Brittany Sellers

Perceptual training for visual search

People are better at visual search than the best fully automated methods. Despite this, visual search remains a difficult perceptual task. The goal of this investigation was to experimentally test the ways in which visual search performance could be improved through two categories of training interventions: perceptual training and conceptual training. To determine the effects of each training on a later performance task, the two types of trainings were manipulated using a between-subjects design (conceptual vs. perceptual × training present vs. training absent). Perceptual training led to speed and accuracy improvements in visual search. Issues with the design and administration of the conceptual training limited conclusions on its effectiveness but provided useful lessons for conceptual training design. The results suggest that when the visual search task involves detecting heterogeneous or otherwise unpredictable stimuli, perceptual training can improve visual search performance. Similarly, careful consideration of the performance task and training design is required to evaluate the effectiveness of conceptual training. Practitioner Summary: Visual search is a difficult, yet critical, task in industries such as baggage screening and radiology. This study investigated the effectiveness of perceptual training for visual search. The results suggest that when visual search involves detecting heterogeneous or otherwise unpredictable stimuli, perceptual training may improve the speed and accuracy of visual search.

Beyond "spatial ability": examining the impact of multiple individual differences in a perception by proxy framework

Prior research has proposed the use of a Perception by Proxy framework that relies on human perception to support actions of autonomy. Given the importance of human perception, this framework highlights the need to understand how human cognitive abilities factor into the human-robot dynamic. The following paper uses a military reconnaissance task to examine how cognitive abilities interact with the gradual implementation of autonomy in a Perception by Proxy framework (i.e., autonomy to detect; autonomy to support rerouting) to predict three dimensions of sequential performance (i.e., speeded detection; target identification; rerouting). Results showed that, in addition to effects of autonomy and task setting, different individual abilities predicted unique aspects of performance. This highlights the need to broaden consideration of cognitive abilities in HRI.

The Effects of Autonomy and Cognitive Abilities on Workload and Supervisory Control of Unmanned Systems

In this paper, we examine the influence of autonomy and cognitive ability on workload in unmanned systems. First, we outline prior research regarding the role of autonomy and operator selection in decreasing workload in the realm of human-robot interaction. Next, we discuss two aspects of cognitive ability (i.e., visualization and perceptual speed) explain differences between these constructs, and their influence on workload. Then, we describe the current study and discuss the effects of varying levels of autonomy, visualization, and perceptual speed on workload in a simulated reconnaissance mission. Finally, we explore the implications of our findings in terms of the influence of autonomy and operator selection and provide suggestions for future research.

Indexing Spatial Ability Across Team Size The Influence of the Weakest Link, Strongest Link, and Aggregate Ability on Performance with Multiple Unmanned Systems

This study compared the effects of indexing individual differences in spatial ability and team size on performance with unmanned systems. The methods of indexing team spatial ability included measure of (a) the effects of the aggregate (mean), (b) the member that is the strongest link (has the maximum ability), and (c) the member that is the weakest link (has the minimum ability). These methods were considered in relation to the effects of team size. Results indicated that the method of indexing can moderate the strength of the relationship between spatial ability and performance. Interestingly, the impact of team size on a decision making task was moderated by spatial ability of the strongest link. Furthermore, the strongest link was also a greater predictor of reconnaissance than team size. Implications of these findings are discussed.

A Transdisciplinary Perspective on Hedonomic Sustainability Design

The impact of climate change should be a key concern of those in the human factors/ergonomics (HF/E) discipline. Our specialized knowledge and expertise can be applied toward mitigating the effects of climate change. In this article, we unite two perspectives to illustrate how HF/E can more productively contribute to the research and practice of sustainability. First, we describe differing forms of cross-disciplinary research, with a particular focus on the notion of transdisciplinary research and the concept of hedonomic design. Second, we unite these ideas to illustrate how they provide a set of complementary concepts that can guide HF/E sustainability research.

Sustainable and User-Centered Applying Human Factors Solutions Towards Improving the Effectiveness of “Green” Buildings

With climate change threatening the very existence of our species, it is imperative the scientific community collaborate to help solve environmental problems. Human factors professionals are uniquely qualified for addressing issues of climate change, particularly because the potential consequences represent the most human-centric of all concerns. That is, when designing for sustainability, and thus for the preservation of our species, we are designing with the human in mind. However, without a user-centered design, many sustainable products and features may either fail to be adopted or may not be used in a way that maximizes performance, thus limiting their utility and potential benefits. One area of sustainable development that could greatly benefit from improvements in usability is the realm of “green” and LEED-certified building. However, in order to provide improvements in this area, there are a variety of issues and considerations that must be first addressed. In this paper, we provide an overview of each of these areas of concern within green building, describe what is currently being done to solve these issues, and provide human-factors-based solutions to increase usability, performance, and satisfaction within the realm of green building.

Human Centric Environmentalism: Opportunities for the Human Factors Community to Contribute to Global Environmental Solutions

Previous psychological research into human induced causes of environmental change has stemmed largely from a behavior modification approach and has shown only modest results. We suggest that the lack of long term success in this area may be due to the lack of attention toward the underlying design dimensions to these problems. In this paper, we attempt to illustrate that by using our understanding of design principles related to human behavior and performance, the human factors community has the unique potential to make significant strides in improving these underlying design dimensions. Along these lines, applicable research areas include cognitive decision making, product design, surface transportation, and environmental design. We argue that, by shaping technologies in a way that is both user friendly and environmentally benign, the science of human factors has the potential to grow in new areas of research – areas that are not only theoretically relevant but also of societal importance.

Integrating Principles of Environmental Sustainability into Human Factors Education: A Recommendation

Environmental problems continue to increase and a variety of scholarly disciplines are working to address sustainability through the study of engineering design and human behavior. However, the human factors and ergonomics community of scholars has yet to become a force in research related to environmental issues and solving environmental problems. We argue that the next generation of scientists and engineers in human factors must be educated to understand how they can address current and future problems in environmental sustainability. In this paper we outline the beginnings of a set of topics that can inform the development of such an educational program.

Assessing x-ray security screening detection following training with and without threat-item overlap

This study examined threat identification within a perceptual discrimination training paradigm for an x-ray baggage screening task. It explored how manipulations of item overlap (critical contour overlap, non-critical contour overlap, and no overlap) altered detection of actual threat items. The results suggest that threat detection by participants in the overlap groups was superior, but that this may have been due to changes to a more liberal response criterion. Further, participants trained without overlap were superior at determining that no threat was present. The data suggest that this shift in criterion may be due to a varying degree of understanding of what constitutes the critical components of a threat item. The discussion centers on how to develop training interventions which addresses this criterion shift while maintaining higher levels of detection.

Component versus Holistic Visual Search Training for Improvised Explosive Detection

In this study, we investigated X-ray screener performance on improvised explosive device (IED) detection within a perceptual discrimination training paradigm. We looked at the effects of a particular IED discrimination training intervention (holistic IED versus IED components) on detection when tested using realistic stimuli that varied the level of clutter overlap and overall difficulty in terms of clutter quantity. Results suggest that holistic training has benefits for performance during testing when threats are partially occluded. The results are discussed in the context of additional research directions and training design issues.