A Preliminary Evaluation of the Prototype Tactical Computerized Interactive Display

In June 1990, the U.S. Army Human Engineering Laboratory (HEL) conducted a preliminary evaluation of a prototype computer device called the tactical computerized interactive display (TACID). The objective of this preliminary investigation was to identify human factors evaluation issues related to the TACID liquid crystal display (LCD) and message software. A practical method of user interface evaluation (Johnson, Clegg, & Ravden, 1989) was used to evaluate the TACID. During Phase 1 of the evaluation, a system designer evaluated the TACID display and software using checklists from DOD- HDBK-761 (DoD, 1985). Four HEL researchers, who were taught to use the TACID, noted the general readability of the LCD display as well as human factors problems associated with the software. During Phase 2 of the study, the performance of 27 West Virginia Army National Guardsmen was recorded on video tape as they performed relatively simple military communications tasks using the TACID. Finally, during Phase 3, the operators were asked to complete questionnaires about the TACID training they had received and their operational experience with the device. In most cases, the software used on the TACID was consistent with DOD-HBK-761 (DoD, 1985). The subjects had no problems reading the LCD display, and they only had a few problems with Battlefield digital message processing, Digital text editing, Flat panel computer display, Human- computer interaction (HCI).