Anna L. Rowe

Conveying emotion in remote computer-mediated-communication

Having the capability to express emotion via remote Computer-Mediated-Communication (CMC) systems may enhance decision making. Thirty-two subjects participated in a simulated remote CMC group-decision-making session. Seventeen subjects had emotional icons available, although use of these icons was optional. The remaining 15 subjects did not have icons available. Dependent measures included frequency of icon usage, conformity, quality of decision, and responses to a subjective questionnaire. The results indicated that subjects used icons when available and liked using them. Finally, subjective questionnaire data indicated that having emotional icons available seemed to make geographicallydispersed CMC more appealing.

A comparison of usability evaluations conducted by different teams

The wide variety of usability methods available to usability engineers offer many approaches to usability testing. However, different evaluation methodologies may lead to the identification of varying interface issues, and different interface designs may result. This study examined how different usability teams approach the same interface evaluation. The results indicate that different teams begin their evaluations in similar manners but tend to diverge after this point. Furthermore, different interface problems are identified by the teams. However, when similar issues are identified, the teams’ redesign recommendations are similar. In general, the results indicate that several evaluators and several methods should be utilized to optimize the identification of interface issues.

Development of Prediction Models for Physical Work Capacity: Practical and Theoretical Implications

The use of pre-employment physical abilities tests has often been criticized as discriminatory to women, older people, and members of certain minority groups. In the present study, body composition (% fat) and VO2 Max were measured in a sample of 771 men and 159 women ranging in age from 21 to 66 years. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that body composition, age, gender, and the interaction between gender and body composition all accounted for statistically significant proportions of variance in VO2 Max. The results are discussed in terms of their support for the validity of pre-employment physical abilities tests for placement in jobs with a high aerobic component.

Swimming Pool Diving Accidents: Human Factors Analyses of Case Study Data

As many as 350 serious spinal cord injuries occur in the United States every year as a result of diving into swimming pools. While there is substantial data on the demographics of injured divers and the events surrounding their injuries, there has been little analysis of the human factors issues associated with this type of accident. Data from 12 swimming pool diving accidents were analyzed in terms of their human factors issues, and the data revealed a number of consistent findings. By virtue of the fact that pools are fairly common, people generally perceive them to be safe. Compounding this sense of security are several interesting perceptual issues about the water depth and the potential risks. People inherently overestimate distances under water, and this effect is exacerbated by cloudy water. Also, all of the divers in this study were young males, who tend to be excessively optimistic and who hold an unrealistic sense of control over potential hazards. This characteristic of male divers was substantiated by the fact that, even when they knew the water was shallow, they unsuccessfully attempted a “shallow dive”. In addition to these perceptions and control factors, there appears to be a lack of appreciation of the hazards associated with diving into swimming pools. Quadriplegia or death are not commonly perceived to be a consequence of diving. Several suggestions are offered which could lead to a reduction in the number and magnitude of swimming pool diving accidents. One approach is to provide an appreciation of the hazards and consequences associated with diving so people can exercise reasonable judgment about when and where to dive.

Mental Models of Metal Models: A Comparison of Mental Model Measurement Techniques

Although use of the mental model construct has proliferated in recent research, the construct lacks a clear definition and an agreed upon method of measurement. Furthermore, the reliability and validity of the different measurement techniques in use have not been established, thereby making generalizations across studies of mental models difficult. The purpose of the current project was to assess several methods of measuring mental models in terms of their reliability/stability over time. Subjects” mental models of the automobile engine system were elicited on two occasions separated by one week, using seven different knowledge elicitation techniques. Subjects” level of experience was also measured to allow comparisons between experts and novices. The results indicate that each of the measurement techniques tended to be reliable for both experts and novices. However, reliability tended to be greater for experts than novices. Additionally, experts tended to agree with each other more than did the novices. Some evidence also indicated that the results from the similarity ratings and subsequent Pathfinder analysis converged with those from the structured interviews.