ALERTED MONITORS: HUMAN OPERATORS AIDED BY AUTOMATED DETECTORS

In an alerted monitor system, an automated detector assists a human operator in the detection and diagnosis of problems occurring in some monitored process. Air traffic control centers and the flight decks of commercial aircraft include many examples of such systems. This project developed a general model of the alerted-monitor system and evaluated the effects on system performance of interactions between the human operator and automated detector. One of the types of interaction evaluated (contingent criterion strategy) yields optimal performance from the combined person-machine system. Two laboratory experiments were performed to evaluate the assumptions of the model and the interactions between the operator and automated components. One experiment consisted of a human subject detecting auditory signals (aided by an automated detector). A second experiment required a a human subject to diagnose a set of instrument readings (assisted by an automated detector) while simultaneously performing another visual task. System performance in these experiments was consistent with the predictions of the contingent criterion model but slightly below the predicted level. There was no evidence for large drops in performance caused by inappropriate operator observing straegies.

• Corporate Authors:

  Purdue University

  School of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  West Lafayette, IN  United States  47907

  Office of the Secretary of Transportation

  University Research Office, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Sorkin, R D
  • Robinson, D E
• Publication Date: 1984-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 43 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Decision making; Detectors; Diagnostic tests; Evaluation; Experiments; Human machine systems; Monitoring
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Department of Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Diagnostics
• Old TRIS Terms: Man machine interaction; Ost university research
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00451495
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/OST/P-34/85-021 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DTRS5683-C-00047
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM