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Route guidance systems: A comparison of methods of presenting directional information to the driver
activities involving small parts or small hand-tools) and hands are postured at or above shoulder level.
Information
presentation and communication 22.2.18 (119016) Parkes, A.M., and Coleman, N. Route guidance systems: A comparison of methods of presenting directional information to the driver. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). Contemporary Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 4 8 0 - 4 8 5 , 4 refs. This research compares the effectiveness of directional symbols, printed text and voice simulation as methods of presenting drivers with the directional information required for route guidance. The visual stimuli were compared with respect to their position in the visual field. Ten subjects performed a simulated route navigation task whilst being guided by different types of directional instruction. Task completion times, error scores, eye movements, blink rates and subjective measures were the criteria used for evaluation. Voice simulation was clearly considered the easiest method of route guidance to follow, and task completion times were significantly faster in this condition.
22.2.19 (119000) Reed, J., Penington, J. and Kirwan, B. The application of human factors to the assessment of VDU screen displays in a nuclear chemical plant. In: Operating Reliability and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plant. Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London 1990, pp 4 5 - 5 9 , 5 refs. The human factors assessment of VDU systems is becoming increasingly important as industry becomes more reliant on automated processes and VDU-based control. This highlights the need to ensure the information is presented in an ergonomic way. This paper demonstrates the application of ergonomics principles to the assessment of VDU mimics used to operate parts of a nuclear chemical plant. Ergonomics checklists and guidelines have been used in the assessment of screen displays, and examples are given of the actual checklists used. The paper demonstrates how human error analysis can be used on operational sequences to highlight human factors problems which may be rectified by design changes to the displays. It also addresses the assessment of alarm handling aspects. The types of
problems encountered in this approach are discussed.
22.2.20 (119001) Wickens, C.D. Navigational ergonomics. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). C o n t e m p o r a r y Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 1 6 - 2 9 , 23 refs. When navigating through unfamiliar environments, the traveller must maintain a correspondence between the environment, the forward field of view ( F F V ) , and a mental representation of the environment derived either from experience or map study. Mental rotation is required to maintain this correspondence when the traveller is not heading north. Three potential means of maintaining correspondence are discussed: (1) Axis alignment by rotating an electronic map to congrnence with the forward field of view is sometimes helpful, b u t produces an inconsistency of object location which can create problems. (2) Threedimensional map representations provide a congruence of appearance between the F F V and landmark representations. A literature review is summarised which identifies the strengths, limitations and guidelines for using these representations. (3) Colour coding can be used to create visual m o m e n t u m between map representations from different perspectives in a way that is helpful.
22.2.21 (119007)
De Ree, H. C o l o u r coding of en route flying charts. Displays Technol and Applications, 1990, 11.2, 7 3 - 7 8 , 8 refs. Arising from complaints from KLM pilots about p o o r legibility of en route navigation charts, a study was carried out to assess the importance of the various information categories on the charts. Using the results, a different colour coding was devised and a test chart was printed using this new colour coding. The test chart was distributed en route and was judged better than the current chart by a vast majority of the pilots.
22.2.22 (119008)
Hoadley, E.D. Investigating the effects of color. Communications o f the ACM, 1990, 33.2, 1 2 0 - 1 2 5 , 30 refs. A laboratory experiment studies the effects of colour on a decision-maker's ability to extract information from different graphical and tabular presentations. Results indicate that colour improves time performance for tables,
pie charts and bar graphs, and accuracy performance for pie charts and line graphs. 22.2.23 (119773)
Paniati, J.F. Redesign and evaluation o f selected work zone sign symbols. In: Human performance and highway v i s i b i l i t y . Design, safety and methods. Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington DC, Transportation Research Record 1213, 1989, pp 4 7 - 5 5 , 10 refs. A study of traffic sign symbols was completed recently at the FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virginia. As part of this research, four work zone traffic control warning signs (Pavement Width Transition, Flagger Ahead, Low Shoulder, and Uneven Pavement) were selected for redesign. Several alternatives for each sign were tested in a laboratory experiment. Legibility distance, comprehension and preference data were collected for each alternative. The results of the study indicate that the current symbolic designs for Pavement Width Transition and Flagger Ahead are superior to the alternatives tested and should be retained. The current symbolic sign for low shoulders was found to be inadequate (22% comprehension), but an acceptable alternative was not found. Given the infrequent use of this sign and the difficulty of communicating this concept to the driver, the use of the alphabetic Low Shoulder sign is recommended. For the Uneven Pavement sign, an improved symbolic design was identified and is recommended. 22.2.24 (119017)
Wendel, I.E.M. F u n c t i o n keys or numeric codes: The human interface of a ticket vending machine. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). Contemporary Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 3 3 4 - 3 3 9 , 4 refs. This paper deals with the development of the human interface of a ticket vending machine to be used by drivers of public transportation to issue and devaluate passengers' tickets. The method of inputting passengers' wishes has been investigated: both by the use of fixed function keys and by numeric codes in combination with menu selection. Both simulations of the human interface have been operated by future users. The results so far are discussed with respect to speed of performance, rate and distribution of errors, time for a user to learn a task, and experiences and preferences of the subjects.
Applied Ergonomics April 1991
131
Information
presentation and communication 22.2.18 (119016) Parkes, A.M., and Coleman, N. Route guidance systems: A comparison of methods of presenting directional information to the driver. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). Contemporary Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 4 8 0 - 4 8 5 , 4 refs. This research compares the effectiveness of directional symbols, printed text and voice simulation as methods of presenting drivers with the directional information required for route guidance. The visual stimuli were compared with respect to their position in the visual field. Ten subjects performed a simulated route navigation task whilst being guided by different types of directional instruction. Task completion times, error scores, eye movements, blink rates and subjective measures were the criteria used for evaluation. Voice simulation was clearly considered the easiest method of route guidance to follow, and task completion times were significantly faster in this condition.
22.2.19 (119000) Reed, J., Penington, J. and Kirwan, B. The application of human factors to the assessment of VDU screen displays in a nuclear chemical plant. In: Operating Reliability and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plant. Institution of Mechanical Engineers, London 1990, pp 4 5 - 5 9 , 5 refs. The human factors assessment of VDU systems is becoming increasingly important as industry becomes more reliant on automated processes and VDU-based control. This highlights the need to ensure the information is presented in an ergonomic way. This paper demonstrates the application of ergonomics principles to the assessment of VDU mimics used to operate parts of a nuclear chemical plant. Ergonomics checklists and guidelines have been used in the assessment of screen displays, and examples are given of the actual checklists used. The paper demonstrates how human error analysis can be used on operational sequences to highlight human factors problems which may be rectified by design changes to the displays. It also addresses the assessment of alarm handling aspects. The types of
problems encountered in this approach are discussed.
22.2.20 (119001) Wickens, C.D. Navigational ergonomics. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). C o n t e m p o r a r y Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 1 6 - 2 9 , 23 refs. When navigating through unfamiliar environments, the traveller must maintain a correspondence between the environment, the forward field of view ( F F V ) , and a mental representation of the environment derived either from experience or map study. Mental rotation is required to maintain this correspondence when the traveller is not heading north. Three potential means of maintaining correspondence are discussed: (1) Axis alignment by rotating an electronic map to congrnence with the forward field of view is sometimes helpful, b u t produces an inconsistency of object location which can create problems. (2) Threedimensional map representations provide a congruence of appearance between the F F V and landmark representations. A literature review is summarised which identifies the strengths, limitations and guidelines for using these representations. (3) Colour coding can be used to create visual m o m e n t u m between map representations from different perspectives in a way that is helpful.
22.2.21 (119007)
De Ree, H. C o l o u r coding of en route flying charts. Displays Technol and Applications, 1990, 11.2, 7 3 - 7 8 , 8 refs. Arising from complaints from KLM pilots about p o o r legibility of en route navigation charts, a study was carried out to assess the importance of the various information categories on the charts. Using the results, a different colour coding was devised and a test chart was printed using this new colour coding. The test chart was distributed en route and was judged better than the current chart by a vast majority of the pilots.
22.2.22 (119008)
Hoadley, E.D. Investigating the effects of color. Communications o f the ACM, 1990, 33.2, 1 2 0 - 1 2 5 , 30 refs. A laboratory experiment studies the effects of colour on a decision-maker's ability to extract information from different graphical and tabular presentations. Results indicate that colour improves time performance for tables,
pie charts and bar graphs, and accuracy performance for pie charts and line graphs. 22.2.23 (119773)
Paniati, J.F. Redesign and evaluation o f selected work zone sign symbols. In: Human performance and highway v i s i b i l i t y . Design, safety and methods. Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, Washington DC, Transportation Research Record 1213, 1989, pp 4 7 - 5 5 , 10 refs. A study of traffic sign symbols was completed recently at the FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virginia. As part of this research, four work zone traffic control warning signs (Pavement Width Transition, Flagger Ahead, Low Shoulder, and Uneven Pavement) were selected for redesign. Several alternatives for each sign were tested in a laboratory experiment. Legibility distance, comprehension and preference data were collected for each alternative. The results of the study indicate that the current symbolic designs for Pavement Width Transition and Flagger Ahead are superior to the alternatives tested and should be retained. The current symbolic sign for low shoulders was found to be inadequate (22% comprehension), but an acceptable alternative was not found. Given the infrequent use of this sign and the difficulty of communicating this concept to the driver, the use of the alphabetic Low Shoulder sign is recommended. For the Uneven Pavement sign, an improved symbolic design was identified and is recommended. 22.2.24 (119017)
Wendel, I.E.M. F u n c t i o n keys or numeric codes: The human interface of a ticket vending machine. In: E.J. Lovesey (Ed). Contemporary Ergonomics 1990, Taylor & Francis, London, 1990, pp 3 3 4 - 3 3 9 , 4 refs. This paper deals with the development of the human interface of a ticket vending machine to be used by drivers of public transportation to issue and devaluate passengers' tickets. The method of inputting passengers' wishes has been investigated: both by the use of fixed function keys and by numeric codes in combination with menu selection. Both simulations of the human interface have been operated by future users. The results so far are discussed with respect to speed of performance, rate and distribution of errors, time for a user to learn a task, and experiences and preferences of the subjects.
Applied Ergonomics April 1991
131