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A road sign for warning of close-following: Form and message design
of a particular act? (b) The manner in which contingent relations between states and actions (if x do y ) are best represented in pictorial form. F o r example, instructional information may be subdivided into an assumed or presupposed linguistic component and a complementary asserted component (eg, in 'To get the operator, dial 100', the number to be dialled is highlighted as the asserted component and the action is presupposed). Pictorial analogues of these linguistic distinctions are explored by manipulating relationships between frames and by the systematic use of inserted subframes. The apparatus used in the studies consists of a 'black box' operated by switch movements, button depressions and the insertion of a plastic card. The conditions requiring particular actions and their consequences are indicated by the state of a simple array of lights. The operation of the device functionally mimics an English pay-phone. However, the appearance and introductory description are altogether different, thereby avoiding the effects of prior experience with telephones. Instructional conditions are analysed in terms of (a) the efficiency of operation of the apparatus (b) the frequency and duration of subjects' reference to the pictorial instructions, together with a record of the points in the operational sequence at which reference occurred. These objective measures are supplemented by a videofilm of their behaviour and by an analysis of their subsequent comments. The results of the investigation are discussed not only in terms of the influence of the pictorial variables systematically manipulated but also in terms of the general problems engendered by the use of pictorial instructions.
light codes for telecommunications equipment. Post Office Research Centre, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Post Office Telecommunciations Research Department Report No 672, 1977, 8 pp.
A road sign for warning of closefollowing: F o r m and message design. Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berks, Supplementary Report No 324, 1977, 16 pp. A survey was made of the opinion of drivers on designs for a road sign which warns them of their closefollowing behaviour. A film simulating the operation beside the road of each design of sign was shown to 100 randomly selected drivers. An assessment of the questionnaires showed that, although no particular design was outstanding, two were generally acceptable. 10.1.21 (75131)
Garnham, F. An alphabetic alternative to flashing
Specialised input devices
A comparison was made between a 7-segment alphabetic disolay and codes flashed on a single light-emitting 10.1.24 (75150) diode to indicate the states of a telephone Cornog, D.Y., and Ruder, A.H. circuit. The time taken to identify the A postal service field evaluation of states correctly and also the number letter sorting machine keyboards. and nature of any errors made by the In: Proceedings of 1977 Annual unpractised subjects were used to Reliability and Maintainability evaluate each method. The responses Symposium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the 7-segment display were found USA, 1 8 - 2 0 Jan 1977. IEEE, New throughout to be significantly faster York, 1977, pp 4 3 - 4 8 ; abstr in (about three times) and error-free. An Computer and Control Abstracts. error rate of 15"5% was found in The test described involves three response to the flashing light codes of MPLSM keyboards - the present which certain codes proved to produce Standard keyboard used across the more errors than others. country and two modifications of the Standard, called MOD I and MOD II. It is possible to measure the effect of differences in the design of these keyboards, of course, only through the medium of operator 10.1.22 (75143) performance on them. Galer, M. An ergonomic evaluation of a p r o t o t y p e emergency call aid. Paper presented at the Ergonomics Society Annual Conference, Apr 1978, 7 pp.
Auditory displays
The aim of this study was to monitor, by means of visits or otherwise, the response of ten elderly persons living in residential care to a p r o t o t y p e emergency call aid in the form of a body-worn radio transmitter. In particular, the aims were: (1) To find out why some potential users may be reluctant to use the equipment. (2) To evaluate the use of the device in an emergency. (3) To evaluate the extent to which the device contributes to the cGmfort and sense of security of the user. (4) To suggest improvements.
10.1.20 (75126)
Robertson, A.
paradigm that was used to study waiting behaviour during PSDs. Sample results from one subject are described.
10.1.23 (75145) Wing, A. A reaction time paradigm for the study of waiting behaviour during post sending delays in a telephone system. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Human Factors in Telecommunications, Cambridge, September 1977, 14 pp. The way people perceive the duration of post sending delays (PSD) in a telephone system is likely to influence (1) the frequency of premature abandonment of calls by customers and (2) the degree of satisfaction experienced by customers with the service provided. This paper is intended as a background to results that will be presented at the 8th International Symposium on Human Factors in Telecommunications. It describes a laboratory reaction time
Workplace layout and equipment design 10.1.25 (75155)
Anon. Better working environment in sawmills - today's problems, tomorrow's environment. Sagverksindustrins Kommittee for Arbetsmiljofragor, Stockholm, Sweden, Apr 1977, 35 pp; abstr in CIS Abstracts (CIS 78-502). Translation of a booklet summarising the results of a survey of working conditions in the Swedish Sawmills performed by the Timber Industry Ergonomics Group. A model sawmill design for the future is also described. Problems discussed are: noise, air pollution; climate; lighting; vibration; b o d y positions and movements; workloads; accidents and safety; psychosocial factors. The model considers production, environment, workplaces, safety features and work organisation for timber handling; sawing; edging, raw sorting and sticking; drying; trimming and packing. 10.1.26 (75161)
Osborne, W.H. Remember people in control room design. Instru men t and Con trol Systems, Jun 1977, 50.6, 3 1 - 3 5 ; abstr in Computer and Con trol Abstracts.
Considers control-room equipment that is currently available and the types of information that are needed to help the dispatcher operate the pipeline in
Applied Ergonomics
March 1979
49
light codes for telecommunications equipment. Post Office Research Centre, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Post Office Telecommunciations Research Department Report No 672, 1977, 8 pp.
A road sign for warning of closefollowing: F o r m and message design. Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berks, Supplementary Report No 324, 1977, 16 pp. A survey was made of the opinion of drivers on designs for a road sign which warns them of their closefollowing behaviour. A film simulating the operation beside the road of each design of sign was shown to 100 randomly selected drivers. An assessment of the questionnaires showed that, although no particular design was outstanding, two were generally acceptable. 10.1.21 (75131)
Garnham, F. An alphabetic alternative to flashing
Specialised input devices
A comparison was made between a 7-segment alphabetic disolay and codes flashed on a single light-emitting 10.1.24 (75150) diode to indicate the states of a telephone Cornog, D.Y., and Ruder, A.H. circuit. The time taken to identify the A postal service field evaluation of states correctly and also the number letter sorting machine keyboards. and nature of any errors made by the In: Proceedings of 1977 Annual unpractised subjects were used to Reliability and Maintainability evaluate each method. The responses Symposium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the 7-segment display were found USA, 1 8 - 2 0 Jan 1977. IEEE, New throughout to be significantly faster York, 1977, pp 4 3 - 4 8 ; abstr in (about three times) and error-free. An Computer and Control Abstracts. error rate of 15"5% was found in The test described involves three response to the flashing light codes of MPLSM keyboards - the present which certain codes proved to produce Standard keyboard used across the more errors than others. country and two modifications of the Standard, called MOD I and MOD II. It is possible to measure the effect of differences in the design of these keyboards, of course, only through the medium of operator 10.1.22 (75143) performance on them. Galer, M. An ergonomic evaluation of a p r o t o t y p e emergency call aid. Paper presented at the Ergonomics Society Annual Conference, Apr 1978, 7 pp.
Auditory displays
The aim of this study was to monitor, by means of visits or otherwise, the response of ten elderly persons living in residential care to a p r o t o t y p e emergency call aid in the form of a body-worn radio transmitter. In particular, the aims were: (1) To find out why some potential users may be reluctant to use the equipment. (2) To evaluate the use of the device in an emergency. (3) To evaluate the extent to which the device contributes to the cGmfort and sense of security of the user. (4) To suggest improvements.
10.1.20 (75126)
Robertson, A.
paradigm that was used to study waiting behaviour during PSDs. Sample results from one subject are described.
10.1.23 (75145) Wing, A. A reaction time paradigm for the study of waiting behaviour during post sending delays in a telephone system. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Human Factors in Telecommunications, Cambridge, September 1977, 14 pp. The way people perceive the duration of post sending delays (PSD) in a telephone system is likely to influence (1) the frequency of premature abandonment of calls by customers and (2) the degree of satisfaction experienced by customers with the service provided. This paper is intended as a background to results that will be presented at the 8th International Symposium on Human Factors in Telecommunications. It describes a laboratory reaction time
Workplace layout and equipment design 10.1.25 (75155)
Anon. Better working environment in sawmills - today's problems, tomorrow's environment. Sagverksindustrins Kommittee for Arbetsmiljofragor, Stockholm, Sweden, Apr 1977, 35 pp; abstr in CIS Abstracts (CIS 78-502). Translation of a booklet summarising the results of a survey of working conditions in the Swedish Sawmills performed by the Timber Industry Ergonomics Group. A model sawmill design for the future is also described. Problems discussed are: noise, air pollution; climate; lighting; vibration; b o d y positions and movements; workloads; accidents and safety; psychosocial factors. The model considers production, environment, workplaces, safety features and work organisation for timber handling; sawing; edging, raw sorting and sticking; drying; trimming and packing. 10.1.26 (75161)
Osborne, W.H. Remember people in control room design. Instru men t and Con trol Systems, Jun 1977, 50.6, 3 1 - 3 5 ; abstr in Computer and Con trol Abstracts.
Considers control-room equipment that is currently available and the types of information that are needed to help the dispatcher operate the pipeline in
Applied Ergonomics
March 1979
49