those without the intervention. While the average typing speed with the intervention was slower than without the intervention, some participant’s typing speeds and interviews support the notion that the participants’ typing speed would have improved if more time was given.
Development of a Decision Support System for Ankle-Foot Orthosis (AFO) Design Based on Lumped Parameter Models for Human Locomotion Prediction
Authors: Fu Qianyi , Armstrong Thomas J. , Shih Albert
Published: November 2019

This work aims to develop a decision support system (DSS) to help orthotic clinicians design AFOs to correct pathological gait patterns that result from various nerve impairments. The DSS utilizes lumped parameter models to predict key joint angles, step length, and swing and stance durations based on anthropometric data, impairment and AFO design. The predicted gait patterns by DSS were in general agreement with data from available literature. In the presented drop foot example, the DSS shows that increasing AFO stiffness would result in increased stride duration on both sides; proper AFO stiffness may result in increased stride length on both sides comparing with stride length for pathological gait without AFO. The DSS can be used by clinicians to suggest proper AFO’s mechanical properties, such as stiffness and range of motion, to help improve abnormal gait patterns resulting from underlying nerve impairments.
Development of a Multi-Layer Systems Engineering Visualization for Diabetes Team Coordination
Authors: Jahn Holbrook Michelle , Caldwell Barrett S.
Published: November 2019

Systems engineering tools have proven helpful for healthcare organizations to map sociotechnical systems, particularly prior to health IT implementation. However, these systems engineering tools are limited in that they cannot easily capture the complexities of chronic care activities. The purpose of this work is to introduce Diabetes care Roles, Information Flows and Team coordination (DRIFT), a tool and visualization framework that addresses system granularity, temporal dynamics, and sociotechnical factors within a chronic care context. Task analyses, process mapping, and information flow attributes from (N=30) semi-structured interviews of diabetes care team members were synthesized in the creation of DRIFT, including recommendations for incorporation into clinical care team coordination tasks.
Compound manual material handling tasks: Does a worst-case analysis of sub-tasks lead to underestimation of risk?
Authors: Albin Thomas J.
Published: November 2019

Many MMH tasks are composites of multiple sub-tasks: lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling. Many current methodologies of evaluating risk in MMH tasks provide an estimate of the percent of workers capable of each sub-task independently, but do not directly evaluate synergistic effects of all sub-tasks on risk of injury. Additionally, no risk evaluation methodologies evaluate risk from braking. These limitations may lead to underestimates of the risk of injury in composite MMH tasks.
What are steering pictures are worth? Using image-based steering features to detect drowsiness on rural roads
Authors: Mutya Kartik , Shah Jayesh , McDonald Anthony D. , Jefferson Jaycelyn
Published: November 2019

Drowsy driving is a persistent and significant problem on today’s roadways. Mitigation technologies may help resolve the problem, but their success depends on effective detection algorithms. Steering-based algorithms are a promising direction for such effective algorithms because of their low cost and ease of implementation. However, steering-based approaches are often limited by high false positive detection rates. The goal of this study was to assess if image-based steering features and convolutional neural networks can reduce these high false positive rates. The analysis investigated two methods for transforming steering wheel angle data into images, Markov Transition Field and recurrence plots. Area under the ROC curve and false positive rate results suggest that both approaches nominally improve detection performance and reduce false positives relative to a benchmark, with some evidence that recurrence plots have the highest performance.
Utilizing the Generalized Intelligent Framework for Tutoring (GIFT) for Human Factors Education
Authors: Sinatra Anne M. , Goldberg Benjamin , Boyce Michael
Published: November 2019

Human Factors educators teach a variety of different types of classes including in-person, mixed mode, and online. The Generalized Intelligent Framework for Tutoring (GIFT) is a free, open-source domain-independent intelligent tutoring system (ITS) framework that can be leveraged by Human Factors educators for use in their own classes. GIFT includes authoring tools that are easy to use and do not require a background in computer science or ITSs. This demonstration is interactive and shows an overview of the tools and features of GIFT that can be used by Human Factors educators. It also provides context by showing a GIFT course in a Human Factors relevant area, and discusses how GIFT has and can be used in the classroom. As GIFT is open-source and continually being developed, the presenters provide the conference attendees an opportunity to give feedback about useful improvements that could be made to GIFT.
A Preliminary Study Investigating Patients’ Perceptions of Research Consenting Methods
Authors: Wilson Mackenzie Klein , Khasawneh Amro , Ponathil Amal , Narasimha Shraddhaa , Agnisarman Sruthy , Welch Brandon , Madathil Kapil Chalil
Published: November 2019

Teleconsent utilizes telemedicine technology to overcome recruitment challenges facing researchers, allowing them to reach patients who cannot travel to complete consent forms. This technology has been evaluated qualitatively, but not using measures associated with the technology acceptance model (TAM). The study outlined below measured perceived usability for the patients across 3 different consent methods: in-person, eConsent, and teleconsent. A between-subject experimental design used in this study where 10 nursing students acted as providers and 30 participants as patients. The 10 providers collected consent from the 30 patients in each of the three conditions. There were no statistically significant differences in the usability, presence, or workload of the three consent methods. Our results showed that it is practical and effective to use eConsent and teleconsent to collect consent from patients as they perceived them to be just as functional as the in-person consent collection.
The Interplay of Plans and Intentions: A Pledge-Based Intervention to Reduce Participation in a Single Hazardous Event
Authors: Bass Ellen J. , College Polly A. , Bruce Susan
Published: November 2019

With respect to harm reduction health promotion interventions, consideration of prior plans is critical in evaluating behavior change. This study addresses prior plans on participation in a singular binge drinking occurrence where some students attempt to drink a fifth (750 ml) of liquor as an unsanctioned component of an annual university event. A pledge campaign with incentives was implemented to reduce participation. A link to an anonymous survey was emailed after the event. The campaign was effective as 90.8% of pledgers did not participate in the event. However, those with prior plans to participate were less likely to engage in the campaign. The association of plan commitment, pledge status and participation status was significant (female: X2(1)=7.95, p=0.005 and males: X2(1)=39.79, p<0.001). Reducing participation for committed students through a pledge campaign alone appears unlikely to change planned behavior. Future research should examine the role of plans and related factors.
A Human Factors Engineering Education Perspective on Data Science, Machine Learning and Automation
Authors: Hannon Daniel , Rantanen Esa , Sawyer Ben , Ptucha Raymond , Hughes Ashley , Darveau Katherine , Lee John D.
Published: November 2019

The explosion of data science (DS) in all areas of technology coupled with the rapid growth of machine learning (ML) techniques in the last decade create novel applications in automation. Many working with DS techniques rely on the concept of “black boxes” to explain how ML works, noting that algorithms find patterns in the data that humans might not. While the mathematics are still being developed, the implications for the application of ML, specifically to questions of automation, also are being studied, but still remain poorly understood. The decisions made by ML practitioners with respect to data selection, model training and testing, data visualization, and model applications remain relatively unconstrained and have the potential to yield unexpected results at the systems level. Unfortunately, human factors engineers concerned with automation often have limited training and awareness of DS and ML applications and are unable to provide the meaningful guidance that is needed to ensure the future safety of these newly emerging automated systems. Moreover, undergraduate and graduate programs in human factors engineering (HFE) have not kept pace with these developments and future HFEs may continue to find themselves unable to contribute meaningfully to the development of automated systems based on algorithms derived from ML. In this paper, human factors engineers and educators explore some of the challenges to our understanding of automation posed by specific ML techniques and contrast this with an outline of some of the historical work in HFE that has contributed to our understanding of safe and effective automation. Examples are provided from more conventional applications using both supervised and unsupervised learning techniques, that are explored with respect to implications for algorithm performance, use in system automation, and the potential for unintended results. Implications for human factors engineering education are discussed.
Safety Climate in Military Organizations: A Pilot Study of an Adjusted Multi-Domain Instrument
Authors: Schüler M. , Matuszczyk J. Vega
Published: November 2019

The aim of this pilot study is to adjust the NOSACQ-50 to the work environment of military organizations. NOSACQ-50 is a validated tool successfully used in several organizational domains to measure occupational safety climate (OSC). In general, few studies have been published investigating OSC in military organizations. NOSACQ-50 consists of 50 items across 7 OSC dimensions, i.e. group members’ shared perceptions of: 1) management safety priority, commitment and competence; 2) management safety empowerment; 3) management safety justice; 4) workers’ safety commitment; 5) workers’ safety priority and risk non-acceptance; 6) safety communication, learning, and trust in co-workers’ safety competence; 7) workers’ trust in the efficacy of safety systems. To assess the relevance of the NOSACQ-50 items, a revised version of the instrument was sent to 11 military safety experts. In addition, 19 items pertaining to areas not covered by NOSACQ-50 were validated by the same experts. After contents validation, data from 517 participants from 4 garrisons were collected. The results showed that NOSACQ-50 had acceptable reliability scores (.70-.89.), and the factor structure was confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Principal component analyses (PCA) of the supplementary 19 items showed that 12 items grouped into three dimensions (alpha .74-.91): Management enabling safety performance, personnel’s knowledge of and competence in national laws regulating safety and Unit ethics. In conclusion, preliminary results showed the adjusted NOSACQ-50 instrument could be used to measure OSC in military organizations. However, additional studies must be performed to improve and develop military specific dimensions not covered by NOSACQ-50.
Synthesis of video and 3D laser metrology to reconstruct a vehicle vs pedestrian collision: a case study
Authors: King Charles R. , Morgan Justin F.
Published: November 2019

Human Factors investigations of vehicle-versus-pedestrian collisions can be challenging due to a lack of objective data. While sources such as electronic data recorders on vehicles are typically sensitive to collisions with other vehicles or large-mass objects, pedestrian strikes often fail to generate sufficient accelerative forces to reach triggering thresholds. The present work details a case study of the reconstruction of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision. While the vehicle data recorder failed to capture the collision, a security camera was located approximately 360 feet away which partially-captured the crash site. Data from this security camera and 3D laser scan data were combined and analyzed to determine the pre-impact speeds of the vehicle and pedestrians. Comparison of the calculated speeds to normative data suggest this is a reliable method for analysis of challenging video data. Results and future work are discussed.
Spearcons for Patient Monitoring: Program of Laboratory-Based Feasibility Studies
Authors: Li Simon Y. W. , Yeung Chun-Wan , Davidson Thomas , Ryu Younji , Srbinovska Monika , Salisbury Isaac , Loeb Robert G. , Sanderson Penelope M.
Published: November 2019

Clinicians are not always at their patients’ bedsides and may therefore need ways of remotely monitoring the well-being of multiple patients under their care. We outline the main findings of a research program investigating whether the intermittent presentation of short phrases of time-compressed speech (spearcons) is an effective way of giving mobile clinicians information about their patients without annoying either clinician or patient. We provide a high-level overview of several studies investigating participants’ ability to understand spearcons, both individually and in sequences representing multiple patients. We then report in more detail a recent small study testing whether participants’ ability to understand spearcons is compromised by different kinds of ongoing tasks. Finally, we outline further issues that should be addressed and further research studies performed before spearcons could be considered a viable tool for patient monitoring.
Implementing Blockchain to Enhance Usability of Patient-Generated Data
Authors: Baumann Steffen , Stone Richard , Abdelall Esra , Srikrishnan Varun , Schnieders Thomas , Fales Colten , Mumani Ahmad
Published: November 2019

The adoption of blockchain shows a variety of benefits owing to an incorruptible digital ledger and a decentralized database. This has eliminated the need for a gatekeeper to oversee all associated transactions. Blockchain, the underlying technology behind Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies, has found use in many industries besides finance, such as healthcare, where it is used for verifying medical licensing and credentialing, for tracking medical equipment (or consumables) from production to usage, and in cases associated with high levels of privacy and security. Patient data is collected using a plethora of patient-generated data devices, such as Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled wearables, health trackers, and home use medical devices. As a result, the data is siloed amongst several applications and/or vendors’ proprietary solutions. Of all this data, only some of it is transmitted to Electronic Medical Records. This produces the risk that not all data collected will be reviewed at the point of care due to the abundance of data collected. This article explains the areas within healthcare where blockchain could address data usability challenges and analyzes new ways in which patient health data can be collected to address the increasing number of challenges associated with the amount of data being generated over time. It also describes the drivers behind this data collection trend, the associated challenges and the subsequent ramifications. It concludes with a review of previous studies on data usability challenges and the means by which blockchain can be used to overcome these challenges.
Does familiarity breed competence or contempt? Effects of driver experience, road type and familiarity on hazard perception
Authors: Beanland Vanessa , Wynne Rachael A.
Published: November 2019

Driving is one of the most complex and dangerous tasks that is regularly performed by most adults. Whereas most research examines performance in novel situations, most everyday driving occurs in highly familiar settings, such as our daily commute. Here we compared drivers’ hazard identification on familiar roads with similar but unfamiliar roads, for five road types: city streets, suburban streets, urban roads, mountain roads, and motorways. Participants were 45 experienced drivers with on average 17.6 years driving experience ( SD = 5.2), and 32 novices with on average 6.2 months solo driving ( SD = 3.5). Experienced drivers identified more hazards than novices, regardless of road type, but the magnitude of the effect was surprisingly small. The overall effect of location familiarity on hazard identification was not statistically significant, but there were significant effects of road type and significant interactions between familiarity and road type, which suggests researchers should be cautious when generalizing results obtained from one road context to another.
An Engineering Approach to Storage and Access in High Priority Scenarios
Authors: Srikrishnan FNU Varun Ananthasivan , Stone Richard T. , Xu Cong
Published: November 2019

Over the past few years, an extensive amount of research has been done in the field of Human Factors. Applications range from the design of day-to-day products like cell phones to the design and development of safety-critical systems like flight displays. The highly critical aviation industry has shown time and again the importance of human-centered approach in developing systems for the safety of those operating it and the passengers. Similarly, other safety-critical industries like law enforcement have been seen to incorporate human factors in the design of weapons and exoskeletons aimed at adapting to humans and making their unit stronger. Many manufacturing firms have begun to see the importance of proper work postures for their employees to avoid musculoskeletal disorders and the financial and regulatory implications of not following proper work ethics that take care of employees’ health. Further, many organizations have started to consider team dynamics in their operations understanding the importance of healthy interaction among the employees and between employees and the management. However, there are a very few references to any studies or organizational practices that draw a connection between human performance and human-centric re-design of work places, with most designs being limited to work desks and activity-based working (ABW) work spaces. This paper focuses on the organizational engineering of storage spaces to enable easy location and retrieval of equipment, thus supporting the time-critical nature of operations at a miscellaneous storage room at the Story County Sheriff’s Office. Experiments were carried out using two familiar scenarios both before and after the redesign of the storage room. A significant improvement in the performance of the operator was observed after the redesign, as could be seen by the reduction in time taken to identify and retrieve equipment and the qualitative survey that was obtained at the end of the experiment. The wasted time was translated to a cost and the newly designed storage design saved a significant amount of money spent on actions that precluded efficient accomplishment of tasks, something that could have been used by the Sheriff’s office to purchase equipment for normal operation of the office. The results suggested such interventions in different sectors that have similar high-priority operations. The results of the study indicates that there is a need for the industry to extend research towards this field that we name “organization engineering”.
Collaborative Metacognition in Signal Detection Decision Making
Authors: Duncan-Reid Jackson , McCarley Jason S.
Published: November 2019

When individuals work together to make decisions in a signal detection task, they typically achieve greater sensitivity as a group than they could each achieve on their own. The present experiments investigate whether metacognitive, or Type 2, signal detection judgements would show a similar pattern of collaborative benefit. Thirty-two participants in Experiment 1 and sixty participants in Experiment 2 completed a signal detection task individually and in groups, and measures of Type 1 and Type 2 sensitivity were calculated from participants’ confidence judgments. Bayesian parameter estimates suggested that regardless of whether teams are given feedback on their performance (Experiment 1) or receive no feedback (Experiment 2), no credible differences were observed in metacognitive efficiency between the teams and the better members, nor between the teams and the worse members. These findings suggest that teams may self-assess their performance by deferring metacognitive judgments to the most metacognitively sensitive individual within the team, even without trial-by-trial feedback, rather than integrating their judgments and achieving increased metacognitive awareness of their own performance.