bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the “Time Tunnel” Display Design Technique
Authors: Bennett Kevin B. , Payne Michael , Walters Brett , Zimmerman Jeff
Published: January 2012

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the time tunnel display design concept. This technique is similar to traditional “strip chart” or “trend” displays in that temporal information (i.e., the value of system variables over time) is provided. It is different in that perspective geometry and the “depth plane” are used to present this information. In Exp. 1 a time tunnel display and a “quickened” display were evaluated using a dynamic simulation. The results indicate that display quickening improved performance significantly, but that the time tunnel display did not. In Exp. 2 a redesigned version of the time tunnel display was evaluated; the overall pattern of results did not change substantially. In Exp. 3 an alternative methodology was used. Participants were shown “snapshots” of system states (states generated in Exp. 2) and completed three tasks: 1) fault detection (confidence rating), 2) fault identification (categorical assessment), and 3) estimation (estimate of quickened variable). Three displays were evaluated: a baseline display, the redesigned version of the time tunnel display and a traditional “trend” display. The results indicate that both displays with temporal information (time tunnel and trend displays) produced better performance than no temporal information (the baseline display). The results also indicate that the time tunnel display produced significantly better performance than the trend display.
Emergent Features and Perceptual Glue in Static Bar Graphs: Moderating Effects of Salience
Authors: Hurts Karel
Published: January 2012

Many studies to date have supported empirically the reality of the so-called proximity compatibility principle. This principle states that emergent features tend to have beneficial effects on integrated and detrimental effects on focused task performance. In order to clarify the role of salience of various graphical features in relationship to this principle, an experiment was conducted in which the effect of emergent features and the salience of both graphical indicators and emergent features (if present) was studied on integrated and focused task performance using a graph reading task. It was found that, though the principle was confirmed in this study if its relationship with salience is ignored, taking salience of both lower-order and higher-order graphical features into consideration can significantly complicate the basic form of the principle. Illustrations are provided of how two types of salience can interact both with each other and with the type of task in rather unexpected ways. In the discussion the focus is on exploring the significance of these findings for furthering our theoretical understanding of these and similar phenomena from the field of graphical perception and for the practice of graph design.
Marksmanship during Simulated Sustained Operations
Authors: Johnson Richard F. , Merullo Donna J. , Montain Scott J. , Castellani John W.
Published: January 2012

The individual warfighter is often required to work for long periods of time with little or no rest until the objective is reached. This study evaluated M16 rifle marksmanship performance during a simulated 3-day (72 hours) sustained operations scenario. Soldiers were kept busy with military tasks for 21-22 hours per day, and were administered standardized tests of M16 rifle marksmanship performance before, during, and at the end of the sustained operation. Results indicated that as sustained operations proceed from 0 to 3 days (0 to 72 hours), the task of firing an M16 rifle becomes more physically demanding and the shooter has to exert more effort in order to perform the task proficiently. Accompanying this increase in subjective workload is the finding that participants are able to maintain rifle marksmanship for rapidly appearing pop-up targets (some of which are moving) but that rifle marksmanship is impaired for stationary targets.
A New Test for Measuring Dynamic Contrast Sensitivity (DCS)
Authors: Zavod Merrill J. , Long Gerald M.
Published: January 2012

Two experiments were performed to determine the effectiveness of a newly developed vision test for measuring human contrast sensitivity under dynamic conditions. In Experiment 1, measurements of dynamic contrast sensitivity were determined for 24 male and 24 female observers as a function of target velocity (0-120 deg/s) for letter stimuli of two sizes and two durations. Significant main effects were found for target velocity, target size, and target duration, while significant interactions among the variables indicated especially pronounced adverse effects of increasing target velocity for small targets and brief durations. In Experiment 2, the effects of simulated cataracts on dynamic contrast sensitivity were determined for 10 male and 10 female observers using the new test. Although the simulated impairment had no effect on traditional acuity scores, dynamic contrast sensitivity was markedly reduced under all conditions and this effect was particularly apparent with smaller targets and at higher velocities. Results are discussed in terms of dynamic contrast sensitivity as a useful composite measure of visual functioning that may provide a better overall picture of an individual's visual functioning than do traditional tests of static visual acuity, dynamic visual acuity, or contrast sensitivity alone.
Designing Dynamic Strategies for the Efficient Usage of Systems and Tools
Authors: Basumatary Raju
Published: January 2012

Increasing innovation in technology has led to the rapid development of systems and tools, and evolution of working environment and style. Strategies were developed to improve the efficiency of systems and tools. The objective is to formulate a framework for strategy building. The phases are: (1) identifying system characteristics, (2) identifying user characteristics, (3) expert analyses, (4) extracting expert analyses, and (5) building strategy set.
Individual Differences in Fatigue and Stress States in Two Field Studies of Driving
Authors: Desmond P.A. , Matthews G. , Bush J.
Published: January 2012

Two studies of real-life driving are reported in which individual differences in fatigue and stress were explored in Australian professional and non-professional drivers. In Study 1 58 truck drivers completed subjective measures of mood and stress states before and after a prolonged driving trip. The Task-Induced Fatigue Scale (TIFS) was also used to assess fatigue before and after driving. The Driver Stress Inventory Fatigue Proneness Scale was completed before the driving trip to assess individual differences in fatigue. In Study 2 104 non-professional drivers completed the same subjective state measures before and after a short-duration drive, as drivers in Study 1. Drivers also completed the Fatigue Proneness Scale. Fatigue-prone drivers in both studies showed elevated levels of state fatigue, tension, unpleasant mood and task-related cognitive interference. The results suggest that high Fatigue Proneness drivers may be at risk from fatigue during both prolonged and relatively short driving trips.
Improving Street Name Sign Legibility for Older Drivers
Authors: Chrysler Susan , Tranchida Donna , Stackhouse Stirling , Arthur Erik
Published: January 2012

Reading street name signs is an important part of the navigation task of driving a vehicle. Older drivers, in particular, often have trouble reading street name signs because of poor sign design and because of vision problems associated with aging. Past research has shown that older drivers can benefit in sign detection by either increasing the size of the sign or by increasing the retro-reflectivity of the material used to make the sign. The present study examined the effects of reflective material on the legibility distance for a standard size shoulder mounted street name sign. ASTM Types I, III, VII, and IX were used for the white on green signs with legend consisting of a 6“ initial upper case letter and 4.5” lower case Highway Series C. The effects of intersection complexity were examined by conducting the study at three different intersections in an urban area that varied in traffic volumes, commercial lighting and geometric design. An additional variable was which side of the street the signs appeared. Older drivers, with a mean age of 71, drove an instrumented vehicle in real traffic at night and were asked to read traffic signs temporarily erected for purposes of the study. The results showed an interaction between sign reflectivity and intersection complexity, suggesting that brighter signs aid legibility more in complex traffic situations. The differences between the reflective material types at low-complexity intersection were small compared to the differences observed at the high-complexity intersection where ASTM Types VII and IX showed greater legibility distances than Types I and III. Likewise, when signs were mounted on the left side of the street, the reflectivity of the material showed more of an effect than when they were mounted on the right side of the street. Overall, sign legibility distances were improved 21–30 % by changing from ASTM Types I and III to the higher reflectivity materials, Types VII and IX.
Annoyance and Urgency of Auditory Alerts for in-Vehicle Information Systems
Authors: Marshall Dawn , Lee John D. , Austria P. Albert
Published: January 2012

The proliferation of in-vehicle information systems and the need for drivers to keep their eyes on the road suggest that auditory alerts will become increasingly common. This study examined how sound parameters affected perceived urgency and annoyance. The sound parameters investigated were overall density of a warning tone, pulse speed and type of burst used to create a warning tone. The context in which the auditory alert is presented was an additional factor. Significant effects were found for all factors. Annoyance and urgency of an alert depend on the context in which it is presented and sound parameters interact with context to affect the perceived urgency of alerts. Like urgency, annoyance displayed systematic variation as a function of warning signal parameters. These results suggest that auditory alert design should go beyond mapping perceived urgency of the alert to the urgency of messages, but should also consider a tradeoff analysis that addresses the costs of increasing annoyance.
The Effect of Rear-End Collision Warnings on on-Going Response
Authors: Brown Timothy L. , Lee John D. , Hoffman Joshua
Published: January 2012

Rear-end collisions are a major concern for highway safety, and considerable effort is being expended to address the frequency of these types on collisions. One possible solution is to warn drivers just before a collision is to occur, so that they can attempt to avoid it. One concern is that warnings may interfere with an avoidance response the driver may have already initiated. This simulator study examined how drivers respond to a rear-end collision when they receive a warning as they begin to release the accelerator. Contrary to expectations, the warning enhanced rather than undermined collision avoidance performance. Receiving a warning as the accelerator was released reduced the accelerator-brake reaction time by 50%. These data suggest that RECAS warnings are unlikely to interfere with a driver's ongoing response.
On the Risk of Quiet Vehicles to Pedestrians and Drivers
Authors: Wogalter Michael S. , Ornan Rachelle N. , Lim Raymond W. , Chipley M. Ryan
Published: January 2012

Technology has enabled the mass production of hybrid and electric vehicles. Interest in these alternative-energy vehicles has been heightened due to air quality concerns in urban areas. However, these vehicles are capable of very quiet operation, which could have negative side effects on pedestrian and driver safety because of the lack of sound cues. A survey of 380 people was conducted to explore interest and concerns about electrically powered vehicles. The data show that there is substantial positive interest in driving quiet hybrid and electric cars. However, in the role of pedestrian, participants expressed concern over the reduced auditory cues to the presence of a moving vehicle. Implications of quiet vehicles are discussed including the additional consideration of reduced driver awareness of their speed. Precautionary measures and suggestions for effective engine noise substitutes are presented.
Cueing in Procedures: The Use of Auditory or Visual Cues to Assist in Object Location
Authors: Hill S. G. , Byers J.C. , Medema H.D. , Nadeau J.L.
Published: January 2012

This report presents research examining human-computer interaction in a procedural-type task. The research was done to gain further insight into developing interfaces for computer-based procedures that support and enhance human performance. Specifically, this research examined how to minimize location errors, by proper design of computer-based procedures. Thirty-nine subjects participated in a 2 times 2 mixed factorial design experiment. The experiment involved locating objects via computerized procedures, and tested video and audio location cueing. Results showed that the cued condition was faster than the non-cued condition. Results also indicated that the visual mode was faster than the auditory mode, although the auditory mode was preferred. These results are significant for the design of computer-based procedures that involve location information.
Your Design Probably Needs More VDU'S
Authors: O'Hara John , Brown William , Lewis Paul , Persensky J.
Published: January 2012

The most frequent complaint of operators in modern computer-based control rooms is that there just are not enough video display units (VDUs). In this paper we examine the basis for this concern and try to understand the technical and historical reasons for this complaint, and its implications for the design of complex human- machine systems, including the number of VDUs in the control room. The overall aim of our work is to develop human factors guidance for the review of computer-based and modernized control rooms in nuclear power plants. As part of these efforts we have conducted literature reviews and studies using both simulators and actual systems in a broad range of industries, including process control, aerospace, medical, and others. Our findings reflect the general complaint of operators across all these industries: there just are not enough VDUs in the control room. We conclude that there are three primary reasons for this complaint. First, as part of a workload management strategy, operators frequently avoid interface management tasks and do not access all the information available, preferring instead to use a fixed set of familiar displays that provide much (but not all) of the information needed. Performance thereby becomes data limited and operators complain that they do not have a sufficient number of VDUs to set up in the early phases of a high-workload period so they can get all the information they need. Second, display designs are typically not designed with operator tasks in mind. The most common method of representing information is by functions and systems. Since tasks typically cut across many systems, operators need many displays. Thus, to make task performance easier operators need additional VDUs. Finally, there is a differing “concept of operations” between designers and operators. Modern computer-based control rooms are designed with vast amounts of data, available through hundreds of displays, viewed by the operator through a limited number of display devices. Designers expect that operators will use the flexibility of the computer-based interfaces to configure them in such a way that they are ideally tailored to the unique demands of the current situation. However, operators usually do not do that and instead configure the interfaces in a spatially dedicated way. Thus, while the number of VDUs may seem reasonable to the designer, it is not to the operator who is attempting to minimize the interface management aspects of workload. The implications of these findings for design are discussed in terms of the need for a method for determining the number of displays, task-relevant displays, data-dense displays, and enhanced interface management design and training.
The Queuing Network Model Human Processor (QNMHP): An Engineering Approach for Modeling Cognitive Performance
Authors: Feyen Robert G. , Liu Yili
Published: January 2012

Human performance modeling approaches (HPMAs) that are comprehensive and computational are particularly useful for system development. Current comprehensive approaches have strengths in modeling a person's actions, but lack mathematical foundations that inherently yield information about the time and capacity related performance of the human in the system. This paper proposes a complementary approach called the Queuing Network Model Human Processor (QNMHP) that combines elements of the GOMS/Model Human Processor approach with the mathematical concept of queuing networks. A general queuing network representing the human and methodology for using this network are discussed in light of current efforts to model a steering task.
The Cognimeter: Focusing Cognitive Task Analysis in the Cognitive Function Model
Authors: Chrenka Jason , Hutton Robert J. B. , Klinger David W. , Anastasi Donna
Published: January 2012

The overall intent behind the Cognitive Function Model (CFM) application is to guide the human factors analyst towards identifying highly challenging cognitive tasks or functions, and to provide indicators that guide the analyst in choosing which tasks or functions to pursue using Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA), in order to make the best use of available time and resources. We developed a computer-based application using a CFM approach. CFM links the Operator Function Model (OFM) and the Cognimeter Screening Tool. The Cognimeter is intended to bridge the gap between OFM (traditional task decomposition) and Cognitive Task Analysis. In addition, the Cognimeter provides the human factors analyst with the means to identify the high pay-off cognitive challenges from a functional decomposition or systems engineering representation of a system (in this case, OFM representations).
Introducing Usability Engineering into the Cmm Model: An Empirical Approach
Authors: Vasmatzidis Ioannis , Ramakrishnan Arvind , Hanson Christopher
Published: January 2012

Usability practitioners advocate implementation of user-centered design methodologies in order to achieve highly usable software products. However, such an approach can not be independent of the organization's established software development process. This paper describes how usability engineering is currently being incorporated into the iNautix's software development process. The iNautix process is based on the Capability Maturity Model developed by the Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University. The model defines 5 levels of software development process maturity: the higher the maturity level, the higher the process capability of the organization. A 7-phase iNautix Life Cycle was developed based on the CMM framework. Recently, iNautix was assessed as a CMM level 2 organization. Currently, usability engineering processes have been included in 3 of the 7 phases: Requirements Management; Project Planning, Tracking and Oversight; and Product Development. New usability processes that the authors are defining as the organization matures toward CMM level 3 are also presented in the paper.
Analysis of Human Factors Case Studies of Complex Military Systems: Here's How We Can do Better
Authors: Hutchins Susan G.
Published: January 2012

People in nearly every occupational setting can provide examples of poor system design. The focus for this paper is on an analysis of design problems found in complex military command and control systems and the ways in which these types of problems can be avoided in future system design. The source of data for this analysis was a group of case studies of sixteen U.S. military systems written by officer-students at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. Systems analyzed include aircraft systems, communications systems, the M-16 rifle, a missile defense system, a message processing system, weapon systems, and decision support systems. Documented problems with system use were categorized according to the following measures of effectiveness: Performance, Safety, Usability, Reliability, Maintainability, Time and Cost to Train, and Workload. The number of problems encountered per system ranged from one to nine; the mean number of reported problems per system was 4.9. IEEE 1220-1998 includes a revised systems engineering approach with an increased emphasis on engineering the system for the human. Adhering to a user-centered design approach would have a positive impact on system design by significantly reducing the types of system problems described in this paper.
A Preliminary Study of the Measurement of Trust in a Hybrid Inspection System
Authors: Master Reena , Jiang Xiaochun , Gramopadhye Anand , Melloy Brian , Grimes Larry
Published: January 2012

Since human trust in automation can directly impact inspection quality and overall inspection performance, it is critical to study the issue of trust in hybrid inspection systems. After developing a trust questionnaire for hybrid inspection systems, we conducted a preliminary study to measure human's trust in the hybrid inspection systems using the questionnaire developed. Two hybrid inspection systems were used in the study. Results showed that the trust questionnaire was sensitive to different systems. A stepwise regression procedure selected competency and reliability as the better predictors.
The Use of a Route and Survey Composite Display for Navigational Training in Virtual Environments
Authors: Diaz Derek D. , Sims Valerie
Published: January 2012

The present study examined if spatial knowledge gained from a virtual environment (VE) is affected by the spatial ability of the participant and whether information can be more efficiently acquired and applied to a physical space when participants are given a display featuring both an overhead map and first-person visual cues. Seventy-four participants were randomly assigned to one of three VE conditions: first-person view, overhead map, or first-person view with an integrated map. Participants learned the locations of 7 targets in a desktop-based computer simulation of a building. Spatial knowledge for these targets was assessed in the physical building. Results indicated that spatial orientation ability facilitated performance by the group with only the map view. Spatial orientation ability did not affect the other two groups.
Using Virtual Reality Technology to Improve Aircraft Inspection Performance: Presence and Performance Measurement Studies
Authors: Vora Jeenal , Nair Santosh , Gramopadhye Anand K. , Melloy Brian J. , Medlin Eric , Duchowski Andrew T. , Kanki Barbara G.
Published: January 2012

Research in aircraft inspection and maintenance has revealed the criticality of human inspection performance in improving aviation safety. If we are to provide the general public with a safe and reliable air transportation system, inspection must be performed effectively, efficiently and consistently. Even though it is difficult to eliminate errors completely, continuing emphasis must be placed on identifying interventions to reduce errors and improve consistency in performance. Training has been identified as the primary intervention strategy in improving the quality and reliability of aircraft inspection performance. If training is to be successful, it is clear that we need to provide aircraft inspectors with tools to help enhance their inspection skills and improve performance. In response to this need a Virtual Reality (VR) based simulator was developed for visual inspection task of an aft cargo bay. Presence and performance validation studies were conducted to evaluate the simulator and are described as part of this paper.
The Effects of Camera Control and Display Configuration on Teleoperated Target Search Tasks
Authors: Draper Mark H. , Ruff Heath A. , LaFleur Tobias
Published: January 2012

Proprioceptive cues afforded by head-coupled head-mounted displays (HMDs) may enable certain search-task performance advantages over a manual joystick input with a stationary display monitor. However, targets located behind the user often involve excessive neck strain and fatigue. A study was conducted to determine the effects of various head-coupled and hand-controlled remote camera control/display configurations on teleoperation search tasks. Eight participants served as unmanned air vehicle teleoperators, acquiring targets in two separate search-task segments, 1) a forward-field area search followed by target discrimination, and 2) a rear-field area search. Four camera control/display configurations were studied: manual joystick with stationary CRT display, 1.0 gain head-coupled HMD, 1.5 gain head-coupled HMD, and combined 1.0 gain head-coupled HMD with simultaneous manual joystick input. All head-coupled control configurations were zero-order controllers involving a color, see-through monocular HMD. Performance data revealed significantly faster search times for the rate-controlled joystick with stationary display for the forward-field search task and no significant difference between control configurations for the rear-field area search. Head movement analyses revealed differences in rotational head motion between HMD conditions.
Comparison of Simulator Sickness Using Static and Dynamic Walking Simulators
Authors: Jaeger Beverly K. , Mourant Ronald R.
Published: January 2012

Findings from the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) evaluated several factors related to the physiological effects of immersive virtual environments (IVE) exposure. Subjects conducted locomotion activities within a selected IVE by traversing a three-dimensional computer hallway setting using either a mouse-driven static simulator or a treadmill-operated dynamic simulator system. Two levels of rendered visual detail were also compared for their SSQ effects. Simulator Sickness Questionnaire analyses reveal an effect of gender such that the females were significantly more affected by simulator activities than the male subjects. Length of time in the simulator was also found to have a significant physiological effect on the participants in the tested range of 13–23 minutes of exposure. Longer time intervals were associated with significantly greater symptoms of simulator sickness and perceived discomfort. A comparison of scores between distance judgment and movement production activities produced no significant results, leading to the conclusion that the task objectives were not different from one another in simulator effects on the participants. Individuals who used the static simulator were significantly more affected than those with similar exposure times in the dynamic simulator. Analysis of two levels of detail in the IVEs revealed a tendency for more richly textured imagery to yield higher Total Severity SSQ scores with nearly significant differences. In accordance with previously established simulator sickness profiles, the static simulator pattern of symptoms resembled those of visually-dependant IVEs (cybersickness), while the dynamic simulator symptomology was more analogous to that of motion-based IVEs (classic simulator sickness).
Forestry Work in the M3 Virtual Environment: “Reality” for Different User Groups
Authors: Neely Greg , Burström Lage , Wästerlund Ivan , Haasnot Aili
Published: January 2012

The M3 Simulator Project is a collaborative effort between industry, a government agency and a university aimed at developing a virtual environment for simulating forest machines. This paper reports on a study, conducted before full implementation of the simulator, where qualitative responses to the VE were collected from four user groups: Professional forestry workers, forestry students, design students and regular students. Participants (three in each group) completed two tasks in the simulator after which they commented on their performance while watching a playback of their work as well as rated various aspects of the environment and their performance. The main observation made in analysis of the performances was that while the professional forestry workers were more aware of the limitations in the environment than the others, they were also the least concerned about them. Forestry and design students, however, reported that limitations in force-feedback and 3D graphics significantly hindered their performance. The results are discussed in terms of the different functional demands put on the VE by the different user groups.
Modulation of Postural Sway during Manual Aiming
Authors: Riley Michael A. , Black David P. , Stoffregen Thomas A. , Balasubramaniam Ramesh
Published: January 2012

We examined the modulation of postural sway during performance of a supra-postural aiming task. Participants aimed a laser pointer at a large, medium, or small target located 1.5 m away. There were two aiming conditions: (1) participants held the laser pointer, or (2) the laser pointer was attached to the body using a belt. Participants stood either directly facing the target or facing the target with the head, but with the body facing the side. Postural sway variability was measured. Sway variability decreased with decreasing target size, but the decrease depended upon whether the pointer was held or attached, the direction participants faced, and on the direction of postural motion. The results showed that postural variability was modulated in order to meet the precision, manual, and directional constraints imposed by the aiming task. Implications for human-computer interaction via aiming are discussed.
Does Workload Modulate the Difference between Cockpit Traffic Display Formats?
Authors: Alexander Amy L. , Wickens Christopher D.
Published: January 2012

Eighteen certified flight instructors from the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation participated in an experiment exploring the format of the Cockpit Display of Traffic Information for free flight traffic avoidance maneuvers. Pilots flew a sequence of flight scenarios to compare the effects of traffic load, display dimensionality (3D vs. 2D coplanar), and a vertical profile orientation on maneuver choice, conflict avoidance performance, and maneuver efficiency. The highest levels of workload induced more combined lateral/vertical maneuvers, degraded safety on the 2D coplanar displays, and degraded efficiency regardless of display type. In the context of an overwhelming preference for vertical maneuvers, the 3D display increased the frequency of the less-safe descent maneuvers (relative to climbs) and increased subjective workload, while the 2D rear-view display decreased the vertical efficiency of all maneuvers, relative to its side-view counterpart.
An Operation Evaluation of ADS-B and CDTI during Airport Surface and Final Approach Operations
Authors: Battiste Vernol , Johnson Nancy H.
Published: January 2012

The availability of new technologies for both the flight deck and air traffic control facilities is creating new capabilities for enhanced aircraft operations. With the introduction of these new technologies comes a need to evaluate their effectiveness in both laboratory and operational settings. Two such technologies, Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), and Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) with and without a surface map, were demonstrated during an Operational Evaluation in the Ohio Valley. The main focus of the study was a comparison of flight crew navigational performance, traffic, and runway occupancy awareness, with and without a surface map on their CDTI displays during airport surface and final approach operations. Sixteen commercial, government, corporate, and general aviation crews participated in the evaluation, flying a variety of aircraft ranging from Boeing 727s to the Piper Aztecs. Aircraft GPS track position data, in flight observer reports, post-flight structured interviews, and post-flight questionnaires were used to support data collection. Flight crews reported that the CDTI enhanced their situational and traffic awareness. They also reported that when the CDTI included a surface map, surface navigational and traffic awareness were further enhanced. Pilots also reported that utilizing the CDTI did not interfere with other cockpit tasks. Finally, the addition of a surface map enhanced flight crews' awareness of runway status. These findings suggest that system efficiency and safety will be enhanced with the introduction of a CDTI which includes airport surface maps.
Effects of the Controller-to-Pilot Data Link (Datalink) on Crew Communication
Authors: Harvey Craig M. , Reynolds Mike , Pacley Andrea L. , Koubek Richard J. , Rehmann Albert J.
Published: January 2012

This paper discusses a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) manned simulation study that investigated the effects of Controller-to-Pilot Data Link (datalink) on crew communications. Professional pilots participated in high fidelity simulation tests where crews received Air Traffic Controller (ATC) messages through the datalink. The results were compared to a similar study conducted where crews only communicated by radio to controllers. Results demonstrate that the nature of crew communications within the flight deck do change because of datalink. Unlike in the past where crews became aware of ATC communications at the same time through their headsets, new communication types are now needed due to the shift from ATC radio communications to ATC datalink messages. Thus flight crews must keep each other aware of information passed through the datalink. The frequency of communication was found to be significantly different depending on the location of the datalink on the flight deck. In addition, datalink crews experienced significantly less ATC radio transmissions as expected; however, the within crew communication related to datalink increased. When within crew datalink communication and the ATC radio communication are combined, one finds that ATC related communication is significantly higher in datalink crews as compared to traditional radio crews. This study illustrates the need to fully evaluate the impact new technology has on flight crews and their communication process.
Investigating Delegation of Spacing Tasks from Air Traffic Controllers to Pilots. Impact on Controller Activity
Authors: Rognin Laurence , Zeghal Karim , Grimaud Isabelle , Hoffman Eric
Published: January 2012

Controller-in-the-loop experiments were conducted in order to assess the impact on air traffic controller activity of the delegation of spacing task to the flight deck. Three experiments involving a total of 18 European controllers during 7 weeks took place over the past two years. In addition to standard data analysis, a geographical-based analysis was introduced. It consisted in analysing the distribution of manoeuvring instructions and eye fixations as a function of their distance to the sector exit. This analysis confirmed assumptions that delegation leads to anticipate the building of the sequences, and to relieve the controller of maintaining these sequences. Although these initial results suggest a positive impact on controller activity, they still need to be complemented, typically with contextual analysis of monitoring through microscopic analysis of eye fixations.
Priorities of Weather Information in Various Phases of Flight
Authors: Beringer Dennis B. , Schvaneveldt Roger
Published: January 2012

Questionnaire data were obtained from 71 pilots, some categorized as novice pilots and others as experienced pilots according to overall flight hours. The form required the participants to rank various items of weather information by phase of flight on a scale of relative importance. Responses indicated that both novice and experienced pilots rank weather factors similarly with a few exceptions, that many factors' ratings vary considerably by phase of flight, and pilots having more experience tend to rate weather information factors as being more important overall than do those having less experience. The data may be useful in establishing prioritization schemes for the presentation of weather data in the cockpit, particularly in the context of multifunction displays.
Training Pilots to Prioritize Tasks
Authors: Bishara Saher , Funk Ken
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a technique to help pilots prioritize tasks. A part-task simulator experiment was conducted in which three groups of general aviation pilot participants flew pre-and post-training flights. Participants in two groups received task prioritization training between the flights while those in a control group did not. Task prioritization error rates and prospective memory error rates from pre-and post-training flights were compared. Task prioritization and memory error rates improved in the training groups and did not improve in the control group. However, these findings must be considered preliminary, as several issues remain to be resolved by follow-on studies.
Cardiac and Eye Activity Correlates of Sleep Loss in Helicopter Pilots
Authors: Wilson Glenn F. , Caldwell John A.
Published: January 2012

The effects of one night's sleep loss on helicopter pilot's psychophysiology were investigated. This was done to determine if cardiac and eye measures were sensitive to sleep loss during actual flights. Because of the potentially catastrophic errors that can occur when sleep deprived reliable measures to detect this state are needed. If the deleterious effects of sleep loss can be determined prior to performance break down then it should be possible to devise systems to avoid accidents. Ten pilots flew a standard 1.5 hour scenario three times with increasing hours of sleep loss. Heart rate, heart rate variability and eye blink rate were recorded during the three flights. Heart rate and heart rate variability demonstrated statistically significant effects as the sleep loss increased. Heart rate variability declined, especially during the most difficult fight maneuvers at the highest levels of sleep deprivation.
CRCT (Collaborative Routing Coordination Tools) and TFM (Traffic Flow Management) Decision Support Tool Prototyping
Authors: Masalonis Anthony J.
Published: January 2012

This paper summarizes several years of Traffic Flow Management (TFM) R&D work. The MITRE Corporation's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) has been engaged in a longterm research program to define and refine decision support concepts and capabilities for TFM, the branch of Air Traffic Management that manages the strategic aspect of air traffic by balancing airspace capacity with demand, especially during severe weather or heavy traffic. This paper describes CAASD's work on the concept of Collaborative Routing, in which all affected parties — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and aircraft operators - can share in realtime a common picture of TFM problems and potential solutions. The Collaborative Routing Coordination Tools (CRCT) refers to a set of functionalities that support Collaborative Routing, and also to a software platform developed and used by CAASD to conduct the R&D. In this paper, the Collaborative Routing concept is described, and sample user interfaces supporting the concept are presented. Evaluations with operational personnel are described at a high level. Capabilities developed and refined via this work include the FCA (Flow Constrained Area), and the reroute modeling capability. These functions allow the user to evaluate the impact of a rerouting solution to controllers and airspace users (airlines and other pilots), before implementing that solution. Finally, ongoing research on future TFM decision support capabilities is described.
Staying Oriented While Driving
Authors: de Ridder S.N. , Elieff C. , Diesch A. , Gershenson C. , Pick H.L.
Published: January 2012

Do elderly drivers have more trouble finding their way and staying spatially oriented than younger drivers do? If spatial orientation is more difficult for elderly drivers it could distract attention from vehicle control resulting in a higher accident rate for elderly drivers. Moreover, it could become less desirable for older drivers to explore unfamiliar surroundings and as such diminish their action radius. In order to test our hypothesis that elderly drivers have more problems with wayfinding and spatial orientation drivers in two age groups were asked to perform a wayfinding task in an unfamiliar environment. Errors in orientation were measured and compared between age-groups. Results on this driving and wayfinding task support the original hypothesis that acquiring and maintaining spatial orientation is significantly more problematic for elderly than younger drivers, hence could be a distracting factor for vehicle control.
Web Site Design for the Disabled: Issues for Human Factors Practitioners
Authors: Swierenga Sarah J.
Published: January 2012

Enhancing sites for accessibility allows disabled customers to interact effectively with web products using screen readers, voice browsers, TTY, etc. Human Factors practitioners must address several issues: obtaining a fundamental understanding of the various types of disabilities and the implications for design and testing, learning how to apply the Section 508 standards to design accessible web sites, and deciding on an approach to integrate accessibility compliance efforts into the product design and development process.
Effects of Reduced Contrast on Young and Older Adults' Utilization of Context during Reading
Authors: Mitzner Tracy L.
Published: January 2012

People frequently read in sub-optimal conditions (Charness & Dijkstra, 1999). When text is difficult to perceive, readers can rely on sentential context as a compensatory strategy. Specifically, readers can develop expectations about which words will occur in a text based on the context in which words occur. The purpose of this study was to examine age differences in the use of contextual utilization, by comparing words that were highly predictable from their sentence context to words that were less predictable from their sentence context. Text was presented in three different levels of text/background contrast (high, medium, low) to explore the effects of contrast reduction. Eye tracking was used to measure fixation times to target words. Readers, particularly older adults, fixated low-predictability words longer than high-predictability words. Contrast reduction did not significantly influence reading times for either group, suggesting that readers are tolerant of some forms of stimulus quality degradation.
Mental Models and Ecological Interface Design: An Experimental Investigation
Authors: St-Cyr Olivier , Burns Catherine M.
Published: January 2012

We studied the impact of Ecological Interface Design (EID) displays on mental models using the DURESS II simulator. To assess mental models we used a card sorting exercise, a network building exercise based on the Abstraction Hierarchy, and a system behavior prediction exercise. Participants in the EID condition performed significantly better on the card sorting and network building exercises, but poorer on the prediction exercise. Our results are mixed, suggesting that EID may improve the understanding of means- end links and yet, not improve the ability to predict system behavior. The relatively limited experience of participants with the interface as well as our selection of knowledge elicitation techniques may have influenced these results. More research is needed to fully evaluate the impact of EID on mental models.
Using Communication Data to Assess Organizational and System Effectiveness in Future Combat Systems
Authors: Paley Michael J. , Linegang Michael P. , Morley Rebecca M.
Published: January 2012

The interconnected nature of the Army's Future Combat System provides an opportunity to use communication analysis as a viable evaluation method of both organizational efficiency and system design. In the current investigation, communications during teamin-the-loop experimentation were collected and analyzed for both content and flow patterns. Results suggest that players did not fully utilize the functionality of a common operating picture (COP) and new technology insertion did not achieve the desired effect within the organization. Requests for information and updates were frequently related to information that could have been found on the COP. The communication patterns suggested that the experimental organization was very much hierarchical, with little horizontal communications. That is, despite the influx of new systems, traditional operations were employed. In this study, communication data were successfully employed to assess operational effectiveness and the quality of system design.
Task Demands and Responses to Warnings
Authors: Meyer Joachim
Published: January 2012

The study addresses the question how the effort required to obtain task relevant information and the diagnostic value of a warning system affect responses to warnings in a signal detection task that is aided by a binary warning system. In a simulated production task participants had to decide whether to produce or not, based on the length of a rectangle that represented the temperature of raw material and on the output of a binary warning system. The experimental conditions differed in the contrast of the rectangle from the background and in the diagnostic value of the warning. Results showed non-optimal weighting of the warning information. Also, compliance with the warning was stronger when the additional information was more difficult to observe. The results demonstrate that task characteristics have intricate effects on the responses to warnings.
Effects of Information and Decision Automation on Multi-Task Performance
Authors: Rovira Ericka , Zinni Maria , Parasuraman Raja
Published: January 2012

Automation purported to assist human operators may itself be an additional source of complexity and uncertainty. Because high reliability cannot always be assured, imperfect automation can add to uncertainty and thereby degrade performance. The present study examined the relative benefits and costs of information and decision automation and investigated the effects of uncertainty resulting from automation unreliability during multiple task performance. Subjects were either provided with status information (“information” automation) or a recommendation for action (“decision” automation) for the system monitoring sub-task of the Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MAT). Two levels of automation reliability were compared. The detrimental effect of unreliable automation—a decrease in the detection rate of malfunctions—was greater for automation of higher reliability, a result consistent with previous findings of automation-related complacency. This effect of automation unreliability was also greater for decision than for information automation.
Making Unreliable Automation Useful
Authors: St. John Mark , Manes Daniel I.
Published: January 2012

Unreliable automation may be usefully applied to situation assessment tasks, but it requires careful analysis of task demands and good interface design. Here we analytically and empirically investigated the case of target detection in which more and less reliable automation identified promising search locations to guide users' attention. Participants searched a field of 44 locations to find four targets. Automation more or less reliably marked some locations as more promising than others. Participants could use even the less reliable automation to direct and facilitated their search compared with manual undirected search. A richer automated marking scheme proved useful but required a more complex search strategy that sometimes hindered participants.