Mark Kirkpatrick

Electronic Memory Aids for Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons: Attitudes, Preferences, and Potential Utilization

This article focuses on the attitudes of community-dwelling elderly persons toward the use of electronic memory aids. Questionnaire data from 100 elderly volunteers indicate that more than one half were interested in an electronic memory device for at least one purpose. Those who said that they would use the device had higher levels of education, used more household electronic devices, were more likely to have someone available to help them use a device, and had more health problems than those who preferred to not use it. Most would use a memory aid to monitor medications and remember appointments, followed by remembering addresses and phone numbers. The expected use, design, preferred methods of instruction, and concerns about the device varied. Study results suggest the need to develop devices with different degrees of flexibility and complexity. Future studies should evaluate training methods to use such technology.

Development of an Interactive Microprocessor Based Workload Evaluation Model (SIMWAM)

In an attempt to assess the extent to which human factors technology developed for air systems is applicable to ship systems problems, several task network simulation techniques were evaluated for aircraft carrier air operations. Such operations are complex and highly variable and include over 400 separate tasks performed by 18 different operators. The result of the assessment was that the available techniques were not acceptable, leading to the development of a model designated SIMWAM for simulation for workload assessment and modeling.

Tactical Symbology Standards

CRT displays aboard U.S. Navy ships use a standardized monochrome Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) symbol set to represent properties of symbols such as platform type (e.g. Aircraft Carrier, Combat Air), environment (e.g. air, surface, subsurface), and identification (e.g. hostile, friendly). A color symbol set has been proposed in NATO Standardization Agreement 4420, Display Symbology and Colours for NATO Maritime Units (1990). The U.S. Navy is currently considering ratification of this Standardization Agreement (STANAG). Empirical comparisons of operator performance using the NTDS symbology versus those using the color-filled NATO STANAG symbology were conducted. Two additional experimental symbologies were also created. The first, called NTDS Equated, is a color version of the NTDS symbol set, and the second experimental symbol set, called NATO Outline, is a color outline version of the color filled NATO STANAG symbol set. Test subjects were asked to find (hook) specific symbols during a tactically relevant scenario. Time to the first correct hook and percentage of correct hooks were subjected to analyses of variance (ANOVA). Experimental results revealed that the NATO STANAG symbol set outperformed all other symbol sets in terms of symbol recognition time, and outperformed the NTDS Standard symbol set for symbol recognition accuracy as well. The results indicated that tactical information can be transferred more quickly and accurately to watch standers through effective use of symbol coding. Test subjects familiar with the NTDS symbology expressed a preference for the color symbol sets in opinion surveys administered after the experiment. General conclusions resulting from comparisons across symbol sets were that color fill was more effective than color outline, and that operator performance gains were achieved as a result of color coding and greater information content on the symbol. This paper presents the human performance assessment that was conducted, the results, and the implications of the findings for ratification of NATO STANAG 4420.

Human Factors Engineering impact on System Workload and Manning Levels

A major thrust of the Armys MANPRINT methodology is to develop techniques to assess workloads and to reduce system manning. This paper reports on a research project conducted with the intent of quantifying the impact that application of human factors engineering technology has on the workload and manning levels of large, complex systems. The aircraft operational management system of a modern CV aircraft carrier was used as a test bed. A typical scenario was developed which included task sequences for each of 35 shipboard operators during a launch/recovery cycle involving 25 aircraft. Workloads were measured for operations as currently performed aboard aircraft carriers and compared to the same conditions except for the addition of automated status boards, which were intended to reduce the information processing load on the operators. The result of introducing the automated status board technology was the reduction of manning levels, time to perform operational sequences, and the number of overloaded operators.

Design Parameters for a Stereoptic Television System Based on Direct Vision Depth Perception Cues

Remotely controlled systems which use television for visual feedback require that depth cues be available to the operator. A number of techniques have been developed to provide stereoptic video, An analysis of parameters of such systems as related to the depth cues of convergence and retinal disparity was carried out. Parameter requirements were determined for the provision of natural and exaggerated stereoptic cues and expressions were developed for range resolution limits based on the retinal disparity threshold. An empirical study was conducted using a stereoptic video system to determine threshold values.

A User-Centered Approach to the Design of a Naval Tactical Workstation Interface

The 21st century Navy combatant ship will experience exponential increases in shipboard information to be processed, disseminated and integrated. High Definition System (HDS) technology will provide for the convergence of text, graphics, digital video, imagery, and complex computing to allow for a new range of advanced capabilities that exceed those of currently available workstations. These capabilities could result in unmanageable and overwhelming cognitive workloads for Navy tactical operators in CIC (Combat Information Center). For this reason, a prototype user interface was designed using future combat system requirements, proposed HDS capabilities, and human-computer interface design standards and principles. Usability testing of the protoype user interface was conducted as part of an effort to identify integrated information management technologies which reduce operator workload, increase human performance, and improve combat system effectiveness. This demonstration will focus on explanation and demonstration of future concepts envisioned for the AEGIS operational environment; organization and functionality of the menu structures and window contents; the usability testing methods utilized; results from usability testing; and plans for utilization of the prototype shell in other operational environments.

Development of a Memory Aid Design Concept for Older Users

This study was conducted to develop a design concept for an electronic memory device to enhance medication compliance in older users. The effort was supported by a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). A user-oriented approach was used to develop a design concept for a memory device for older users. One hundred seniors were interviewed to identify their physical, physiological and cognitive capabilities and limitations, as well as their preferences for memory aid functions. Specific design requirements were gathered from user testing of six currently available memory aids with 30 of the original 100 elderly subjects. The interview and user testing results were consolidated to provide the basis for tradeoff criteria for memory aid interface concepts, and for the development specifications for an optimal interface design for a memory aid designed specifically for the elderly user. A design concept was developed for a medication device that would be easy to use, would reduce the likelihood of scheduling errors, and would be non-threatening to older users who might otherwise be intimidated by an electronic device. The Phase I effort focused on enhancing medication compliance, which is a priority issue with the senior population.

A study of moving base simulation motion cues utilizing washout technique

The present study was conducted to derive data on non-visual motion thresholds utilizing washout technique, and to develop specific threshold values for use as washout parameters. It describes the results of acceleration detection studies carried out using the NASA MSFC General Purpose Simulator which provides six degree-of-freedom cab motion. A series of experiments was performed to test the hypothesis that constant velocity visual cues might suppress non-visual deceleration sensitivity. The psychophysical method employed was the forced-choice procedure which theoretically yields a pure sensitivity measure. The MSFC General Purpose Simulator was programmed to provide velocity ramps in three axes – pitch, fore–aft translation, and vertical translation. Data were collected with and without a constant velocity visual input. Comparison of the current results with classical data suggested significantly greater sensitivity of the human observer to fore-aft accelerations than has generally been reported, sensitivity tending to depend on motion direction and sign of velocity change.

High Definition Systems Usability Test Tool (HUTT): A Human-Computer Interface Prototyping Tool

The High Definition Systems Usability Test Tool (HUTT) was developed to demonstrate and assess different human-computer interface (HCI) concepts for generic operator console positions within an advanced naval tactical display environment. To facilitate a “rapid prototyping” approach to interface development, HUTT was developed as a general purpose tool. The HUTT can be used by the human factors engineer as a rapid prototyping tool enabling quick construction and evaluation of alternative interface concepts. Changes to the organization and operation of a prototype can be made quickly, ensuring that more time can be spent on evaluation as compared to development. The demonstration will focus on the uses and operation of the HUTT. Demonstration participants will be shown how to develop, install and modify the OSF/Motif compliant graphics (pull-down menu structure and window contents) and the functionality of the HUTT to reflect changes in interface concepts.

Human System Integration (HSI) and Manprint Requirements and Tools

The U.S. Army Human Engineering Laboratory (USAHEL) approach to HSI in the early stages of materiel development is to base the process for accomplishing HSI/MANPRINT on the HFE front-end analysis methodology as described in MIL-H 46855B. The USAHEL under contract with Carlow International Incorporated is developing an HSI standardized and formalized process tied to the events, activities, products and milestones for all phases of the WSAP and incorporating a set of automated tools and information systems to support the application of the HSI process. The system, including the process, associated tools and information resources, have been designated the HSI Integrated Decision/Engineering Aid or IDEA. A major element of IDEA then is the standardized and formalized HSI process tied to the events, activities, products and milestones of each phase of the WSAP as directed in DoD 5000.1, 5000.2, and 5000.2M, and incorporating a set of automated tools to support the application of the HSI process. The HSI process architecture contained in IDEA is an interactive graphic which has the following characteristics: a) it is integrated with the WSAP activities, products and requirements for each WSAP phase; b) it defines and describes HSI activities, events, inputs/outputs, products and methods for each WSAP phase, and provides guidelines on the application of the activities and methods and on the contents and format of the products; c) it incorporates the tools required to apply the HSI methods and to accomplish the HSI activities; d) it is focused on personnel readiness and effectiveness requirements; e) it addresses the development of a new system, a non-development item (NDI), or product improvement; and f) it provides a formal mechanism for getting HSI issues and concerns addressed early in system acquisition.