Marco Camilli

A Random Glance at the Flight Deck: Pilots' Scanning Strategies and the Real-Time Assessment of Mental Workload

Based on previous research showing the usefulness of spatial statistics in detecting randomness in the distribution of eye fixations, this study investigated the ocular behavior of professional pilots engaged in a simulated flight. The distribution of eye fixations was used as an indirect index of mental workload: Eye movements were recorded during the different phases (departure to landing) of a simulated flight and were analyzed using spatial statistics algorithms. Results showed sensitivity of spatial dispersion indices to variations in mental workload: higher during departure and landing, lower during climb and descend, and the lowest during the cruise phase. This finding provides additional evidence of the utility of fixations distribution as a real-time measure of mental workload and, consequently, as a trigger for adaptive automation.

ASTEF: A simple tool for examining fixations

In human factors and ergonomics research, the analysis of eye movements has gained popularity as a method for obtaining information concerning the operators cognitive strategies and for drawing inferences about the cognitive state of an individual. For example, recent studies have shown that the distribution of eye fixations is sensitive to variations in mental workload—dispersed when workload is high, and clustered when workload is low. Spatial statistics algorithms can be used to obtain information about the type of distribution and can be applied over fixations recorded during small epochs of time to assess online changes in the level of mental load experienced by the individuals. In order to ease the computation of the statistical index and to encourage research on the spatial properties of visual scanning, A Simple Tool for Examining Fixations has been developed. The software application implements functions for fixation visualization, management, and analysis, and includes a tool for fixation identification from raw gaze point data. Updated information can be obtained online at www .astef.info, where the installation package is freely downloadable.

Using the distribution of eye fixations to assess pilots' mental workload

Based on previous research showing the usefulness of spatial statistics in detecting randomness in the distribution of eye fixations, this study investigated the ocular behavior of professional pilots engaged in a simulated flight. The distribution of eye fixations is here used an index of mental workload. Eye movements were recorded during the different phases (departure to landing) of a simulated flight, and were analyzed using spatial statistics algorithms. Results showed sensitivity of spatial dispersion indices to variations in mental workload: higher during departure and landing, lower during the other phases. This result provides additional evidence of the utility of fixations distribution as a real-time measure of mental workload and, consequently, as a trigger for adaptive automation.

User-centered design approach for interactive kiosks: evaluation and redesign of an automatic teller machine

Improvements in bandwidth and computing led towards a growth of technological solutions in services. Also, users developed expectations and skills in their interaction with technology. Despite web and mobile technology makes available a great deal of advanced and engaging apps (e.g., social and geo-localized), less-sophisticated and appealing systems (e.g., automatic teller machines, ticket machines) still represent the most widespread contact points between organizations (e.g., banks, transportation companies) and their clients. In this scenario banks are challenging a service innovation by introducing new services in their ATM. However, this increase in services does not seem to match an appropriate level of usability and user experience. The present work investigates the relation between usability and user experience in kiosk through a usability evaluation and a further redesign process for an ATM of an Italian major bank. The redesign process, centered on the users needs, was aimed to solve usability issues and enhance the effectiveness of the system and the overall user experience 1) by operating major changes in the original structure and 2) by introducing new profile-based functions. In order to test the effectiveness of design hypothesis, a prototype was developed and tested with a sample of users. Result showed an enhancement of user satisfaction and a reduction of the error rate mainly due to the introduction of profile-based functions.

Effects of temporal and spatial demands on the distribution of eye fixations

Recent studies have shown that statistical indices of spatial dispersion computed over the distribution of fixations could be effectively used to derive a stable measure of the cognitive resources allocated to a task. This approach is particularly appealing, given that it allows computing a workload value with a 1-minute resolution, thus making it possible to use it as a trigger for some adaptive systems. The present study reports two experiments aimed at separating the contribution of two types of demands (temporal and visuo-spatial). Results showed that temporal demand led to dispersed pattern, whereas visuo-spatial demand led to grouped pattern of fixations.

Psychophysiological Correlates of Shifting Between Levels of Automation

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects on performance and workload of the shifting between levels of automation: from manual to automatic (forward shift) and from automatic to manual (backward shift). Three levels of difficulty of the Tetris game were implemented as task load conditions. Two versions of the game were also implemented: automated and manual. The automated version provided the participants a projection of the falling block on the lowest layer for making its placement easier. Results showed that the commonsense consideration that only shifts toward a lower level of automation should reflect poor performance and higher workload is unsupported. Forward shifts may affect performance as well, particularly when workload is moderate.