bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Learning and Performance in an Air Refueling Part-Task Trainer: Preliminary Data Analysis
Authors: Stewart John E. 
Published: January 2012

This paper recounts ongoing attempts to develop a system of performance measures (PM's) for the Air Refueling Part-Task Trainers which will be used by the Military Airlift Command (MAC) for currency training of C-5/C-141 aircrews. The database at present includes over 30,000 observations on a total of 22 student pilots and 3 instructor pilots. Subjects were observed during their participation in the ARPTT course at Boeing-Kent, Washington. Representative multivariate analyses were conducted on subsamples of the data with movement of the simulated receiver aircraft along the roll, pitch and yaw axes and relative movement forward-aft, azimuth and vertical comprising the independent variables, and time spent in the refueling envelope the dependent. The most important predictor was movement about the fore-aft axis relative to the tanker. No others were significant. The implications of these and related findings as to aircrew training and PM development are discussed.
Chess Model Applications to Study Improvements in Driver's Night Visual Performance
Authors: Bhise Vivek D. 
Published: January 2012

This paper presents the results of several studies conducted by using the Ford Comprehensive Headlamp Environment Systems Simulation (CHESS) model (1,2). This model provides a much broader, more comprehensive and more economical computerized method for measuring headlighting performance than the traditional seeing distance field tests. The model was developed from an extensive program including nighttime field tests, traffic surveys and analysis and applications of earlier research work. The model was simulated to study how various improvements in drivers night visibility can be made by altering characteristics related to vehicle headlamps, roadways and driver behavior. Some of the variables used in these sensitivity analyses included changes in headlamp beam, headlamp aim, road delineation practices, traffic velocities, roadway lighting practices, and night travel exposure.
VDT Operator Pupil Diameter Changes, Accommodation Changes and Subjective Comfort/Discomfort Score Changes over a Working Day
Authors: Zwahlen Helmut T. , Hartmann Andrea L. 
Published: January 2012

Pupil diameter, accommodation and subjective comfort/discomfort were measured at certain times during the working day. Six subjects, all experienced typists, were used and worked two full days in a VDT workstation using two different data presentations, i.e. hard copy-screen and split screen, and a data entry and a file maintenance/editing task. An Applied Science Laboratory 1998 computer controlled eye monitor system was used to collect and analyze the pupil diameter data and the eye scanning data. A field laser optometer was used to measure the accommodative state of the subjects' lenses for a viewing distance of 6m (.17 diopters) before and immediately after each work session. The results of this study indicate that neither the pupil diameter changes nor the accommodation changes reveal any consistent pattern which would enable one to predict reliably the actual mental workload, general fatigue, ocular discomfort or fatigue of VDT operators. On the whole the changes in accommodation over three hours of VDT work (near-visual task) follow the trend to a slightly more myopic vision for a distant 6m target. But these changes are relatively small and are accompanied by a rather large variability. The scores for the nine visual comfort/discomfort questions were rather low when compared to some of the musculoskeletal comfort/discomfort questions. Also, the rest breaks and the lunch break did produce rather small and not as consistent decreases in the ocular comfort/discomfort scores when compared with the effects on some of the musculoskeletal comfort/discomfort scores. Correlations between accommodation and some of the visual comfort/discomfort scores were examined to see how reliable the changes in accommodation measured with the field laser optometer were in predicting visual problems such as “hard to see sharply”. None of the correlations were statistically significant.
American National Standard for Human Factors Engineering of Visual Display Terminal Workstations: A Report to the Society
Authors: Lynch Gene 
Published: January 2012

The American National Standard for Human Factors Engineering of Visual Display Terminal Workstations, the first standard sponsored by the Human Factors Society, is in the final stages of acceptance as an American National Standard. This standard addresses the physical and perceptual aspects of the visual display terminal workstation as used in text processing, data entry, and data inquiry. Standards take on many different forms and fill a variety of needs. Basically a standard provides a reference. Some standards are written so that two systems may be designed to complement each other or fit together. Lightbulbs and fixtures designed to the same standard will work together. In the case of human factors standards one half of the system is already designed, the human. The variety of the design of this part of the system requires that human factors standards identify the parameters to be considered and the corresponding measurement methods needed to insure that the equipment is designed to fit the individual human. A good solution needs to be based on the particular set of circumstances at hand. The voluntary standards method, known as the American National Standards, provides a vehicle for specifying the appropriate parameters and measurement methods while incorporating the necessary flexibility required to insure good designs for individuals. The purpose of this panel session is to provide the society with an interactive session with representatives of the standards drafting committee. A brief history of the committee and its activities will be presented. The panelists will then describe the approach taken in each of the major sections, the mandatory requirements, and the elements the panelists consider to be of particular interest
Driver Behavior at Intersections: An Analysis of Accident Related Variables
Authors: Grubb Monty G. 
Published: January 2012

An intersection driving simulation was created by providing research participants with a video display of approaching intersections in a 120 degree visual field. Six groups were formed according to age and sex. All participants viewed 14 different intersections containing varied traffic control devices. Individual workload was assessed in three response modes: performance, subjective, and physiological. A MANOVA was performed on six dependent variables in the 3 (age) X 2 (sex) design. Results indicate significant main effects for both age and sex.
Preparation for Expert Witnessing in Products Liability and Related Litigation
Authors: Irwin Charles Holmes 
Published: January 2012

The rapid growth of products liability and related litigation is common knowledge. The social, scientific and educational significance of this growth imparts great importance to the subject matter of this symposium. Specifically, there exists a clear requirement that our professional involvement in litigation meet the highest professional standards both with respect to our science and with respect to the law. Special problems and risks arise vis a vis science with its standards of objectivity and impartiality and the adversial aspect of the legal process. In a sense science and law are almost antithetical. Whereas in science individuals proceed with impartiality and objectivity, in law individuals adopt adversarial roles and only the court is expected to be impartial and objective. Herein lie risks for which rigorous preparation is essential in order to participate in this demanding and exciting pursuit. In this syposium we will share the experience of several distinguished forensic experts in human factors. Each one brings years of participation in the several phases of forensic practice as well as participation in the professional exchange within the Human Factors Society. This symposium will emphasize requirements for practice in the forensic speciality and will advance those requirements in terms of: 1) academic preparation, including essentials of governing statute and case law relating to warranties, products liability, and personal injury; 2) investigation and analysis of the engineering events and design decisions at issue and; 3) civil litigation including response to such discovery procedures as interrogatories and depositions as well as adversarial cross-examination. Dr. Martin Kurke, psychologist and attorney, will discuss the broader aspects of preparation touching upon the historical development of scientific forensics leading through forensic psychology to academic and institutional foundations of forensic human factors. A more specific presentation by Dr. Melvin Rudov will discuss the practioner in terms of the tools required for successful practice and the phases in litigation for which the expert must be prepared, including analysis, discovery and testimony. Dr. Loma Middendorf will focus in greater detail upon her experience with formulation of integrated expert opinion based upon valid, reliable data which may be adequately defended during rigorous cross-examination designed to impeach or demonstrate witness bias, incompetence and possible perjury. Certification and licensing will be a subordinate but important topic of interest to the three presenters as well as to Dr. Arnold Small who has consented to be the discussant.
Design Engineers and the Design Process: Decision Strategies and Human Factors Literature
Authors: Klein Gary A. , Brezovic Christopher P. 
Published: January 2012

The types of human perception and performance information that training device designers need in making design decisions were studied to identify the types of human performance data needed to make these decisions. A total of 50 experienced designers were studied. For a subset of 39 of these designers, the interviews focused on critical design decisions where there was a need for human perception and performance data. The utility of the sources used in the decision was assessed and showed the present technical literature database of little value in the problem solving of the designers. The data collected indicated systematic decision making strategies were used in a minority of cases. Instead, there was a heavy reliance on informal experiments and analogous cases for guidance in resolving design questions, The implications are that human factors specialists can have a stronger influence on design through identification of analogous cases, and participating in prototype studies than by identifying basic research findings.
Usability Testing of Screen Design: Beyond Standards, Principles, and Guidelines
Authors: Schell David A. 
Published: January 2012

Developers are encouraged to adhere to standards and follow principles and guidelines when designing screens. Each has its place and its limitations in designing screens. Because of the limited research behind current standards and because each product involves many considerations, just applying today's standards, principles, and guidelines does not guarantee good screen design. Designers should also test screen design with users in a usability test laboratory. This paper discusses the importance of conducting laboratory usability testing. It focuses on the role of usability testing in the process of refining screen design. The paper also presents some of the major advantages that usability testing offers over other methods of improving screen design.
Human Factors as Design: An Attempt to Bridge the Gap between Basic and Applied Research
Authors: Moray Neville 
Published: January 2012

This paper describes a course in the human factors of the design of complex systems. The course content, methods, and source materials were chosen to emphasize the possibility of using “basic” research in the applied problem of designing complex human-machine systems. Students were required to handle interdisciplinary knowledge and work with engineers on designing a process control plant. Three important principles are proposed to enable basic research to be applied to design problems. These are the Principle of Boundary Conditions which allows false theories to be useful: the Principle of Limiting Values, which allows exact quantities collected in context free research to be used in context dependent design: and the Principle of Importance in statistics, which states that significant results which have small magnitudes should be ignored in design. The paper will describe the experience of centering human factors training on design rather than knowledge acquisition.
How can Manufacturing Human Factors Help save a Company: Intervention at High and Low Levels
Authors: Drury C.G. , Kleiner B.M. , Zahorjan J. 
Published: January 2012

Now that manufacturing has become a respectable topic in industry, an obvious question is how human factors/ergonomics can contribute to the improvement of manufacturing. The traditional route for ergonomics intervention has been a Project route, with a set of objectives agreed between the human factors engineer and people within the company. Projects, however, do not ask the question of whether human factors intervention is likely to have an impact on the company's strategic objectives, for example, remaining in the manufacturing of a particular product. Case studies in a variety of industries are used to contrast the project approach with a more strategic approach. It is concluded that the project may represent sub-optimization in that a successful outcome of the project may have no impact upon company survival without a careful examination of the strategic plans of the company.
CSCW: Evolution and Status of Computer Supported Cooperative Work
Authors: Cornell Paul , Luchetti Robert , Mack Lisbeth A. , Olson Gary M. 
Published: January 2012

Recently we have experienced an exponential increase in the use of work groups to solve business problems, make decisions and develop products. In the past five years several products and facilities have come on-line which provide computer support for group activities. As is typical of new fields, this domain goes by many names, the most common being computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW). The pace of research and development in CSCW is brisk. In this symposium we review these developments and describe the state-of-the-art. Many forms of CSCW exist, but here we will focus specifically on collaboration that occurs in the same time and place. Since much of the literature does not overlap that of the typical human factors professional, the review focuses on the interests and concerns of our discipline. Included in the review are five of the better known labs: Capture Lab (EDS), Project Nick (MCC), Prexsys (U. of Arizona), the Pod (ICL), and Colab (Xerox). Also reviewed is our own work-in-progress at the Collaboration Technology Suite at the University of Michigan and Andersen Consulting, and the Behavioral and Environmental Research group at Steelcase, Inc. Four areas of concern are covered: the nature of group work, technological alternatives, ergonomic and environmental concerns, and future directions. CSCW technology holds much promise for facilitating group performance. It is felt that existing and emerging CSCW technology is not the obstacle but rather a catalyst for change, potentially altering the process and content of collaborative work.
Incorporating Dynamic Field of View Information to Design the Next-Generation Black Hawk Helicopter Cockpit
Authors: Simon Robert , Dunn Dennis 
Published: January 2012

Changing flight tactics and increased use of Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) has focused attention on the limited Field of View (FOV) of the Army UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter. To improve the FOV in the next generation Black Hawk, the U.S. Army tasked an independent contractor to investigate the problem and propose alternatives. The study involved a comprehensive review of Army requirement documents, existing FOV studies, and accident data. Close attention was given to dynamic flight characteristics that affect FOV. Also, the study team collected technical data related to military rotary wing design, administered a survey to pilots; and interviewed users and other technical experts. The study revealed the current UH-60A design meets the requirements of MIL-STD-850B under static conditions. The only exception is the obstructed view that the door and windshield vertical structures create. However, under dynamic conditions the UH-60A cockpit design and normal flight characteristics substantially reduce the FOV in critical areas. The study produced eleven options that can improve and/or enhance the next generation Black Hawk's FOV if incorporated into the new design. Each option is presented and discussed.
The Case for Independent Software Usability Testing: Lessons Learned from a Successful Intervention
Authors: Biers David W. 
Published: January 2012

This report presents the lessons learned from a software usability test for an external customer. An initial evaluation with naive users revealed problems in the user interface and that the customer's objectives were not being met. After initial resistance to making changes in the software, the customer decided to delay release of its product to implement some of the recommendations and changed the focus of initial release to experienced users. The results of a second evaluation conducted on the revised product with experienced users were positive. Several lessons can be learned from the above evaluation: (1) Usability evaluation should be incorporated earlier in the software development cycle to minimize resistance to changes in a hardened user interface; (2) Organizations should have an independent usability evaluation of software products to avoid the temptation to overlook problems to release the product; (3) Multiple categories of dependent measures should be employed in usability testing because subjective measurement is not always consonant with user performance; and (4) Even though usability testing at the later stages of development may not impact software changes, it is useful to point out areas where training is needed to overcome deficiencies in the software.
An Operator Workload Assessment Program for Army Systems
Authors: Christ Richard E. , Braun Bruce 
Published: January 2012

Projected manpower declines coupled with increases in personnel costs and battlefield sophistication has prompted an increased reliance on high technology equipment in new Army systems. This advanced technology often features highly automated functions and promises substantially increased human and system productivity. However, potential enhancements to system performance may not be realized because the new technology frequently increases human perceptual, cognitive and psychomotor requirements to the point where the system operator may be said to be overloaded. Such a condition not only endangers the mission, but also threatens the safety of the soldier. As a result of these concerns, the Army Research Institute (ARI) has initiated a long-term research progran aimed at controlling excessive operator/crew workload in emerging Army systems. The objective of a recently completed three-year work unit of the workload research program was to validate operator workload measures on three Army systems and use the results to develop guidance for controlling operator workload in new Army systems. This research work unit - the Operator Workload (OWL) Program - has developed a number of products which contribute to the Army's initiative for Manpower and Personnel Integration (MANPRINT) during the acquisition and continuing development of materiel systems. The objective of this symposium is to present an overview of the approach and accomplishments of the OWL program, highlight two examples of experimental and analytical work which has been completed, describe an expert system developed to provide practical guidance on how best to assess workload levels for a given set of circumstances, and identify several areas for future research. With guidance provided by the discussant and input from members of the audience, the desired impact of this symposium will be a heightened awareness of the importance to the Army MANPRINT initiative of this and other continuing research programs. The long term objectives of these research efforts should be to develop reliable and valid methods which: (1) forecast the impact of operator workload on the design and performance of new Army systems, (2) effectively allocate workload-imposing tasks among soldier, hardware, and software components of systems and assess the influence of workload factors on the organizational design of Army units, and (3) establish procedures for the selection, classification, and training of soldiers to effectively cope with operator workload in operational situations.
Human-Computer Interface Quality: Part 1–Process or Product?
Authors: Schwalm Robert C. 
Published: January 2012

This paper describes an on-going project to study and improve human-computer interface quality. The purpose of the project is to identify and acquire the tools and job aids needed to support high-quality human-computer interface (HCI) design. The objective is to integrate these tools in a cohesive, formal design process. The design process, supported by a suite of integrated tools, will create a design environment that promotes designer effectiveness and productivity and ensures the design of high-quality user interfaces. Formalizing the HCI design process and integrating the support tools are necessary tasks because user interface quality is not yet directly quantifiable. Quality of process is the best predictor of quality of product. This paper specifically describes efforts to define and measure human-computer interface quality. This paper also presents the results of a survey of human factors specialists to identify and prioritize the tools and job aids needed to be more effective and more productive in the design of high-quality user interfaces. Finally, the paper briefly addresses the need for a formalized HCI design process and integration of supporting tools and job aids.
Comparing Touchscreen to Speech Input in the Control of a Simple Batch Process
Authors: Valk Mary Ann 
Published: January 2012

Thirty subjects used a process control simulation to make six batches of ice cream each, using touchscreen input three times and speech input three times. Touchscreen and speech inputs were statistically compared for time to task completion, process control related errors, wrong input mode errors, input-device-related errors, total errors, and opinions about preferences and feelings of control. A touchscreen is the recommended operator input device for control of simple batch processes, based on the results of this experiment.