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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2006.04.021 Byline: Dick Lenior (a), Wiel Janssen (b), Mark Neerincx (c), Kirsten Schreibers (a) Keywords: Traffic control; Decision support; Supervision; Adaptive systems; Cognitive engineering Abstract: The theme Smart Transport can be described as adequate human-system symbiosis to realize effective, efficient and human-friendly transport of goods and information. This paper addresses how to attune automation to human (cognitive) capacities (e.g. to take care of information uncertainty, operator trust and mutual man-machine adaptations). An introduction to smart transport is presented, including examples of best practice for engineering human factors in the vehicle ergonomics and train traffic control domain. The examples are representative of an ongoing trend in automation and they show how the human role changes from controller to supervisor. Section 2 focuses on the car driver and systems that support, or sometimes even take over, critical parts of the driving task. Due to the diversity of driver ability, driving context and dependence between driver and context factors, there is a need for personalised, adaptive and integrated support. Systematic research is needed to establish sound systems. Section 3 focuses on the train dispatcher support systems that predict train movements, detect potential conflicts and show the dispatcher the possibilities available to solve the detected problems. Via thorough analysis of both the process to be controlled and the dispatcher's tasks and cognitive needs, support functions were developed as part of an already very complex supervision and control system. The two examples, although from a different field, both show the need for further development in cognitive modelling as well as for the value of sound ergonomics task analysis in design practice. Author Affiliation: (a) ErgoS Engineering and Ergonomics, PO Box 267, Enschede, The Netherlands (b) TNO HF, PO Box 23, Soesterberg, The Netherlands (c) Delft University of Technology/TNO HF, PO Box 23, Soesterberg, The Netherlands Article Note: (footnote) [star] This paper covers the two keynotes in the symposium 'Ergonomics on the move -- Smart Transport', an integral part of the IEA2006 conference, by Wiel Janssen -- section 2 and Dick Lenior -- section 3.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2005.12.006 Byline: Jan Willem Streefkerk (a), Myra P. van Esch-Bussemakers (a), Mark A. Neerincx (b) Keywords: Mobile computing; Attention; Context-aware computing; Personalization; User-centered design; Police Abstract: In the mobile computing environment, there is a need to adapt the information and service provision to the momentary attentive state of the user, operational requirements and usage context. This paper proposes to design personal attentive user interfaces (PAUI) for which the content and style of information presentation is based on models of relevant cognitive, task, context and user aspects. Using the police work environment as the application domain, relevant attributes of these aspects are identified based on literature and domain analyses. We present a user-centered design (UCD) method for the iterative development and validation of the proposed PAUI. Application of this approach provided requirements for (1) adaptation to users' attentive state, (2) notification, (3) information processing and task switching support and (4) user modeling. We aim at refining and validating the models and requirements through continuing empirical evaluation. Author Affiliation: (a) TNO Human Factors, Department of Information Processing, Kampweg 5, 3769 DE Soesterberg, The Netherlands (b) Delft University of Technology, Department of Mediamatics, Faculty of EEMCS, Mekelweg 4, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands

Abstract: For surveillance and rescue operations, human navigation and situation awareness should be well-supported. However, proper testing of new and innovative mobile support is hard for such operations. Evaluations in field settings are expensive, difficult to control, potentially dangerous, and may sometimes be impossible to execute. Using a virtual environment may solve these disadvantages of testing in the field. But how well does the performance with mobile support in a virtual environment predict the performance with the same mobile support in the real environment? To establish validity, patterns found in situation awareness, attention and performance in the virtual environment must match with patterns found in the field. This paper describes an experiment that compares these patterns for participants who search for objects in a virtual or field (real) environment. The virtual environment seemed to be sufficient in providing the prominent cues of the field environment that people use to navigate, but navigation itself proved to be far more easy in the field so that navigation support effects differed for both environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Research shows that music with a strong personal meaning can enhance the social, cognitive, and affective experiences of both people with dementia (PwD) and their social environment. We applied a human-centred design method, called situated Cognitive Engineering, to develop the conceptual design and design rationale of the Music ePartner. The design rationale specifies the general knowledge-base (ontology), context (use cases), and expected effects (claims) of the ePartner support. Three functionalities were developed through rapid prototyping: (1) annotated play lists, (2) a music and picture album, and (3) a picture slide show. Accompanied by a close relative, five PwD participated in a formative evaluation of the prototype at their regular day care centres. All participants interacted with all three functionalities of the prototype as they would in their natural setting. The researchers observed participants’ responses to the prototype using observational scoring forms, and interviewed participants about their experiences using semi-structured interviews. Results showed that the music stimulated PwD to tell life stories related to the songs. Furthermore, music evoked positive individual and group experiences. Specific constraints, additional user needs, and interaction requirements for the Music ePartner resulted in a refinement of both the requirements baseline and the design rationale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expressive virtual audiences are used in scientific research, psychotherapy, and training. To create an expressive virtual audience, developers need to know how specific audience behaviors are associated with certain characteristics of an audience, such as attitude, and how well people can recognize these characteristics. To examine this, four studies were conducted on a virtual audience and its behavioral models: (I) a perception study of a virtual audience showed that people ( n = 24) could perceive changes in some of the mood, personality, and attitude parameters of the virtual audience; (II) a design experiment whereby individuals ( n = 24) constructed 23 different audience scenarios indicated that the understanding of audience styles was consistent across individuals, and the clustering of similar settings of the virtual audience parameters revealed five distinct generic audience styles; (III) a perception validation study of these five audience styles showed that people ( n = 100) could differentiate between some of the styles, and the audience's attentiveness was the most dominating audience characteristic that people perceived; (IV) the examination of the behavioral model of the virtual audience identified several typical audience behaviors for each style. We anticipate that future developers can use these findings to create distinct virtual audiences with recognizable behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In high-risk domains such as human space flight, cognitive performances can be negatively affected by emotional responses to events and conditions in their working environment (e.g., isolation and health incidents). The COgnitive Performance and Error (COPE) model distinguishes effects of work content on cognitive task load and emotional state, and their effect on the professional's performance. This paper examines the relationships between these variables for a simulated Mars-mission. Six volunteers (well-educated and -motivated men) were isolated for 520 days in a simulated spacecraft in which they had to execute a (virtual) mission to Mars. As part of this mission, every other week, several computer tasks were performed. These tasks consisted of a negotiation game, a chat-based learning activity and an entertainment game. Before and after these tasks, and after post-task questionnaires, the participants rated their emotional state consisting of arousal, valence and dominance, and their cognitive task load consisting of level of information processing, time occupied and task-set switches. Results revealed significant differences between cognitive task load and emotional state levels when work content varied. Significant regression models were also found that could explain variation in task performance. These findings contribute to the validation of the COPE model and suggest that differences in appraisals for tasks may bring about different emotional states and task performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During scenario-based training, the scenario is dynamically adapted in real time to control the storyline and increase its effectiveness. A team of experienced staff members is required to manage and perform the adaptations. They manipulate the storyline and the level of support during their role-play of important characters in the scenario. The costs of training could be reduced if the adaptation is automated by using intelligent agent technology to control the characters within a virtual training environment (a serious game). However, such a system also needs a didactical component to monitor the trainee and determine necessary adaptations to the scenario. This paper investigates the automation of didactical knowledge and the corresponding dynamic adaptation of the scenario. A so-called director decides upon and distributes the necessary changes in real-time to the characters. First, the nature and goals of the adaptations are analyzed. Subsequently, the paper introduces a conducted study into the applicability of directable scenarios. Thereafter, an experiment is introduced that investigates the effects of directorial interventions upon the instructive quality of the scenario. Qualitative results indicated that trainees experienced scenario-based training to be instructive and motivating. Moreover, quantitative results showed that instructors rated directed scenarios as significantly better attuned to the trainee's needs compared to non-directed scenarios. Our future research will focus at the design of an architecture for automatically directed scenario-based training. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Assess the effects of personalised robot behaviours on the enjoyment and motivation of children (8–12) with diabetes, and on their acquisition of health knowledge, in educational play. Methods: Children (N =5) played diabetes quizzes against a personal or neutral robot on three occasions: once at the clinic, twice at home. The personal robot asked them about their names, sports and favourite colours, referred to these data during the interaction, and engaged in small talk. Fun, motivation and diabetes knowledge was measured. Child–robot interaction was observed. Results: Children said the robot and quiz were fun, but this appreciation declined over time. With the personal robot, the children looked more at the robot and spoke more. The children mimicked the robot. Finally, an increase in knowledge about diabetes was observed. Conclusion: The study provides strong indication for how a personal robot can help children to improve health literacy in an enjoyable way. Children mimic the robot. When the robot is personal, they follow suit. Our results are positive and establish a good foundation for further development and testing in a larger study. Practice implications: Using a robot in health care could contribute to self-management in children and help them to cope with their illness. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]