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Cognitive consequences of clumsy automation on high workload, high consequence human performanceThe growth of computational power has fueled attempts to automate more of the human role in complex problem solving domains, especially those where system faults have high consequences and where periods of high workload may saturate the performance capacity of human operators. Examples of these domains include flightdecks, space stations, air traffic control, nuclear power operation, ground satellite control rooms, and surgical operating rooms. Automation efforts may have unanticipated effects on human performance, particularly if they increase the workload at peak workload times or change the practitioners' strategies for coping with workload. Smooth and effective changes in automation requires detailed understanding of the congnitive tasks confronting the user: it has been called user centered automation. The introduction of a new computerized technology in a group of hospital operating rooms used for heart surgery was observed. The study revealed how automation, especially 'clumsy automation', effects practitioner work patterns and suggest that clumsy automation constrains users in specific and significant ways. Users tailor both the new system and their tasks in order to accommodate the needs of process and production. The study of this tailoring may prove a powerful tool for exposing previously hidden patterns of user data processing, integration, and decision making which may, in turn, be useful in the design of more effective human-machine systems.
Document ID
19910011398
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Cook, Richard I.
(Ohio State Univ. Columbus, OH, United States)
Woods, David D.
(Ohio State Univ. Columbus, OH, United States)
Mccolligan, Elizabeth
(Ohio State Univ. Columbus, OH, United States)
Howie, Michael B.
(Ohio State Univ. Columbus, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: NASA, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Fourth Annual Workshop on Space Operations Applications and Research (SOAR 90)
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Accession Number
91N20711
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC2-592
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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