bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Membrane Keyboards and Human Performance
Authors: Cohen Karen M. 
Published: January 2012

Membrane switch technology has become increasingly popular in many consumer-oriented products due to its low production cost and design flexibility. However, the absence of familiar key travel associated with membrane switches removes an important, direct source of feedback to the user with respect to specific keystrokes. Hence, the conventional wisdom has been that membrane switches without key travel are unacceptable for keyboard applications such as typing tasks. This paper describes systematic human factors research in which typing performance using a commercially available membrane keyboard and a conventional, full-travel keyboard was compared for subjects representing different levels of typing proficiency. Each subject (N = 21) used a membrane keyboard for 3 consecutive (or nearly consecutive) days and a conventional keyboard for 3 consecutive (or nearly consecutive) days. Each day of experience consisted of a one-hour session in which various typing exercises were completed. Traditional tests of typing performance were administered at the beginning and end of each session. The results indicate that for non-touch typists there was little difference in performance between keyboards. For touch typists performance with the conventional keyboard was initially much better than that with the membrane keyboard. There was, however, rapid learning with the membrane keyboard such that, within a few sessions, the difference in typing performance between the conventional and membrane keyboards was reduced substantially. There remained some advantage for the conventional keyboard, compared with the membrane keyboard evaluated here. Future work will be aimed at measurement of the additional improvement in performance resulting from extended practice with better-designed membrane keyboards.
Development of a Human Factors Research Laboratory for Off-Road Vehicle Operator Workstation Design
Authors: Duncan J. R. , Wegscheid E. L. 
Published: January 2012

A new human factors research laboratory has been developed to provide reliable human-performance data for the design of improved off-road vehicle operator workstations. The principal research tool within this laboratory is a vehicle operations simulator. The simulator consists of a hydraulically driven platform upon which a vehicle operator's enclosure or workstation can be mounted. Under computer control, the simulator is capable of motion with six degrees-of-freedom. With this capability, the simulator's motion can be programmed to reproduce operator workstation vibration experienced in operational field environments. Both field recorded data and mathematical simulations of existing and proposed vehicles can be used to command the simulator motion. In addition to simulating vehicle motion, the simulator is capable of producing realistic control and monitoring tasks for the operator, as well as operator enclosure environmental conditions. This paper describes the research objectives for which the simulator was built, the specifications used in the design of the vehicle motion simulator system, the hardware selected in implementing that design, and the computer control used to simulate both field and artificial “ride” histories.
Tailoring Day Scenarios for Night Simulation of Advanced Aircraft Systems
Authors: Simons John C. , Hottman Stephen B. 
Published: January 2012

This effort obtained mission planning factors and flight profiles for a simulator evaluation of a proposed night/adverse weather system. Using two samples of pilots at two stages, generalized day profiles were reduced to a set of specific night profiles for evaluating proposed equipment. The double interview method used in this study can be applied to similar situations which include diverse operational techniques and strategies, but require a limited (but representative) number of flight profiles for a simulation evaluation of projected equipment. (Acronyms are defined in the glossary at the end of the text.)
The Effects of Edgeline Presence on Performance in a Driving Simulator under Sober and Alcohol-Dosed Conditions
Authors: Ranney Thomas A. , Gawron Valerie J. 
Published: January 2012

Accident studies have identified nighttime conditions on rural roads as particular problems for alcohol-impaired drivers. Uneventful driving is hypothesized to result in progressive degradation of tracking performance and a reduced capability to handle the demands of hazardous locations, such as curves. To address these problems, simulations of continuous roadway treatments (i.e., wide edge lines) and spot treatments for curves (i.e., post delineators, chevron alignment signs, patterned pavement markings, and flashing displays) were evaluated experimentally. Twelve subjects drove a simulator under two conditions of task demand and three levels of BAC (0.0, 0.07, 0.12%). The objectives of the study were to determine the effects of alcohol and task demand on driving performance and to determine if providing enhanced visual information concerning roadway alignment would improve the performance of subjects when sober and/or alcohol-dosed. Alcohol effects were measured in terms of overall scenario performance, which included the number of accidents and speed exceedances, and performance on the approach and negotiation of horizontal curves of varying length and curvature. Curve approach and negotiation behavior were also used to evaluate the effects of the roadway treatments. Specific measures included spot measures of speed and lateral placement taken at eight 100-foot intervals along the curve approach and lateral acceleration and position taken continuously over the fixed portion of the curves. The results presented pertain to the effects of the presence of standard and wide edgelines. The discussion relates current findings to those from a previously conducted study.
The Role of Voice in Office Automation
Authors: Bice Kenneth C. 
Published: January 2012

Most people don't think of voice as having a “role” in the office. But at least one study (Knopf 82) shows that 69 percent of an executive's time is spent communicating verbally, either face-to-face or using the telephone. A secretary communicates verbally about 20 percent of the time, mostly on the phone. Other white collar workers range within these times. These are significant portions of a workday, and prime candidates for support from office automation technology. By identifying the needs of office workers, and the voice communication shortcomings, it is possible to chart out how to bring technology to bear on them. The first section of this paper will discuss how voice is used now, in the context of the needs of office workers. It will also address some of its shortcomings. The next section will describe a new voice technology available from Texas Instruments that can help solve these voice needs, consequently improving worker productivity. The third section describes how this new technology can extend a worker's voice capabilities beyond how voice is used today, in the context of the automated office.
Visual Superiority Effect in Memory (Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words)
Authors: Thomas Evelyn Blanch 
Published: January 2012

A question of current theoretical interest that concerns the nature of both recall and recognition of displayed information is the contention that there is pictorial superiority effect (PSE) in memory. In recent years there has been considerable discussion about the notion that pictures are better retained than their verbal labels. There is a good deal of evidence from a variety of recall, recognition and pair-associate learning tasks that have shown this contention to be true. Just what do people remember about a picture? Questions concerning the nature of memory for pictures continue to challenge the curiosity of experimental psychologists. Are words and pictures encoded distinctively? That is, does the memory of an item contain information to indicate whether the item was presented as a word or as a picture? Is there a distinctive processing for words and pictures? The purpose of this paper is to discuss studies rendering support to the notion of pictorial superiority in memory. A number of experiments (e.g., Paivio, 1968, 1966) have shown that picture-pairs are much easier to recognize than pairs comprised of their concrete verbal labels or descriptions. Paivio and Yarmey (1966) obtained support for this hypothesis in a study in which pictures and their noun labels were factorially varied on the stimulus and response side of pairs. Further, Paivio and Yarmey demonstrated that in paired-associate learning, retention appears to function as a single effective dimension that extends from abstract nouns, to concrete nouns to pictures (or objects) in increasing order of effectiveness. The question of the superiority effect of pictorial memory has been investigated by psychologists in the field of memory research. There appear to be at least three possible explanations relative to the source of pictures/word differences. The first model (processing level model) suggests that there are analogous processing stages for pictures and words, but the time required for processing each stage is less for pictorial input. The second model (sensory semantic model) suggests that pictorial inputs require fewer processing transformations than verbal inputs before semantic processing occurs. Finally, the dual encoding model suggests two separate but interconnected verbal and non-verbal processing or symbolic systems. This model argues that pictorial stimuli generate simultaneous verbal and non-verbal long-term memory codes; whereas, words don't generally elicit their pictorial code. The finding that memory is generally better for pictorial than verbal labels is not surprising. The sensory and meaning codes for a picture are apparently more differentiating and less susceptible to interferences. Presumably, more associative cues may be attached to stimuli which have rich visual, as well as verbal associates, so that both recall and recognition performance are improved with pictorial stimuli.
Heartrate as an Indicator of Optimum Control Design for Underground Mining Machines
Authors: Helander Martin G. , Schurick Jayne M. 
Published: January 2012

Machines used in low seem coal mines use manual hydraulic controls for most functions. This study addressed the optimum design of controls used for tramming (driving) a machine. For such tasks, the operator stoop walks behind the machine while pushing the controls. The study intended to determine at what height the controls should be located for a stoop walking task and what pressure would be considered maximum for control activation. Twelve male subjects were paid for their participation in the experiment. The following variables were manipulated within subjects: control pressure (10 and 20 pounds), seem height (40 and 50 in.), and control height (21, 26, 31, and 36 in.). The experiment was performed on a treadmill with a speed of 75 feet per minute. Each subject participated in 12 conditions, each lasting about 15 minutes for a total of three hours. Heartrate was measured continuously and sampled each minute. Oxygen uptake was analyzed for one subject. For the 40 in. seem height, the lowest control height (21 in.) and the highest control force (20 lbs) produced the lowest heartrate. For a 50 in. seem height, the lowest control height (26 in.) and the lowest control force (10 lbs) produced the lowest heartrate. The applicability of the results in terms of human factors design of mining machines is discussed.
Keyboard Design Variables Evaluated during Dual-Task Mode Selection
Authors: Hansen Mark D. 
Published: January 2012

Research was performed to determine the optimal and desirable qualities of a keyboard interfaced with a remote display. The keyboards were two 3 − 3 keyboards, one with buttons 5.16 mm in diameter and the other 12.7 mm square. The experimental task involved subjects centering a set of crosshairs on a cursor on a CRT (with their right hand), while simultaneously selecting modes (with their left hand) on the keyboards without observing the keyboards. The experimental design was as follows: (1) two keyboards; (2) three orientations of the keyboard (0, 15 and 35 degrees) from the horizontal and (3) with and without gloves (approved Air Force flight gloves). This design was conducted as a 3 − 2 − 2 repeated measures factorial design. Performance measures were response time on the keyboards, selection errors on the keyboard and tracking scores. Results of this study indicate that mean response time was found to be significantly lower on the large keyboard when examining both keyboards as a whole and with and without gloves. However, error rate was not found to be a significant factor across conditions. In addition, tracking scores were found to be significant; the tracking only versus the combined task condition. No specific angle was found to be significant, but pilots had a preference for the 15 degree (75%) over the other two keyboards. Thus the results of this study indicate the use of the enlarged keyboard in the 15 degree orientation when using gloves.
User Involvement in Selecting Options and Programming Business Telephone Systems
Authors: Petrick M. Susan 
Published: January 2012

Recently, falling costs of providing computing capability and software have resulted in sudden increases in the number of features and options provided by business telephone systems. Traditionally, when someone purchased or leased a business telephone system, a salesperson assessed special needs and craftspeople customized the system to best meet these needs. This procedure frequently resulted in delays and errors in feature assignments over which even a knowledgable user had little control. Overall dissatisfaction with the system was not uncommon. One major design goal for a new business telephone system, the MERLIN* Communications System, was to reduce occurrence of this problem by allowing users to customize their own systems. An initial set of user programming procedures and written instructions were developed for the smallest MERLIN system. It was necessary that features be programmed using one of the telephones of the MERLIN Communications System as the input/output device, since a special purpose terminal was deemed too costly for purchase by small business customers. A microcomputer-based simulation of the telephone system was developed, and a laboratory study was conducted to evaluate procedures and instructions. Programming accuracy and speed were collected for several classes of users (a total of 36 subjects varying in amount of prior programming experience). In addition to these data, field evaluations of a subsequently modified set of programming procedures will be presented. General implications for designing programming procedures for naive users will also be discussed, especially in regard to designing procedures that require only Small modifications to a standard telephone. Based on success with the smallest system, further studies were carried out to evaluate customer programming of larger, more complex telephone systems. Comprehension of options, decision making, and use of an expanded set of programming procedures were assessed both in the laboratory and in the field. Data from these studies will be presented. Limits to customer participation suggested by these data will also be discussed.
Troubleshooting Procedures for Customers: Design and Evaluation
Authors: Day Mary Carol 
Published: January 2012

The modular construction of many new communications systems offers the possibility for customers to troubleshoot and maintain their own systems. The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate a set of procedures and instructions for customer maintenance of a telephone system for small businesses. Customer maintenance requires that the customer identify the particular component that is causing a problem, and then replace the faulty component. A set of general principles was formulated to guide the design of troubleshooting procedures that could be used by customers with no expertise in telephony or troubleshooting. Logical troubleshooting procedures were then developed and were described in a step-by-step Trouble Isolation Manual. A simulated telephone system, the “Troublemaker”, was used to evaluate the procedures and instructions. With the Troublemaker, the experimenter could specify one of several symptoms (e.g., can't break dial tone) and the particular component (e.g., control unit) which was “causing” the symptom. As components were switched or bypassed during troubleshooting, the symptom tracked the “faulty” component. Ten subjects in each of two groups—one a “technical” group and the other a “nontechnical” group—participated in the study. Each participant was given five problems that required locating the cause of a trouble while using the Manual. During the troubleshooting problems, the participant was observed and was requested to “think out loud.” Non-directive questions were asked, when appropriate, to gain information on sources of confusion or difficulty in the procedures or instructions. Several measures of performance were collected and analyzed: (1) success in locating the cause of a trouble (scored using a strict and a liberal criterion); (2) proportion of steps completed correctly; (3) time required to locate the trouble; (4) subject ratings of the instructions and procedures, and (5) type of errors. These results, their use in revising the Trouble Isolation Manual, and their implications for customer troubleshooting will be discussed.
Recognition Training for Ship Status Using Microcomputer Based CAI
Authors: Hottman Stephen B. , Urban Kenneth E. , Sauer Daniel W. 
Published: January 2012

Microcomputer-based Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) has proven useful in many object recognition tasks, most recently for night attitude recognition of aircraft (Urban, Hottman, and Nelson, 1983; Hottman and Urban, 1983). The application in this study involved the presentation of navigation lights on ships at night from various approach directions. The ability to correctly identify the ship orientation and heading is ship status recognition. Ship outlines and navigation light configurations were used as two types of approaches to train ship status recognition. The performance of any complex task such as this can be improved through two steps: optimization of the system, and training. The inherent flexibility of CAI programming languages and the nature of the task make microcomputer-based systems a very viable approach for training ship status recognition. This study examined the application of a microcomputer-based version of the PILOT language to such a problem, with graphic representation of navigation and running lights as viewed from various directions. Two CAI training conditions were developed and evaluated. Condition one consisted of subjects being presented with the navigation lighting configuration first and then having to pick the appropriate ship orientation. Condition two consisted of subjects being presented with the ship orientation first and then having to pick the appropriate lighting configuration. Subjects were given a pretest and posttest to evaluate ship status recognition performance. Preliminary results indicate that the use of microcomputer CAI represents a viable approach to familiarizing bridge personnel with running and navigation light configurations. Performance data include the number of correct responses and the reaction times associated with these responses. Between group and within group analyses were conducted to determine pretest/posttest effects and the effects of training presentation formats. Follow on studies are being planned with light orientations that are dynamic and where the background is noisy (background environmental lights).
Stress and Aging Effects on Female Workers
Authors: Kumashiro Masaharu , Hasegawa Tetsuya , Mikami Koki , Saito Kazuo 
Published: January 2012

In this project, the mental stress of both young and middle to elderly aged female sales clerks in a large-scale department store in Japan was investigated. Six subjects in each of the two age groups were from 27–33 years and 49–56 years. Measures were recorded regarding the function of concentration TAF-test), CFF-test, multiple choice reaction time, the displacement of body's center of gravity per one minute with eyes opened, tapping ability test per 20 sec., crural circumference and blood pressure. Heart rate was also measured during working hours. Questionnaires were administrated to establish their attitude toward their jobs, and to evaluate their subjective feelings of fatigue and state of health. Results indicated that the function of concentration (TAF) when compared with pre-work values was significantly reduced only in the middle to elderly group. In both groups, the CFF showed a significant lowering and the crural circumference was significantly increased compared with pre-work values. The level of CFF value and tapping ability in the middle to elderly group lowerd significantly in comparison with the younger group. However, compared with the younger group, the middle to elderly group felt a decrease in sujective feelings of fatigue and bordom. Moreover, another interesting finding was that the displacement of body's center of gravity in the middle to elderly group was markedly smaller than that of the younger group due to years spent standing erect during their work.
Instantaneous Performance Evaluation with Feedback can Improve Training
Authors: Connelly Edward M. 
Published: January 2012

Moment-to-Moment (MTM) performance measures, derived from Summary Performance Measures, provide a near instantaneous evaluation of present performance according to how it impacts overall mission (i.e., summary) performance. MTM is a training tool permitting rapid feedback of performance information to the student as deviations from reference performance occur. While the sensitivity of MTM measures allow the rapid feedback at each moment of the task, experimental results suggest that such feedback should be carefully restricted to enhance training efficiency. Obviously, the feedback must use a mode (input channel) that is non-disruptive to the current task, but also the feedback should be modulated to focus on a portion of the total mission (presumably the part where present performance most seriously degrades overall mission performance). Further the trainee should be informed of that portion of the mission keyed to training feedback. This paper describes a research program in which a MTM performance measure is used to generate training feedback signals where the feedback is keyed to the part of the mission resulting in the least desirable performance. But the time duration of feedback is limited to a fixed percentage of the total mission time. The impact of MTM feedback in improving training efficiency vs. feedback of only the total (summary) task performance score is presented along with a description of the method used to produce the MTM measure and the feedback modulation system.
Cognitive Engineering Issues in the Design of a Knowledge-Based Information Retrieval System
Authors: Smith Philip J. , Krawczak Deborah A. , Shute Steven J. , Chignell Mark 
Published: January 2012

EP-X (Environmental Pollution expert) is a prototype expert system that acts as an expert search intermediary for a bibliographic information retrieval system. It searches for documents in the Chemical Abstracts database in the domain of environmental pollution, providing an intelligent human-computer interface that accommodates a wide variety of user backgrounds and interests. This paper discusses 1) the general problem of bibliographic information retrival, 2) the value of combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Factors Engineering (HFE) techniques in the design of an intelligent human-computer interface. 3) the general architecture and functioning of EP-X, and 4) examples of specific issues that arise when attempting to apply both AI and HFE techniques to the design of an interactive computer system.