bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
User-Computer Interface Requirements for Remote Access Data Bases
Authors: Roop Elizabeth A. , Eike David R. , Heasly Christopher C. 
Published: January 2012

Remote Access Data Base (RADB) technology offers a variety of opportunities for rapidly acquiring and disseminating information. However, if the exchange of information is to be optimized, issues concerning the RADB user-computer interface (UCI) must be identified and addressed. For the purposes of this study, the major issues in the operation of RADBs focused primarily on the search and retrieval requirements of the remote user, who is unlikely to be willing to devote much time or effort to learn about the data base system. Many remote users will fall into the category of low sophistication with regard to details of the design and operation of the system. To resolve these issues, it is desirable to include features in the RADB UCI which will enhance the effectiveness and power of the search while minimizing the effort required to master use of the system. Differences in features related to the design and operation of the user-computer interfaces of the various RADB shells were identified from product literature. These differences were translated into questionnaire items designed to allow respondents to indicate the relative importance of each feature. The survey was organized into three areas: user access, search and retrieval protocols, and on-line help. Users ranging in experience from daily access to yearly access, were surveyed. The data were subjected to the appropriate statistical analyses. The preliminary results revealed that query procedures and search and retrieval protocols are of utmost importance to the users surveyed. Guidelines of RADB UCI design were developed from the results of both the surveys and literature reviews.
Flight Telerobotic Servicer: Teleoperations in Microgravity
Authors: Thomason Spencer C. , Yorchak John P. 
Published: January 2012

The Flight Telerobotic Servicer (FTS) is a dual-arm robot which will perform operations in space through manual teleoperation or autonomous control. The FTS is being designed and built by Martin Marietta Astronautics Group for NASA and will be used for aiding astronauts in assembling, servicing, maintaining, and inspecting Space Station Freedom (SSF). Robots will be an important part of SSF operations in order to limit hazardous astronaut EVA time. Some typical tasks the FTS is being designed to perform include installation/removal of structural truss elements, changeout of modular electronics packages, mate/demate of connectors, and performance of inspection tasks. FTS control stations will be located on board both the Shuttle and SSF. These workstations consist of controls/displays, video from telerobot cameras, force reflecting hand controllers, and operator restraints. Special problems which have been encountered by the ongoing human factors effort include the design of a restraint system to accommodate 5th to 95th percentile astronauts, maximizing hand controller operational envelopes in limited space, noncongruent operator, display, and teleoperation coordinate systems, and design of a human-computer interface which minimizes the amount of time the operator must release hand controllers to perform other workstation functions. Test flights for FTS have been planned for 1991 and 1993 and will allow evaluation of such issues as the biomechanics of a restrained operator using force reflecting hand controllers in microgravity, assessing effects on operator performance of various control modes, use of different translational, rotational, and force reflection gains, degrees of shared control (active compliance), and operator fatigue.
The Uses of Prototyping in User Interface Design and Evaluation
Authors: Virzi Robert A. , Penn Dick , Tullis Thomas S. , Greene Sharon L. 
Published: January 2012

This panel will explore the varied uses of prototyping in the user interface design process. We expect to show that there is no single thing called “user interface prototyping” and that the differences are, in many ways, greater than the similarities. Panelists have been chosen to represent a wide cross section of user interface design tasks. Collectively, members of the panel have experience in prototyping hardware and software, computer programs and telecommunications services, residential, business, and engineering applications, at various levels of fidelity, and in all parts of the design process. We expect to show how these factors all influence the way prototypes are used and that the designer must be careful in choosing the most appropriate prototyping methodology for his or her needs. Each panelist will begin by characterizing the portion of the design process that he or she will be talking about. This represents a major division in the way prototypes are used, both in the way they are built and in the type of information sought by the designer. Prototypes used early in the design process (requirements analysis) tend to be lower fidelity and are used to test preferences for design alternatives, while those used later in the design process (system specification) tend towards higher fidelity and are used to test usability. Each panelist will point out the strengths and weaknesses of his or her prototyping methodology. Each panelist will address the following points: • Appropriate uses of prototyping methodology (early vs. late in design process) • Characteristics of prototypes (platform, level of fidelity, etc.) • Information gathered from the prototypes (evaluate design preferences, measure performance, etc.) • Relative costs of the method (time to build, flexibility, etc.)
Transfer across Computer Command Menus
Authors: Smelcer John B. , Walker Neff 
Published: January 2012

Two experiments are reported which examine the effects of menu organization and command naming on performance across computer command menus. Results indicate that different menu organizations are best for different selection tasks when switching between applications. Surprisingly, different sources for command names have no effect on selection times. When users know the exact names of the commands that they are searching for, an alphabetic organization produces faster search times in early trials. However, when users know only the definitions of the commands that they are searching for, a conceptual organization leads to faster search times in early trials. Knowledge of this conceptual organization transfers to a new application and speeds selection time in the second application. Also, similar names for identical commands transfers to the second application and improves performance there. However, keeping identical commands in the same position across applications has no effect on performance.
Teaching Human Factors Design Skills: Science OR Engineering Doesn't do the Trick
Authors: Dingus Thomas A. 
Published: January 2012

The objective of this paper is to describe a laboratory approach to teaching human factors design skills to Master's level students. A description of this approach, utilizing both engineering and scientific approaches to determine optimum design solutions is discussed. In addition, this teaching methodology is contrasted with the more common “either or” approaches found in human factors programs contained within engineering or psychology departments. The paper will also describe the training of human factors design as a skill in the form of a “hands-on” laboratory setting as opposed to a “how-to” lecture setting. Papers such as this provide an opportunity for educators to exchange ideas and approaches to human factors education. This is particularly important for a field as diverse as human factors, where several differing viewpoints exist.
Activity and Cooperation in a Multi-Person Teleoperator Cockpit
Authors: Hood Christopher C. , Draper John V. , Handel Stephen 
Published: January 2012

This experiment attempted to determine how members of a teleoperator crew use equipment and interact when performing remote maintenance tasks. The experiment used a modified process analysis technique to record how users performed two typical remote maintenance tasks. Five people participated in the experiment. They were paired into teams representing several experience levels. Participants completed the tasks while two television cameras recorded their actions on videotape. Observers later scored the videotapes using the process analysis chart. The percent of time each participant spent engaged in each activity was calculated, as was the percent of time the participants cooperated and co-acted in the cockpit. This information will be helpful in designing future teleoperator cockpits and other related control rooms.
The Effect of Rigid Container Shape on Maximum Acceptable Weight of Lift
Authors: Ostrom Lee T. , Smith James L. , Ayoub M.M. 
Published: January 2012

In the chemical, pharmaceutical, and paint manufacturing industries raw and finished materials are frequently shipped in cylindrical rigid containers instead of boxes. Psychophysical manual materials handling lifting capacity studies to date have not considered whether rigid container shape has an effect on maximum acceptable weight of lift. Two psychophysical studies were designed and conducted in order to answer this question. During the first experiment ten subjects lifted boxes with three different heights, at three different frequencies, and through three different lift ranges in order to establish a data base in which to compare the results of the second experiment. During the second experiment the same group of subjects lifted cylinders with three different heights at the same frequencies of lift and through the same lift ranges as the first experiment. The subjects adjusted the weight of the box until they felt they could safely lift that weight for eight hours. This weight was the maximum acceptable weight of lift (MAWL). The experimental design for both experiments was a 3 factor randomized complete block design with blocking on subjects. The dependent variables were oxygen consumption (VO2), MAWL, and Borg's rating of perceived exertion. The results indicated that when one designs a lifting task for a rigid container the shape of the rigid container, whether a cylinder or a box, does not need to be taken into account and that current psychophysical lifting capacity prediction models can be used to design cylinder lifting tasks.
Manpower, Personnel, Training and Safety (MPTS) Simulation Tools: Network and Simulation for Workload Assessment and Modeling (SIMWAM)
Authors: Kirkpatrick Mark , Malone Thomas B. , Heasly Christopher C. , Baker Clifford C. 
Published: January 2012

MANPRINT simulations in the early stages of weapon system acquisition involve modeling of functional and task sequences for individual operators/maintainers and for crews. The models identify function and task sequences associated with alternate function allocation approaches and design concepts. One tool developed for the task modeling activity is NETWORK™, a graphic task sequencing tool which establishes the predecessor relationships among tasks and supports the identification of the complete set of tasks. In the assessment of the adequacy of alternate function allocation strategies of roles-of-man vs automation, task sequences are modeled to reflect the distinguishing characteristics of each allocation approach. The allocation concepts and/or design concepts are then evaluated through the use of SIMWAM™ (Simulation for Workload Assessment and Modeling) workload assessment modeling procedure. With SIMWAM the workloads and performance problems for each alternate allocation approach can be determined, and multi-operator workloads can be quantified. During a SIMWAM run, tasks are called when prior tasks are completed. If sufficient operators are available for a called task, then it will be started. Input data which describe a task include a list of qualified operators and the number of these required to perform the task. In attempting to start a task, SIMWAM will assign qualified operators who are currently idle. SIMWAM can also interrupt lower priority tasks in process to obtain operators for higher priority tasks. This paper describes the NETWORK and SIMWAM tools and presents reports of the results of specific applications of the the two tools.
Effect of Image Polarity on VDT Task Performance
Authors: Snyder Harry L. , Decker Jennie J. , Lloyd Charles J. C. , Dye Craig 
Published: January 2012

Three experiments were conducted in which positive and negative contrast on visual display terminals were directly compared. Operator tasks included visual search and reading, with accuracy and timeliness of response measured. In all cases where significant differences exist, better performance was obtained with negative contrast (dark characters or symbols on a lighter background). The increases in performance range from a low of 2.0 percent to a high of 31.6 percent. Based on the above results, we believe that there are significant advantages in visual task performance obtained from the selection of negative contrast displays. Current standards that require negative contrast appear to be justified, while future revisions of ANSI/HFS 100-1988 and other standards should seriously consider incorporating negative contrast as a recommendation or requirement.
Text-To-Speech Technology for Dual Party Relay Services
Authors: Tsao Yao-Chung 
Published: January 2012

We evaluated several human factors issues involved in applying AT&T Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology to Dual Party Relay (DPR) services for hearing- or speech-impaired end-users. Covered in this paper are: 1) lexical studies that were conducted to gather abbreviations and typographical errors generated by users of the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD); and 2) a laboratory trial that was performed to evaluate the feasibility of the TTS application and to examine associated user interface issues. Information gathered from the lexical studies was used for the laboratory trial and for constructing the field trial system. The laboratory trial consisted of several studies, including a comparison between the comprehension of TTS and human voices, identification of a desirable TTS presentation rate, examination of the effects of pauses, and observation of the difficulties related to TTS relay calls. Recommendations were made based on the lab trial results. We concluded that applying TTS to DPR service is feasible. That is, hearing and hearing-impaired subjects can carry on DPR conversations with the use of TTS technology. A field trial was subsequently conducted in California.
The Missing Link? Comparison of Manual and Automated Linking in Hypertext Engineering
Authors: Nordhausen Bernd , Chignell Mark H. , Waterworth John 
Published: January 2012

Most discussions of hypertext usability are not founded in empirical measurement but more on conjectures based on personal experience. In this paper we report on two empirical analyses of hypertext usability, focusing on the quality of links produced by different means. We conducted two experiments to test the predicted relevance and the evaluated relevance of links, that is, where links are evaluated either before or after they are traversed. In order to evaluate these two kinds of relevance, we conducted two experiments where a hypertext document was created from a printed text. In each experiment we compared the relevances of three different sets of links. One set was created by a human author, whereas the second set was created automatically using the HEFTI (Hypertext Extraction From Text Incrementally) model for converting text into hypertext. We also generated a third set of links by assigning links randomly between nodes. The main goal of this research was to develop empirical tests that evaluate the usability of hypertext links. A second goal was to test the validity of automatically generated links using the HEFTI model. In this paper we detail the two experiments, and discuss their implication for methods of hypertext usability assessment and design.
Development of a Measure of Training Program Effectiveness for Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Connelly Edward M. , Haas Paul , Van Hemel Susan B. , Wreathall John 
Published: January 2012

The approach taken to develop measures of training program effectiveness recognizes that many subject matter experts (SMEs) with varying viewpoints on training effectiveness are working to insure nuclear power plant (NPP) safety. These viewpoints include: Training program developers; Nuclear site personnel: instructors, supervisors, managers; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) personnel; Contractor inspection/audit personnel; Industry professional organization personnel; University researchers. SMEs from each of these viewpoints have an impact, via their work, on NPP training effectiveness and consequently on NPP safety. Their training program assessment strategies are in-place, operational entities which are used to guide their work. Since those assessment strategies are largely unknown because of their unstated, subjective form, several critical issues arise: 1. Are the SMEs' training assessment strategies different? 2. If the training assessment strategies are different, are they equivalent, or are they working unknowingly toward somewhat different goals? 3. Can a measure of training effectiveness be built by modeling SMEs' assessment strategies? To answer these questions we must model the effectiveness rating strategies of various SMEs whose ratings are important to training; i.e., build an measure of effectiveness (MOE) representing the rating strategy of a sample of those SMEs. A quantitative model of these assessment strategies permits a broad review of them by all interested parties and provides the basis for building a broadly accepted training program MOE. Major differences in assessment strategies can be examined to determine whether they are appropriate to the different points of view or are in conflict. This paper describes the basic concepts of building effectiveness measures, the methodology used to build the measures, a summary of the measures developed from NRC and industry sources, and an analysis of the differences among SMEs' measures.
Utility Assessment of Side Object Detection Systems for Heavy Trucks
Authors: Mazzae Elizabeth N. , Garrott W. Riley , Cacioppo Anthony J. 
Published: January 2012

Side object detection systems (SODS) alert drivers to the presence of traffic alongside their vehicle within a defined detection zone. Their intent is to reduce lane changing and merging collisions. The effect of right SODS on the safety related behavior of commercial vehicle drivers was examined in this study. Eight subjects drove a tractor-semitrailer equipped with four different sets of right SODS or mirrors. Subjects were tested with two right SODS (a radar-based system, and an ultrasonic-based system), a fender-mounted convex mirror, and, for comparison, standard side view mirrors. For each case, subjects drove the test vehicle through a set route for one day. The effect of these systems on driver behavior and the extent to which safety may be improved by implementing SODS were assessed based upon the correctness of responses and verbal response times to Right Clear questions, and upon subject glance fixations and durations. A debriefing questionnaire was used to acquire subjects' opinions about the SODS. Driver performance with SODS was not significantly improved over that observed with standard side view mirrors. Analysis of the correctness of responses to Right Clear questions showed that subjects' accuracy in assessing the traffic situation along the right side of the vehicle was not improved by the SODS, but was improved by the fender-mounted convex mirror. Verbal response times to Right Clear questions were significantly lower with the SODS and fender-mounted convex mirror than with standard mirrors. This difference may have resulted from a learning effect caused by presenting the standard mirrors first to each subject. Glance data showed that subjects only sometimes visually sampled the SODS displays. Responses to debriefing questionnaires indicated that subjects were receptive to the concept of SODS and very positive about the fender-mounted convex mirror. However, if SODS are to offer significant safety benefits in the future, more work is needed to refine their performance and design.
Adjustable Sit-Stand Workstations in the Office
Authors: Nerhood Heather L. , Thompson Steven W. 
Published: January 2012

This study describes the approach taken and the results measured thus far from the introduction of sit-stand workstations in an office environment. Adjustable workstations have been developed and introduced in an office within United Parcel Service (UPS). A sit-stand workstation consists of the following components: modular panel walls, an adjustable front work surface, an adjustable rear work surface, and an adjustable chair. An employee can sit or stand while working and perform the adjustments to the workstation with fingertip ease and control. The job requirements of all of the employees using the new workstations are sedentary in which there is constant use of the computer to perform a variety of tasks. A training program was also introduced to review basic principles of human factors and ergonomics and to provide instruction in how to properly use the new workstations, chairs, and other accessories. Prior to the installation of the workstations, various benchmark data were collected including: production levels, absenteeism, and injuries and illnesses. A survey of body part discomfort identified areas that were of concern. Following the installation of the workstations, the same data have been and will continue to be collected to measure the effectiveness of the ergonomic interventions. Body part discomfort decreased by an average of 62 percent. Production in two departments that were monitored demonstrated improvement, however at this time the study cycle is too short to hypothesize long term results. The occurrence of injuries and illnesses decreased by more than half. Absenteeism did not show significant changes. These data will continue to be tracked to measure the results of the interventions.
Technology, Teacher' Style and Classroom
Authors: Ambardar Anita 
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this program of research was to investigate the impact of computer/technology in student learning and motivation to learn in an urban school setting. Specifically, the following questions were raised: 1. DOES the USAGE OF COMPUTER/TECHNOLOGY ENHANCE STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND MOTIVATION TO LEARN IN AN URBAN CLASSROOM SETTING? 2. HOW ARE the TEACHERS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES? 3. WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE TEACHERS TO USE TECHNOLOGY IN A CLASSROOM?