- Email: [email protected]
Telecommunication interfaces for the visually disabled
which sought to measure workload. Mission critical tasks were defined and then filmed whilst being performed by a crew in a simulator. Dynamic analysis of the resultant video proved the effectiveness and efficiency of this approach. Task snapshots showed where the perceptual, cognitive and psychomotor loading built up to critical levels. This enabled the assessors to make a more calculated judgement than has hitherto been possible on the degree of performance enhancement achievable from good human factors design. The recommendations from this work provide opportunities for improving ship control centre designs both in the Type 23 Frigate and future ships. They are especially relevant in the context of the current pressures on manpower and the need to enable the few watchkeepers still required to be as effective and efficient as possible.
22.6.45 (122290) Leopold, F.F. The video telephone project at the Delft University of Technology. In: Proc 13th lnt Syrup on Human Factors in Telecommunications, Turin, 1 0 - 1 4 Sept 1990, pp 5 0 7 - 5 0 9 , 0 refs. Several PTTs and companies have cooperated in the development of the video telephone, which has been standardised by the CCITT. The video telephone service is expected to be introduced in Europe in 1992. It is also expected to be the first new service in the area of digital video to be introduced on the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). This interdisciplinary project comprises b o t h research into the technical performance of the video telephone and its societal integration. Ergonomics, psychology studies and market research will yield Insight into the usability and user acceptance of video telephone concepts. The project will involve both laboratory and field research. Connecting prototype video telephones to the university's telephone network will enable the study of technical and non-technical aspects as well as a combination of these two.
22.6.46 (122299) Telecommunication Interfaces for the visually disabled. In: Proc 13th Int Symp on Human Factors in Telecommunications, Turin, 1 0 - 1 4 Sept 1990, pp 2 2 7 - 2 3 4 , 21 refs. Technological advances do not always benefit every sector of our society. On the contrary, especially In telecommunications, occupational opportunities for the visually handi-
Applied Ergonomics
Work design and organisation 22.6.47 (122327) Clark, S. Shiftwork and leisure behaviour of ethnic and gender groups In the British textile industry. Travail Hurnain, 1990, 5 3 . 3 , 2 2 7 - 2 4 4 , 10 refs. The effect of shiftwork on the leisure behaviour of workers was investigated in a research project undertaken in six British textile factories. A particular object of concern was to compare the leisure of native women and of male Asian workers with that of native white male workers. In general, b o t h women and Asians appeared to have more restricted leisure life styles than their native male counterparts. This pattern was only partly attributable to the nature of the shifts worked. Women's leisure was influenced also by their domestic commitments which reduced and fragmented their leisure time, and this appeared to strengthen the effect of shiftwork on their leisure activities.
22.6.48 (122328)
Van Nes, F.L., and Bouma, H.
424
capped are reduced, while the 'visualisation' of telecommunications that appears to concur with the advent of the ISDN also has distinct disadvantages for those with reduced eyesight. However, this development need not be regarded as an unavoidable consequence of the penetration of information technology Into our society. The present paper tries to sum up and report what is known and what can be done to re-enable many visually disabled in utilising those visual displays that nowadays are supposed to be usable by everyone. Knowledge of the properties required of visual displays in general has accumulated over the last decade. Moreover, insight has recently been obtained into the specific requirements for displays to be used by the moderately visually disabled. Finally, knowledge is now being gathered at an increasing pace on the use of alternative output media, complementing or even replacing the visual display.
Daniel, J. Circadian pattern of changes in psychophysiological indicators of adaptation to shift work. Studia Psychologica, 1990, 32.3, 1 7 3 - 1 7 8 , 10 refs. During a field survey, body temperature, heart beat and body movements were recorded non-stop in two groups of operators in a chemical concern, during a 12-hour day and night shift, with the aid of the Bioport. The first
December 1991
group was made up of operators adapted to night shiftwork, the other of beginners. Subjective alertness was also followed and here a certain degree of adaptation to night work was found solely in subjective alertness.
22.6.49 (122330)
Harma, M., Knauth, P., llmarinen, J., and Ollila, H. The relation of age to the adjustment of the circadian rhythms of oral temperature and sleepiness to shift work. Chronobiology lnt, 1990, 7.3, 2 2 7 - 2 3 3 , 27 refs. The relation of age to the adjustment of the circadian r h y t h m s of oral temperature (To) and sleepiness (S) in shift work was studied. 145 healthy female nurses underwent detailed laboratory and field measurements. Self-rated sleepiness, and oral temperature measured with a special extendedscale mercury thermometer, were recorded at 2-hour intervals during a morning (M) and 2 consecutive night (N) shifts. Sleeping times were registered during the same days. The results were analysed separately in the age-groups of 2 2 - 2 9 , 3 0 - 3 9 and 4 0 - 4 9 yearold subjects. From the morning shift to the second night shift day, the oral temperature and sleepiness acrophases shifted significantly (p < 0-001) forward in all age groups. The amplitude decreased in the youngest and in the 3 0 - 3 9 year-old age groups but not in the oldest age group. During the second night shift day, the acrophases and amplitudes of oral temperature rhythms were significantly different (p < 0"05) between the groups, but there were no significant differences by age in the change of the circadian rhythms from morning to the second night shift days. The results thus fail to corroborate that physiological adjustment to night work would be influenced by age.
22.6.50 (122336)
Seibt, A. Geist, H.W., Tannenhauer, J., and Friedrichsen, G. Assessment of continuous shifts including 12-hour shifts in terms of occupational medicine (Evaluation d'Horaires Postes Continus avec Postes de Douze Heures en Fin de Semaine du Point de Vue de la Medecine du Travail). (In French.) Travail Humain, 1990, 5 3 . 3 , 2 5 3 - 2 6 4 , 14 refs. In this paper, the load/stress and strain structures of low workload operating and supervising activities at automated machines and equipment are analysed and assessed in terms of occupational medicine and ergonomics. The authors examine the changes in health with these activities performed
22.6.45 (122290) Leopold, F.F. The video telephone project at the Delft University of Technology. In: Proc 13th lnt Syrup on Human Factors in Telecommunications, Turin, 1 0 - 1 4 Sept 1990, pp 5 0 7 - 5 0 9 , 0 refs. Several PTTs and companies have cooperated in the development of the video telephone, which has been standardised by the CCITT. The video telephone service is expected to be introduced in Europe in 1992. It is also expected to be the first new service in the area of digital video to be introduced on the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). This interdisciplinary project comprises b o t h research into the technical performance of the video telephone and its societal integration. Ergonomics, psychology studies and market research will yield Insight into the usability and user acceptance of video telephone concepts. The project will involve both laboratory and field research. Connecting prototype video telephones to the university's telephone network will enable the study of technical and non-technical aspects as well as a combination of these two.
22.6.46 (122299) Telecommunication Interfaces for the visually disabled. In: Proc 13th Int Symp on Human Factors in Telecommunications, Turin, 1 0 - 1 4 Sept 1990, pp 2 2 7 - 2 3 4 , 21 refs. Technological advances do not always benefit every sector of our society. On the contrary, especially In telecommunications, occupational opportunities for the visually handi-
Applied Ergonomics
Work design and organisation 22.6.47 (122327) Clark, S. Shiftwork and leisure behaviour of ethnic and gender groups In the British textile industry. Travail Hurnain, 1990, 5 3 . 3 , 2 2 7 - 2 4 4 , 10 refs. The effect of shiftwork on the leisure behaviour of workers was investigated in a research project undertaken in six British textile factories. A particular object of concern was to compare the leisure of native women and of male Asian workers with that of native white male workers. In general, b o t h women and Asians appeared to have more restricted leisure life styles than their native male counterparts. This pattern was only partly attributable to the nature of the shifts worked. Women's leisure was influenced also by their domestic commitments which reduced and fragmented their leisure time, and this appeared to strengthen the effect of shiftwork on their leisure activities.
22.6.48 (122328)
Van Nes, F.L., and Bouma, H.
424
capped are reduced, while the 'visualisation' of telecommunications that appears to concur with the advent of the ISDN also has distinct disadvantages for those with reduced eyesight. However, this development need not be regarded as an unavoidable consequence of the penetration of information technology Into our society. The present paper tries to sum up and report what is known and what can be done to re-enable many visually disabled in utilising those visual displays that nowadays are supposed to be usable by everyone. Knowledge of the properties required of visual displays in general has accumulated over the last decade. Moreover, insight has recently been obtained into the specific requirements for displays to be used by the moderately visually disabled. Finally, knowledge is now being gathered at an increasing pace on the use of alternative output media, complementing or even replacing the visual display.
Daniel, J. Circadian pattern of changes in psychophysiological indicators of adaptation to shift work. Studia Psychologica, 1990, 32.3, 1 7 3 - 1 7 8 , 10 refs. During a field survey, body temperature, heart beat and body movements were recorded non-stop in two groups of operators in a chemical concern, during a 12-hour day and night shift, with the aid of the Bioport. The first
December 1991
group was made up of operators adapted to night shiftwork, the other of beginners. Subjective alertness was also followed and here a certain degree of adaptation to night work was found solely in subjective alertness.
22.6.49 (122330)
Harma, M., Knauth, P., llmarinen, J., and Ollila, H. The relation of age to the adjustment of the circadian rhythms of oral temperature and sleepiness to shift work. Chronobiology lnt, 1990, 7.3, 2 2 7 - 2 3 3 , 27 refs. The relation of age to the adjustment of the circadian r h y t h m s of oral temperature (To) and sleepiness (S) in shift work was studied. 145 healthy female nurses underwent detailed laboratory and field measurements. Self-rated sleepiness, and oral temperature measured with a special extendedscale mercury thermometer, were recorded at 2-hour intervals during a morning (M) and 2 consecutive night (N) shifts. Sleeping times were registered during the same days. The results were analysed separately in the age-groups of 2 2 - 2 9 , 3 0 - 3 9 and 4 0 - 4 9 yearold subjects. From the morning shift to the second night shift day, the oral temperature and sleepiness acrophases shifted significantly (p < 0-001) forward in all age groups. The amplitude decreased in the youngest and in the 3 0 - 3 9 year-old age groups but not in the oldest age group. During the second night shift day, the acrophases and amplitudes of oral temperature rhythms were significantly different (p < 0"05) between the groups, but there were no significant differences by age in the change of the circadian rhythms from morning to the second night shift days. The results thus fail to corroborate that physiological adjustment to night work would be influenced by age.
22.6.50 (122336)
Seibt, A. Geist, H.W., Tannenhauer, J., and Friedrichsen, G. Assessment of continuous shifts including 12-hour shifts in terms of occupational medicine (Evaluation d'Horaires Postes Continus avec Postes de Douze Heures en Fin de Semaine du Point de Vue de la Medecine du Travail). (In French.) Travail Humain, 1990, 5 3 . 3 , 2 5 3 - 2 6 4 , 14 refs. In this paper, the load/stress and strain structures of low workload operating and supervising activities at automated machines and equipment are analysed and assessed in terms of occupational medicine and ergonomics. The authors examine the changes in health with these activities performed