bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Summative evaluation with a full-scale patient simulator: Challenges and adaptations
Authors: Sanderson P.M. , Watson M.O. , Jenkins S. , Liu D. , Russell W.J. , Green N. , Cole P.
Published: January 2012

In this paper we outline considerations that went into designing and executing a full-scale simulator-based summative evaluation of four different display configurations for presenting information about anesthetized patients to an anesthesiologist. Although patient simulators appear to provide a “natural laboratory” for evaluating medical device innovations and equipment interface concepts, the software underlying patient simulators can be unequal to the challenges posed by the need for good representation of patient physiology and good experimental control. Moreover, the opportunities that full-scale patient simulators can offer for completely interactive, event-driven scenarios can present problems for experimental control and can promote participant hypervigilance. We describe the design of our experimental scenarios, the challenges our scenarios posed for simulator software and how we overcame those challenges, the design of a distractor task, and the methodology used to ensure we collected behavioral data sensitive to the manipulations of interest. Our adaptations in the face of challenges posed by the full-scale simulator context let us design an experiment that was highly informative about the advantages and disadvantages of the display configurations of interest.
The Next Generation of Cognitive Modeling Tools: Opportunities, Challenges and Basic Needs
Authors: Bernard Michael L. , Forsythe J. Chris , Allender Laurel , Cohn Joseph , Radvansky Gabriel , Ritter Frank E.
Published: January 2012

In the past twenty or so years the scientific community has made impressive advancements in the modeling and simulation of general human cognition. This progress has led to the beginnings of wide-spread applications and use. In fact, we are now at a point where the community can begin to make fairly accurate predictions as to how this technology will be used in the next twenty–plus years. Accordingly, the purpose of this panel is to engage the community at large regarding the future needs and requirements associated with building cognitive models for various scientific and engineering endeavors. Specifically, this panel will discuss and make recommendations with regard to the future functionality of cognitive modeling that could be encompassed in next-generation capabilities. To do this, we will concentrate on four different domain areas. These are: academic use of cognitive modeling, cognitive model development, neuroscience-related issues, and practical applications of cognitive modeling.
A queueing network model of task prioritization using a general hierarchy of prioritization rules
Authors: Zhang Guoxi , Feyen Robert
Published: January 2012

Earlier, Zhang and Feyen (2005) proposed a qualitative framework for predicting how people working in a multitasking scenario switch between concurrent tasks with dynamically changing priorities. This paper describes a validation study of a computational model derived from this framework. Utilizing a general hierarchy of prioritization rules suggested by a companion empirical study, a model of a multiple task scenario built using a queueing network approach was compared to the empirical results. On all metrics considered, no means were found significantly different and the model replicated all but one of 54 task sequences demonstrated by human subjects. Comparisons to similar models utilizing only single prioritization rules revealed that the general hierarchy yielded substantially better predictions.
ACT-R Model of EEG Latency Data
Authors: Cassenti Daniel N.
Published: January 2012

Anderson and Lebiere's (1998) modeling system ACT-R (Adaptive Control of Thought – Rational) has been a leading contributor to advances in cognitive science. Despite the modeling system's success there are areas in which it may be improved. The present research advocates a suggested approach to improving ACT-R's predictive capacity by using EEG (electroencephalography) latency data to predict the time it takes to achieve certain mental steps. A model is presented which successfully represents EEG data from a simple auditory experiment. Implications of this modeling approach to ACT-R and to the field of cognitive science are discussed.
The Importance of Self-Efficacy to Usability: Grounded Theory Analysis of a Child's Toy Assembly Task
Authors: Martin Cortney V.
Published: January 2012

Traditional usability measures such as effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction may not fully describe usability across domains and user groups. Qualitative Grounded Theory analysis was employed to study children assembling toys from pictorial instructions. The resulting model showed that usability problems can have a striking impact beyond just performance, affecting the user's self-efficacy, particularly among girls who tend to use internal attributions and equate difficulty with low ability. Without sufficient self-efficacy, the child will likely choose not to engage with assembly tasks and may regard him or herself as inadequately skilled in that area. Usability professionals should consider adding self-efficacy measures to provide more complete assessments.
Learning rate Analysis of Alternative Keyboards
Authors: Anderson Allison M. , Mirka Gary A. , Joines Sharon M.B.
Published: January 2012

Although alternative keyboards offer ergonomic benefits over the standard keyboard, the standard QWERTY keyboard is still the most widely used. This study was performed to quantify learning rate percentages for four alternative keyboards (chord, contoured split, Dvorak, and fixed split) and understand how physical, cognitive, and perceptual demands affect learning rate by quantifying these measures. Sixteen proficient typists participated in five, three-sentence typing trials on each alternative keyboard, and nine additional subjects participated in 20 typing trials on one alternative keyboard. Time-to-complete and error percentage were collected after every trial, and subsequent learning rates were calculated. Results demonstrated that the learning rate for the fixed split keyboard was significantly different from the learning rates for the other three keyboards. Learning rate negatively correlated to all types of demand (physical, cognitive, and perceptual), so learning rate was slower with higher demand, regardless of the type of demand. Many alternative keyboards have been shown to have ergonomic benefits, and the results of this study would indicate that the learning rates associated with some of the keyboard designs are such that they can easily be implemented into the workplace without long-term productivity decrements.
Influence of Localized Muscle Fatigue of the Knee Joint on Gait Parameters Related to Slip Propensity
Authors: Parijat Prakriti , Lockhart Thurmon E
Published: January 2012

Existing epidemiological evidence suggests that localized muscle fatigue might be considered as an intrinsic risk factor that causes lack of balance control leading to falls. The goal of the study was to examine how localized muscle fatigue of the knee joint (quadriceps) alters gait parameters that are related to slip propensity. Sixteen healthy young participants were recruited to walk across a vinyl floor surface in two different sessions (Fatigue and No fatigue). Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using a three-dimensional video analysis system and force plates during both sessions. The fatigue session results indicated a substantial increase in heel contact velocity (HCV) and required coefficient of friction (RCOF), as well as a decrease in the transitional acceleration of the whole body COM (TA), walking velocity (WV), and step length (SL). In addition, a positive correlation was observed between RCOF and HCV. These findings provide new insights into the biomechanical relationship between localized muscular fatigue and gait parameters linked with slip propensity. The study concluded that localized muscular fatigue affects gait parameters and hence can be considered as a potential risk factor for slip-induced falls.
Sensitivity and Reliability of Local Dynamic Stability: Effects of Age and Altered Sensory Conditions
Authors: Kim Sunwook , Nussbaum Maury A.
Published: January 2012

Local dynamic stability was investigated during quiet upright stance with respect to age and altered sensory conditions. From center of pressure (COP) trajectories, the largest Lyapunov exponent (Λmax) was extracted to directly parameterize local dynamic stability, and the reliability of Λmax was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Thirty two participants volunteered for upright quiet stance trials. Vision and somatosenstaion were experimentally altered: vision was modified by eye closure, and somatosensation by using both a hard surface (HS) and a soft surface (SS). Age and vision had main effects on Λma, and the age x vision and vision x surface interaction effects were also significant. In general, older participants were less stable (i.e., higher Λmax) than younger, and altered sensory information resulted in a decrease in stability. Reliability was higher for older versus younger participants. Use of Λmax enabled a direct assessment of age-related differences in local dynamic stability and effects of altered sensory conditions. Such non-linear measures can provide additional information to that available from traditional COP-based analyses.
Effect of Load Carrying on Local Dynamic Stability
Authors: Liu Jian , Lockhart Thurmon E. , Granata Kevin
Published: January 2012

Occupational load carrying tasks are considered one of the major factors contributing to slip and fall injuries. The objective of the current study was to explore the feasibility to assess the stability changes associated with load carrying by local dynamic stability measures. Twenty-five young participants were involved in a treadmill walking study, with their trunk acceleration profiles measured wirelessly by a tri-axial accelerometer. Finite time local dynamic stability was quantified by maximum Lyapunov exponents (maxLE). The results showed a significant increase in long term maxLE in load condition, indicating the declined local dynamic stability due to the load carrying. Thus, current study confirmed the discriminative validity and sensitivity of local dynamic stability measure and its utility in the load carrying scenario.
The Complexities of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Untangling the Web
Authors: Marras W.S. , Lockhart Thurmon E
Published: January 2012

Two invited speakers will provide their insights into the future of ergonomics, low back pain, and musculoskeletal exposure assessment. Dr. Marras will provide a broad overview of the current and future challenges of understanding the development of low back disorders and how to control them in the workplace. Dr. Mathiassen will be providing insights into how variability in ergonomic exposures plays a role in the development of musculoskeletal disorders.
Obesity Effects on Maximum Acceptable Weights of Lift
Authors: Singh Devender
Published: January 2012

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of obesity on the maximum acceptable weights of lift (MAWL) Two obesity levels were considered: non-obese (18.5 kg/m2≤BMI≤24.9 kg/m2) and extremely obese (BMI≥ 40 kg/m2). Each obesity level had 10 male participants. The participants determined their MAWL for 18 different lifting task conditions (6 lifting frequencies × 3 lifting heights). An ANOVA was conducted to determine the effects of obesity level, lifting height, lifting frequency and their interactions on MAWL. In general, the ANOVA results revealed that obesity does not reduce MAWL. This indicates that there may not be a need to develop new psychophysical lifting limits for the obese worker population. However, in order to develop comprehensive lifting limit guidelines for the obese worker population, future studies should investigate the biomechanical and physiological based lifting tolerance limits for them.
Taking an Acceleration Approach to Identifying Vertebral Endplate Failures
Authors: Kotowski S.E. , Davis K.G. , Parkinson R.J. , Callaghan J.P.
Published: January 2012

Identification of spine tolerances has typically involved the complete destruction of functional spinal units in order to confirm an endplate fracture. A new method of identifying endplate fractures utilizing the measurement of acceleration response through accelerometers mounted to the functional spinal unit was tested on porcine spines. Functional spinal units were mechanically tested to failure using a cyclic loading protocol modeled after the expected loading during a lifting task. Over 80% of the segments had visible endplate fractures upon dissection. Trends in acceleration profiles revealed increased accelerations when specimens failed, with more pronounced trends in the specimens that had visible cracks after dissection. While further analysis is necessary, the results do point to some level of shift in the biomechanical responses within the vertebral body meaning the methodology may have the potential to identify endplate structural breakdown prior to ultimate failure.
Cross-sectional Study of Upper Trapezius Muscle Activity and Self-Reported Neck/Shoulder Pain
Authors: Fethke Nathan B. , Gerr Fred , Anton Daniel C. , Cavanaugh Joseph E. , Cook Thomas M.
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare the observed associations between upper trapezius muscle activity, as estimated with several summary measures obtained from surface electromyography (EMG), and self-reported neck/shoulder pain among a sample of 231 manufacturing workers. EMG methods used in this study included mean root-mean-square amplitude, the amplitude probability distribution function (APDF), EMG gaps analysis, and clustered exposure variation analysis. The observed seven-day prevalence of neck/shoulder pain was 13.9%. Of the EMG summary measures, only the 90 th percentile of the APDF was significantly associated with symptoms, with crude and adjusted odds ratios of 2.57 (1.02–6.49) and 2.78 (1.07–7.21) per natural log unit, respectively. This study was largely inconclusive due to the similarity in the distributions of the summary measures between symptomatic and non-symptomatic participants, and explicit measures of posture and repetition may produce stronger associations with symptoms.
Panel: The Need for System Solutions to Improve Employment Outcomes of Cancer Survivors
Authors: Sesto Mary E. , Yabroff Panel Participants: K. Robin , Bradley Cathy J. , Feuerstein Michael , Vanderheiden Gregg C.
Published: January 2012

The good news is that the number of cancer survivors and length of survival has increased due to early detection and treatment improvements. Of the estimated 10.5 million cancer survivors in the United States, approximately 40% are of working age (NCI, 2006). Unfortunately, one out of five survivors experience cancer-related disabilities that affect employment. Survivors may experience long-term and late-effects (including functional and general health changes) resulting in less than optimal employment outcomes, including long-term employment and work productivity. Although employment issues have been recognized in this area, to date, the majority of research on work productivity and return to work in human factors and ergonomics has focused on common occupational injuries and illnesses. The application of theories, methodologies, and perspectives from human factors research may serve to optimize employment outcomes for cancer survivors.
Human Factors Evaluation of 360 Panoramic View Camera System for Ground Vehicle
Authors: Wei Cheng Li , Wee Ang Cher , Herng Chan Wai , Fai Ying Meng
Published: January 2012

The 360 Panoramic view camera System (360 PS) is a commercial-off-the-shelf camera technology that captures and presents the viewer with a 360-degree horizontal view around the camera. Due to its unique ability to monitor in omni-directional, there is potential for operator functions such as surveillance and monitoring, and for enhancing situational awareness of crews operating vehicles with restricted visual field-of-view. This man-in-the-loop evaluation is to study the limitations and capabilities of the system, and enhance its performance for the proposed functions. Two sets of experiments were designed, and carried out to study the man-machine interface (MMI) issues. Subjective and objective data were collected, which allowed us to identify two preferred display modes out of the six factory modes. Graphic user interface (GUI) overlays were then designed for these two display modes.
Enhancing Forensic Human Factors/Ergonomics Analyses Using Digital Surveillance Video
Authors: Cohen Joseph , Cohen H. Harvey
Published: January 2012

The increased need for physical security and rapid technological developments has created opportunities for enhancing the validity of expert opinions offered in the courtroom by human factors/ergonomics professionals. Digital surveillance equipment typically yields more information from several perspectives as well as affords more control than ‘old’ technologies such as closed-circuit television, video cassette recorders, and multiplexers. This poster illustrates three case examples in which human factors/ergonomics experts used digital surveillance video as part of forensic analyses on cases retained by attorneys representing both plaintiffs and defendants. The first case is a rear-end collision on a freeway between a moving bus and a stopped pickup truck. The second is a collision between a moving bus and falling pedestrian, while the third is a more common slip-and-fall incident in a retail grocery store. The implications of improved digital surveillance video for the practice of forensics human factors/ergonomics are discussed.
Indexing Cognitive Reserve Capacity: A Multi-modal Approach
Authors: Brill J. Christopher , Gilson Richard D. , Mouloua Mustapha
Published: January 2012

The Multi-Sensory Workload Assessment Protocol (M-SWAP) is a newly developed standardized measure of cognitive reserve capacity. It is consists of a multi-modal counting task administered in a dual task environment. The goal of the present work was to further validate the measure by assessing the demand manipulation and perceived workload. Significant differences in performance and perceived workload were observed across demand levels, but not across modalities. These results suggest the secondary task protocol imposes demand in a manner consistent with the proposed model.
The Effect of Small Changes in Web Page Navigation Links on the Performance of Users Who Revisit Sites
Authors: Kortum Philip , Scharff Lauren F. V.
Published: January 2012

This paper examines the results of a study conducted to determine if small changes to a site's primary navigation structure would significantly impact user performance. Between a user's first visit and their subsequent revisit a week later, a single task-related link was either consistently present, consistently absent, or was added or removed between the two visits. Results show that performance was significantly degraded when the critical navigation element was removed from the page after the user first visited the site. Additions to the navigational structure were less disruptive to user performance and actually enhanced it because the additional link provided another navigational pathway to the desired information. The one week re-visitation delay produced results similar to those found in a similar study where the delay was less than 5 minutes (Scharff, 2006). Further research is being conducted to determine the between-visit time required in order for performance to be consistent regardless of the link condition.
Watching Where You're Going: An Analysis of the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Attention during Walking
Authors: Augustyn Jason S. , Fletcher M. R. , Mahoney Caroline R. , Hirsch Edward
Published: January 2012

Dual task methodology and eye-tracking were used to examine how attention is allocated when walking over terrain of varying complexity. Volunteers completed six test sessions in which they walked for 30 minutes with one of three terrain conditions (no markings, irregular markings, irregular markings). While walking, volunteers also performed a secondary vigilance task with targets placed at either eye level or ground level. Results showed that accuracy on the secondary task declined as terrain complexity increased. Median RT was also significantly faster with no markings than either marking condition. In addition, RTs were faster with the targets at eye level for all marking patterns except the irregular pattern. These data show that walking over varied terrain impacts vigilance.
Development of Active and Passive Fatigue Manipulations Using a Driving Simulator
Authors: Saxby Dyani J. , Matthews Gerald , Hitchcock Edward M. , Warm Joel S.
Published: January 2012

The present study investigates driving simulator methodologies for inducing qualitatively different patterns of subjective response. The study tested Desmond and Hancock's (2001) theory that there may be two types of fatigue: active and passive. 108 undergraduates participated. There were 3 conditions (active, passive, control) and 3 durations (10, 30, 50 minutes). The active condition used simulated wind gusts to increase the required number of steering and acceleration changes. The passive condition was fully automated. In the control condition, drivers were in full control of steering and acceleration. Task engagement (e.g., energy) was lowest in the passive fatigue condition, followed by the control and active conditions. Distress (e.g., negative mood) was found to be highest in the active fatigue condition. The time course of fatigue responses was also determined. The results suggest methods for developing manipulations to determine the impact of fatigue on performance.
Gender Differences and Aggressive Driving Behavior: A Factor Analytic Study
Authors: Mouloua Mustapha , Brill J. Christopher , Shirkey Edwin
Published: January 2012

Aggressive driving behavior can be manifested in a wide variety of unsafe driving practices such as tailgating, honking, obscene and rude gestures, flashing high beams at slower traffic, and speeding. According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2000 report, aggressive driving was a major cause of traffic accidents and injury. The present study was designed to systematically examine 5 previously developed scales related to aggressive driving behavior using a factor analytic approach. A sample of 253 students were administered these five questionnaires and the data were coded and statistically analyzed using a principal components analysis with Varimax rotation on the 81 items of the five combined scales. Nineteen components accounting for 67.4% of the variance were retained. Component scores were computed for the 19 components and then correlated with gender. Three significant ( p < .05) positive r's were found between gender; factors 11 (bright lights action), 12 (delaying action), and 19 (driving drunk). Males in the sample reported performing these actions more than females. There was one negative r between gender and factor 4 (considerate thoughts), suggesting that females reported more pleasant thoughts than males when angered or annoyed on the road.
Detection-Action Linkage in Vigilance: Effects on Workload and Stress
Authors: Parsons Kelley S. , Warm Joel S. , Nelson W. Todd , Matthews Gerald , Riley Michael A.
Published: January 2012

Using a simulated UAV control task in which a vigilance display warned observers of the presence of enemy threats, Gunn et al. (2005) reported that perceived mental workload in relation to the vigilance task was unexpectedly low. The present study did not confirm that finding. It did show, however, that vigilance performance was greater and task induced stress was less among observers who had the opportunity to act upon vigilance signal detections by destroying the enemy threats than among those who detected threats but had no opportunity to counter them. Accordingly, the results point to the importance of a detection-action linkage to enhance signal detection and reduce stress in the performance of vigilance tasks.
Effects of Transitioning between Perspective-Rendered Views
Authors: Keillor Jocelyn , Trinh Kevin , Hollands Justin G. , Perlin Michael
Published: January 2012

Increasingly, multiple views on the same scene may be made available via a network of sensors in security and surveillance applications. Similarly, virtual reality and gaming applications may provide a user with more than one view on a scene in an attempt to improve user orientation. Previous work has demonstrated the utility of ‘visual momentum’ by showing an advantage in spatial judgments when users are provided with a transition between 2D and perspective views. However, no prior research has examined the utility of smooth transitions between different perspective-rendered views of the same scene. The present experiment compared two types of smooth transition between perspective-rendered views, and demonstrated that transitions generally provide an advantage on a spatial judgment task. Notably, transitions between perspective views did not need to include a bird's eye view of the scene in order for users to make improved line-of-sight judgments.
Identity Verification from Photographs in Travel Documents: The Role of Display Duration and Orientation on Performance
Authors: Chiller-Glaus Sarah D. , Schwaninger Adrian , Hofer Franziska
Published: January 2012

At border control, it is the personnel's job to identify possible passport fraud, in particular to verify whether the photograph in a travel document matches its bearer. However, as various earlier studies suggest, identity verification from photographs or CCTV is far from accurate. The aim of this study was thus to investigate identity verification at border control. Particularly, we examined the influence of display duration in document verification. Results showed that performance significantly suffered from time restrictions, which stresses the importance of working environments at border control free of time pressure. A second aim was to assess a possible benefit of inversion of the document on identity verification performance, as was suggested by anecdotal evidence from security personnel but clearly contradicts the well known inversion effect in face recognition. Indeed, no such beneficial influence of inversion was found in this study. The results are discussed in terms of application-oriented implications.
3D Audio Display for Pararescue Jumpers
Authors: Gilkey Robert H. , Simpson Brian D. , Brungart Douglas S. , Cowgill Jeffery L. , Ephrem Adrienne Janae
Published: January 2012

Visual and audio navigations aids were compared in a virtual environment that depicted an urban combat search and rescue mission (CSAR). The participants' task was to rapidly move through a virtual maze depicted in a CAVE° to find a downed pilot, while dealing with automated hostile and friendly characters. The visual and audio displays were designed to present comparable information, which in separate conditions could be a simple realtime indication of the bearing to the pilot or to intermediate waypoints along the way. Auditory displays led to faster response times than visual displays (p = .011) and the waypoint display led to faster response times than the simple bearing display (p = .002). The results are considered in the context of the target CSAR application.
Neurotechnology for Imagery Analysis
Authors: Miller A. Eve , Strayer David L. , Marble Julie L.
Published: January 2012

This research combined image alignment techniques with techniques for processing neurophysiological signals to find consistent classifiers of changed and unchanged aerial reconnaissance images. These physiological markers were independent of explicit responses, and in fact, can compensate for errors made by analysts. In addition, we found that measures of eye movements have significant potential for use in image triage. This research has applications not only to the Intelligence community but also in commercial applications, such as analysis of medical imagery, geological and environmental studies, and building construction and inspection.
The Use of Heart to Assess the Risk of Remote Control Locomotive Operations: A Tale of Two Cities
Authors: Reinach Stephen J. , Fadden Steven , Gamst Frederick C. , Acton Sarah A.
Published: January 2012

In an effort to reduce operating costs and increase safety and efficiency, U.S. Class I freight railroads have begun to use remotely controlled locomotives in and around railroad switching yards. To better understand the safety implications of implementing this technology, a human reliability assessment was conducted to compare remotely controlled locomotive operations with conventional (engineer onboard) yard switching operations. This paper discusses application of the Human Error Assessment and Reduction Technique (HEART) with 2 yard switching employee subject matter experts. Each was asked to assess 11 conventional scenarios and 11 nearly-identical remote control scenarios. Human error probabilities were calculated for each scenario. The HEART assessment revealed no overall difference in human error probabilities between the 2 methods of operation. Additional analyses suggest significant variability between the two assessors. This paper explores differences in how assessors used HEART, including differences in selection of generic task types and error-producing conditions.
Do Driving Impairments from Concurrent Cell-Phone Use Diminish with Practice?
Authors: Cooper Joel
Published: January 2012

Our research examined the effects of practice on in-vehicle cell-phone use. Drivers that reported either high or low real world cell-phone usage were selected to participate in four, hour-and-a-half simulated driving sessions, on different days. The research consisted of two phases, a training phase and a novel transfer phase. Compared to single-task driving, dual-task performance deficits persisted through training and transfer driving conditions. Furthermore, groups of high and low real world experience were equally impaired. It is concluded that practice does not improve the ability to drive while conversing on a cellphone.
Does Metric Feedback Hinder Actions Guided by Cognition?
Authors: Hall Allyson R. , Jones Keith S. , DeLucia Patricia R. , Johnson Brian R.
Published: January 2012

Providing trainees with metric feedback improves their metric distance estimations, but doing so also hinders certain actions. This paper describes a possible explanation for this hindrance. Based on that explanation, it was predicted that metric feedback should not hinder actions that are guided by cognitive processing, i.e., actions guided by the ventral visual system. To investigate this possibility, participants threw underhanded to specific metric distances during Pre and Post-Testing, e.g., throwing an object so that it came to rest 30 feet away. During the intervening Training, participants generated verbal distance estimates. Half received metric feedback. The results indicated that throws improved from Pre to Post-Test, but only when participants received metric feedback during Training. This outcome supports our hypothesis. Moreover, it suggests that trainees must know whether their distance estimation training should be applied to untrained tasks. Doing so may benefit certain tasks. Others, however, may suffer from it.
Deciphering Optimality: A Framework Towards Understanding Optimal Technology Training for Older Adults
Authors: Hickman Jamye M. , Rogers Wendy A. , Fisk Arthur D.
Published: January 2012

Older adults are joining the technology revolution, as they are the fastest growing population using computers and the internet. Due to age-related declines in cognition, they may be at a disadvantage when learning to use new technologies. Training may ameliorate the impact of such disadvantages; however, the lingering question is how best to design such training programs. One limitation of current training models is the lack of integration across research findings resulting in an inability to determine what constitutes optimal training. Previous research has identified many components that may lead to improved performance and it is essential to examine the circumstances in which specific details of training result in specific learning outcomes. To begin to accomplish this, the current paper illustrates a conceptual framework focused on the systematic design of training older adults for technology use. The framework offers an expanded view of the training development process and serves as a guide to future research to help in deciphering optimality of technology training for older adults.
Evaluating Tactility and Dexterity for Military Aviation Protective Gloves
Authors: Allan Karla Eve
Published: January 2012

To avoid penetration from chemical agents, U.S. military Aviators wear chemical-biological (CB) protective clothing, including gloves, while in CB threat environments. This protective requirement typically increases glove thickness which could interfere with tactility and dexterity needed to effectively operate aircraft. An applied laboratory evaluation was conducted to determine if current CB glove tactility and dexterity could be enhanced by the introduction of novel glove concepts. Aviator subjects performed objective tasks based upon standardized tests of tactility and dexterity. They also self-rated their ability to manipulate cockpit controls on aircraft simulator panels. A human factors questionnaire was administered following each test condition and at the conclusion of all conditions. Evidence from all data sources indicates that three novel glove concepts show promise for enhancing tactility and dexterity performance. The approach to combining multiple data sources, the methodological constraints, and lessons learned are discussed.
Usability Testing for Rapid Fielding with Small Ns: Lessons Learned during an Army Operational Field Experiment
Authors: Savage-Knepshield Pamela A.
Published: January 2012

The Army's acquisition process is transforming to meet the needs of a force that must be agile, adaptive, and responsive to asymmetric threats. Advanced capabilities and technologies, which are urgently needed to enable rapid response to evolving military needs, are being developed and pushed out to troops at unprecedented rates. As a result, not all systems have undergone an iterative design process, received usability feedback from their target users, or had design support from human factors engineers to ensure that unit and Soldier considerations have been addressed. Subsequently, these systems may possess characteristics that induce high cognitive workload, fatigue, detectability, or trigger events that lead to fratricide. When human factors engineers encounter a system that has not derived these benefits, they too must become more agile, adaptive, and responsive to ensure that Soldier feedback is collected and that serious issues are identified and resolved before the system makes its way to the battlefield. Lessons learned while participating in advanced technology and experimentation programs include techniques that facilitate working with small Ns, institutional review boards, rapid survey instrument development, and the collection of qualitative feedback as well as the importance of having a “usability tool kit” available to facilitate data collection efforts in an operational field environment.
NextGen Human Factors Research & Engineering Requirements
Authors: Piccione Dino
Published: January 2012

The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is an aviation community vision to transform civil aviation over the next 20 years to meet increasing demand from the flying public for more flight operations, reduced air traffic delays and increased safety. The NextGen challenge is being addressed with an aggressive research, engineering and development plan reflecting an industry / government partnership to build that future. This panel is a forum for two government agencies, the FAA and NASA, to articulate and discuss human factors research and engineering requirements that must be met to achieve this vision.
The Effect of Workload on Conflict Decision Making Strategies in Air Traffic Control
Authors: Fothergill S. , Neal A.
Published: January 2012

The present research examined the impact of workload on the strategies that air traffic controllers use when resolving conflicts between aircraft. Sixteen experienced, en route, radar controllers managed traffic in scenarios of varying levels of workload. As predicted, the level of workload did influence conflict resolution decisions in situations where the optimal solution was more complex and imposed a greater monitoring load on the controller. Specifically, in low workload participants were more likely to adopt strategies that were efficient for the aircraft; whereas in high workload controllers were likely to select expedient, but less efficient, solutions. Additionally, three broader traffic management strategies were identified. The findings reveal how workload affects decision making in this environment and have wider implications for efficiency versus safety trade-offs in similar, dynamic domains.
The Relationship between Aircraft Count and Controller Workload in Different En Route Workstation Systems
Authors: Hah Sehchang , Willems Ben
Published: January 2012

Some air traffic control researchers have reported that the relationship between aircraft count in the sector and controller workload is nonlinear. Other researchers have reported it linear. However, they did not manipulate the number of aircraft separately in their experiments. In our experiment, we gradually increased traffic levels within each experimental run. Our controllers used three different workstation systems with and without data communication. The linear and power models described the relationship well. The proportion of workload variance explained by aircraft count was well above 50%. With these models, we predict controllers could handle about four (13%) more aircraft with data communication than without it with the Display System Replacement (DSR) system that is currently used at Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs).
Testing a Nonveridical Aircraft Collision Avoidance System: Experiment 2
Authors: Knecht William
Published: January 2012

Veridical displays represent realistic scenes. State spaces are nonveridical displays representing n-dimensional information based on arbitrary coordinate axes plus variables such as color and shading. Here, flight performance using only a veridical cockpit display of traffic information (CDTI) was compared to performance augmented by a 4D state space-based collision avoidance system (CDTI+4CAS). Twelve general aviation pilots flew scenarios with the task of deviating as little as possible from course while still maintaining standard enroute separation from traffic. The CDTI+4CAS condition showed performance superiority over the CDTI-only condition for five of five dependent measures of maneuver efficiency, four of four measures of maneuver safety, and six of nine measures of workload.
Human Factors Analysis of Crew Height and Weight Limitations in Space Vehicle Design
Authors: Margerum Sarah , Rajulu Sudhakar
Published: January 2012

A primary question for human factors practitioners is to determine if the user population can be accommodated within a design. Given the wide range of variables feeding into a design, just one of which is human factors, designers will often have restrictions that may potentially impact the level of accommodation. This paper focuses on two case studies in which human factors requirements had impacts at the design level that may be detrimental to the ability of the design to meet other design criteria. The implementation of a Monte Carlo analysis provided insight into the ability of the vehicle to accommodate the mass of different crewmember configurations. In a separate case study, a population analysis was used to determine the impact of clothing effects of a suited crewmember in various suit configurations along with the effects of spinal elongation due to microgravity. These studies use novel approaches to determine what, if any, changes in population accommodation levels have occurred and what factors are important when manipulating the design in the future. The results of these studies provide a backbone for future analyses when working with design considerations.
Frame Consistency in Multi-Attribute Risk Preference Decisions
Authors: Hutchins Shaun , McDermott Patricia L. , Barnes Michael
Published: January 2012

Resource allocation under risk and uncertainty is a complex problem, specifically when making course of action planning decisions on the battlefield. Previous research in this domain has demonstrated the performance impact of visualization aids, feedback, practice, information frame, and time pressure. However, the focus of prior research has been on how to help operators determine where to optimally place a single asset. The current research addressed the same domain, but with the multi-attribute decision of how to best allocate a suite of robotic assets across the battlefield. We explored the impact of information frame and time pressure on decision performance and situation awareness, but further manipulated whether the information frame of decision criteria were forced to a single consistent frame or allowed to vary according to which term was intuitive, regardless of frame. We found both faster response times and more accurate responses within consistently-framed displays over mixed-frame displays. In addition, response time varied less in the consistently-framed displays than the mixed-frame displays.
The Transmission of Spatial Route Information in Distributed Unmanned Vehicle Teams
Authors: McDermott Patricia L. , Fisher Alia , Allender Laurel
Published: January 2012

The purpose was to understand the utility of different methods of communicating spatial information between distributed team members. An unmanned vehicle (UV) operator used a UV to scope out safe routes and enemy locations and used that information to help a Soldier conduct a rescue mission. There were four communication methods: visual, verbal, real-time verbal plus visual (VPV), and delayed VPV. We manipulated who was in command to see the impact on both pushed and pulled information. Results showed advantages of both visual and real-time VPV. We also found that with delayed VPV, the Soldier communicated infrequently which resulted in poorer performance, especially when the Soldier was in command. Results inform how beneficial UV information should be transmitted to Soldiers who need it in the field.
A Direct Perception, Span-of-Control Overview Display to Support a Process Control Operator's Situation Awareness: A Practice-oriented Design Process
Authors: Reising Dal Vernon C. , Bullemer Peter T.
Published: January 2012

This paper presents a practice-oriented design work process for designing effective, direct perception span-of-control overview displays for process control operator positions. Several industry-based failure modes of overview displays are discussed in the context of Endsley's model of situation awareness and the practice-oriented process. The three high-level steps of the design work process are: identify critical process variables, identify the critical interaction requirements, and identify the appropriate visualization requirements. This practice-oriented process draws from cognitive engineering techniques, namely cognitive work analysis and scenario-based design. A conceptual overview display for an actual process plant console operator position is presented and illustrative visualization requirements are discussed.
Adaptation at the Edge: When the System is Complex, the Stakes High, and the Operator Novice
Authors: Klein Helen Altman
Published: January 2012

Cognitive systems engineering explores how experts adapt to dynamic systems in highly technical domains. In a series of interviews, we looked at how patients with type 2 diabetes attempt to manage their own dynamic blood glucose regulatory system. In this paper, we identify the limitations of explicit knowledge and of rules-based and procedures-based instruction for managing blood glucose levels. Next, we outline the roles of problem detection and identification, sensemaking, decision making, and planning/replanning in system control. Finally, we suggest the potential power of mental models as a foundation for self-regulation. This investigation of an uncommon domain supports the generality of the control challenges under presented by uncertainty, complexity, and high stakes. It also suggests instructional strategies that might better help people with type 2 diabetes with critical self-management.
Dynamics of Reciprocal Collaborative Trust in Sensitive Information Repositories
Authors: Gerke Brett , Patterson Emily S.
Published: January 2012

One of the primary rationales offered by practitioners for rejection or significant adaptation of systems after fielding is lack of “trust.” As others have noted, the “trust” concept covers a vast territory and it is challenging to translate the literature into targeted design guidance for building and maintaining trust. In this paper, we specifically examine dynamic relationships of reciprocity and its effect on trust. This will be examined by considering five sensitive information repositories. We posit several concepts and relationships that may provide some traction in analyzing, measuring, and predicting effective and ineffective design of sensitive information repositories. Advances in our understanding of what variables foster desirable “reciprocal” interactions (increasing trust) might be particularly helpful for systems that do not have time for long deliberations or have serious consequences for leaking highly sensitive information.
Designing a Better Shared Whiteboard: Interruption Recovery, Message Prioritization, and Decluttering
Authors: John Mark
Published: January 2012

Interruptions and situation awareness recovery are important issues for distributed team collaboration tasks such as civil emergency operations. Shared whiteboards effectively convey spatial information, but fail to support interruption recovery because they do not mark or log new annotations and they can become cluttered and difficult to search and parse. Can we develop better support tools, and are there general principles of good design for these tools? St. John, Smallman, and Manes (2007) identified four design principles and applied them to develop a shared whiteboard tool called team-CHEX. The tool logged new messages to a strip below the situation display where they could be noticed without distracting from ongoing tasks and where they could be prioritized for review. Clutter was controlled by only displaying message content when selected by the user. Participants answered situation awareness questions about an on-going team task. Team-CHEX outperformed a chat tool, but performed no better than a typical shared whiteboard design that offered no log or clutter control. The hypothesis tested here was that increasing the clutter on the situation display would interfere with using the whiteboard but not team-CHEX. Accordingly, the “messiness” of the annotations was manipulated without changing the information they contained. The results supported the hypothesis: the messy whiteboard was rated as more difficult to use than team-CHEX, and it was frequently abandoned in favor of reviewing text messages to answer the questions. The implication is that there is a trade-off between the benefits of immediate access to information displayed directly on the situation display and the display clutter that results. Once clutter becomes too great, decluttering becomes an effective support feature.