Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104737
Rachel A. Rutkowski , Michael S. Pulia , Megan E. Salwei , Emma Loveless , Lily Jaeger , Michael Rawson , Kathryn L. Wust , Peter L.T. Hoonakker , Barbara J. King , Manish N. Shah , Brian W. Patterson , Paula vW. Dáil , Maureen Smith , Pascale Carayon , Nicole E. Werner
Emergency department (ED) clinical decision-making, specifically for transfer or disposition decisions, has been challenging to characterize. The purpose of this descriptive study is to identify the work system elements that influence the ED disposition decision-making process and to identify those work system elements that vary under low and high demands. We conducted a work systems analysis of 20 contextual inquiry-based ED visit observations and 18 semi-structured interviews with ED clinicians. Results identified work system elements not previously characterized (i.e., physical environment) and revealed that a subset of elements within the ED work system vary with demand. To fully elucidate the meaning and effect of these differences, we must develop a systematic approach to eliciting the influence each work system element has on disposition decision-making process performance.
{"title":"A work systems approach to characterizing emergency department disposition decision-making under low and high demand","authors":"Rachel A. Rutkowski , Michael S. Pulia , Megan E. Salwei , Emma Loveless , Lily Jaeger , Michael Rawson , Kathryn L. Wust , Peter L.T. Hoonakker , Barbara J. King , Manish N. Shah , Brian W. Patterson , Paula vW. Dáil , Maureen Smith , Pascale Carayon , Nicole E. Werner","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104737","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104737","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emergency department (ED) clinical decision-making, specifically for transfer or disposition decisions, has been challenging to characterize. The purpose of this descriptive study is to identify the work system elements that influence the ED disposition decision-making process and to identify those work system elements that vary under low and high demands. We conducted a work systems analysis of 20 contextual inquiry-based ED visit observations and 18 semi-structured interviews with ED clinicians. Results identified work system elements not previously characterized (i.e., physical environment) and revealed that a subset of elements within the ED work system vary with demand. To fully elucidate the meaning and effect of these differences, we must develop a systematic approach to eliciting the influence each work system element has on disposition decision-making process performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104737"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146020713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104736
Bingyi Su, Fangyuan Cheng, Lu Lu, Liwei Qing, SeHee Jung, Xu Xu
As large language models (LLMs) become increasingly integrated into robotic systems, understanding their influence on human-robot collaboration (HRC) is critical for designing effective and user-centered human-robot interactions. This study investigates the impact of LLM-enhanced robotic systems on users’ performance, mental stress, and trust during collaborative tasks. Participants engaged in two representative HRC scenarios, including object delivery and instruction following, under two experimental conditions: with and without LLM support. Performance was measured through task completion time and number of verbal commands; mental stress was assessed using both subjective (NASA-TLX) and objective (galvanic skin response, GSR) measures; and trust was evaluated through the SHAPE Trust Index and eye-tracking metrics (blink rate and duration). Results showed that LLM integration significantly improved task efficiency and reduced subjective mental stress, particularly mental demand, effort, and frustration. Participants also reported higher levels of trust in the LLM condition across dimensions such as usefulness, reliability, accuracy, and ease of use. Interestingly, GSR data indicated elevated physiological arousal, possibly suggesting increased engagement or positive emotional activation, while eye-tracking measures showed no significant differences. These findings highlight the potential of LLMs to enhance HRC by enabling more natural communication, reducing mental workload, and increasing user trust, while also pointing to the need for improved system transparency to support deeper understanding and sustained trust.
{"title":"Exploring the integration of large language models in human-robot collaboration: Effects on performance, mental stress, and trust","authors":"Bingyi Su, Fangyuan Cheng, Lu Lu, Liwei Qing, SeHee Jung, Xu Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104736","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104736","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As large language models (LLMs) become increasingly integrated into robotic systems, understanding their influence on human-robot collaboration (HRC) is critical for designing effective and user-centered human-robot interactions. This study investigates the impact of LLM-enhanced robotic systems on users’ performance, mental stress, and trust during collaborative tasks. Participants engaged in two representative HRC scenarios, including object delivery and instruction following, under two experimental conditions: with and without LLM support. Performance was measured through task completion time and number of verbal commands; mental stress was assessed using both subjective (NASA-TLX) and objective (galvanic skin response, GSR) measures; and trust was evaluated through the SHAPE Trust Index and eye-tracking metrics (blink rate and duration). Results showed that LLM integration significantly improved task efficiency and reduced subjective mental stress, particularly mental demand, effort, and frustration. Participants also reported higher levels of trust in the LLM condition across dimensions such as usefulness, reliability, accuracy, and ease of use. Interestingly, GSR data indicated elevated physiological arousal, possibly suggesting increased engagement or positive emotional activation, while eye-tracking measures showed no significant differences. These findings highlight the potential of LLMs to enhance HRC by enabling more natural communication, reducing mental workload, and increasing user trust, while also pointing to the need for improved system transparency to support deeper understanding and sustained trust.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104736"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146020754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104731
Ali Shirzadeh , Aida Haghighi , Morteza Bashash , Mohammad Abdoli-Eramaki
Construction is a hazardous industry, with slips, falls, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the most common occupational hazards. Safety boots are vital for reducing these risks and enhancing workers' comfort, mobility, and overall performance. Therefore, this study examines associations between winter safety boot features and construction workers' comfort, performance and mobility, slips, falls, and MSDs due to slips and falls. Cross-sectional survey data from 110 Canadian construction workers were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Boots’ arch support, shaft flexibility, and inside warmth were the most consistently associated features across outcomes. Poor arch support was associated with lower comfort (OR = 0.09) and performance and mobility (OR = 0.089), and higher odds of falls (OR = 4.843) and MSDs due to slips and falls (OR = 3.255). Limited ankle inversion was linked to higher risks of slips, falls, and MSDs; the corresponding ORs for workers with “no limitation” were 0.126, 0.286, and 0.161, respectively, while boots with cold interiors were associated with higher odds of slips (OR = 5.657) and lower comfort (OR = 0.213). These findings suggest the potential importance of prioritizing adequate arch support, balanced shaft flexibility, and inside warmth in safety boot design, which may help enhance comfort and performance and mobility while reducing slips, falls, and MSD-related risks.
{"title":"Safety boots’ impact on comfort, mobility, performance, musculoskeletal disorders, slips, and falls in Canadian construction","authors":"Ali Shirzadeh , Aida Haghighi , Morteza Bashash , Mohammad Abdoli-Eramaki","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104731","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104731","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Construction is a hazardous industry, with slips, falls, and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the most common occupational hazards. Safety boots are vital for reducing these risks and enhancing workers' comfort, mobility, and overall performance. Therefore, this study examines associations between winter safety boot features and construction workers' comfort, performance and mobility, slips, falls, and MSDs due to slips and falls. Cross-sectional survey data from 110 Canadian construction workers were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Boots’ arch support, shaft flexibility, and inside warmth were the most consistently associated features across outcomes. Poor arch support was associated with lower comfort (OR = 0.09) and performance and mobility (OR = 0.089), and higher odds of falls (OR = 4.843) and MSDs due to slips and falls (OR = 3.255). Limited ankle inversion was linked to higher risks of slips, falls, and MSDs; the corresponding ORs for workers with “no limitation” were 0.126, 0.286, and 0.161, respectively, while boots with cold interiors were associated with higher odds of slips (OR = 5.657) and lower comfort (OR = 0.213). These findings suggest the potential importance of prioritizing adequate arch support, balanced shaft flexibility, and inside warmth in safety boot design, which may help enhance comfort and performance and mobility while reducing slips, falls, and MSD-related risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104731"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146013455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104738
Yang Cai, Pei-Luen Patrick Rau
Although transparency enhances Human-Agent Teaming (HAT), its underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This within-subject study investigates how agent transparency shapes operators' cognitive and affective emergent states—situation awareness (SA), trust, workload, perceived task complexity, and perceived task control—and associated neural activity during unmanned system monitoring. Thirty participants completed unmanned vehicle monitoring tasks under varying transparency levels while functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) recorded hemodynamic responses. The results showed that high transparency improves SA, fosters trust, reduces workload and perceived task complexity, and strengthens perceived task control. The fNIRS data further indicated that high transparency reduced cognitive load in Broca's area and the frontal eye field, while increasing it in the frontal pole area and premotor and primary motor cortices. These findings advance theoretical understanding of transparency's role in HAT and offer practical guidance for designing transparent systems that support operators' cognition and align subjective and objective SA. The insights gained contribute to the design of transparent systems that improve operator support and collaboration in high-risk operational domains such as forestry and disaster response.
{"title":"Neuro-cognitive benefits of high agent transparency on operators’ cognitive and affective emergent states in human-agent teaming","authors":"Yang Cai, Pei-Luen Patrick Rau","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104738","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104738","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although transparency enhances Human-Agent Teaming (HAT), its underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This within-subject study investigates how agent transparency shapes operators' cognitive and affective emergent states—situation awareness (SA), trust, workload, perceived task complexity, and perceived task control—and associated neural activity during unmanned system monitoring. Thirty participants completed unmanned vehicle monitoring tasks under varying transparency levels while functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) recorded hemodynamic responses. The results showed that high transparency improves SA, fosters trust, reduces workload and perceived task complexity, and strengthens perceived task control. The fNIRS data further indicated that high transparency reduced cognitive load in Broca's area and the frontal eye field, while increasing it in the frontal pole area and premotor and primary motor cortices. These findings advance theoretical understanding of transparency's role in HAT and offer practical guidance for designing transparent systems that support operators' cognition and align subjective and objective SA. The insights gained contribute to the design of transparent systems that improve operator support and collaboration in high-risk operational domains such as forestry and disaster response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104738"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146020778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104733
Robin Orr , Jacques Rousseau , Elisa F.D. Canetti , Ben Schram
How a soldier's load is carried can elicit different physical and physiological costs on the carrier. As such, this study aimed to profile and compare the impacts of three different load carriage backpack systems on physical and physiological outcomes during and following a load carriage march. Twelve soldiers were randomly allocated to one of three pack variants (Variant A, B, or C) using a Latin Square design and completed three 5 km load carriage marches (30 kg at 5.5 km/h) over three separate sessions wearing the different Variants for each march. Outcome measures during the march were heart rate and oxygen consumption and pre and post march were a counter movement jump, grip strength, and postural sway. There were no significant differences (p > 0.01) in any of the objective outcome measures across pack Variants. These results suggest that load weight will impact on the physical and physiological costs associated with load carriage to a greater extent than military backpack design.
{"title":"Soldier load carriage: Does the type of pack matter?","authors":"Robin Orr , Jacques Rousseau , Elisa F.D. Canetti , Ben Schram","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104733","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104733","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>How a soldier's load is carried can elicit different physical and physiological costs on the carrier. As such, this study aimed to profile and compare the impacts of three different load carriage backpack systems on physical and physiological outcomes during and following a load carriage march. Twelve soldiers were randomly allocated to one of three pack variants (Variant A, B, or C) using a Latin Square design and completed three 5 km load carriage marches (30 kg at 5.5 km/h) over three separate sessions wearing the different Variants for each march. Outcome measures during the march were heart rate and oxygen consumption and pre and post march were a counter movement jump, grip strength, and postural sway. There were no significant differences (p > 0.01) in any of the objective outcome measures across pack Variants. These results suggest that load weight will impact on the physical and physiological costs associated with load carriage to a greater extent than military backpack design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104733"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145999724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Exoskeletons often initiate assistance at unexpected moments, disrupting natural movement and reducing user acceptance. The timing of mechanical assistance is critical for enabling users to perform fast and accurate movements without conscious effort. This study examined how assistance onset timing affects movement accuracy, muscle activation, and subjective evaluation during simple tasks. Twenty healthy young participants performed visually guided elbow flexions (30°–120°) within 1.15 s, lifting a dumbbell equal to 25% of their maximum voluntary contraction with 40% mechanical assistance under seven onset conditions (±300 ms, ±200 ms, ±100 ms, and 0 ms relative to the start cue). The findings indicate that both early and delayed assistance provide unique advantages but are subject to a fundamental trade-off: early assistance improves movement accuracy, whereas delayed assistance better preserves the sense of agency. The most effective cooperation occurred within a ±100 ms window, balancing accuracy and agency—factors essential for improving device acceptance.
{"title":"Human motor responses to different assistance onset timings during powered elbow flexion","authors":"Daichi Kusumoto , Wen Liang Yeoh , Jeewon Choi , Ping Yeap Loh , Satoshi Muraki","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104721","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104721","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Exoskeletons often initiate assistance at unexpected moments, disrupting natural movement and reducing user acceptance. The timing of mechanical assistance is critical for enabling users to perform fast and accurate movements without conscious effort. This study examined how assistance onset timing affects movement accuracy, muscle activation, and subjective evaluation during simple tasks. Twenty healthy young participants performed visually guided elbow flexions (30°–120°) within 1.15 s, lifting a dumbbell equal to 25% of their maximum voluntary contraction with 40% mechanical assistance under seven onset conditions (±300 ms, ±200 ms, ±100 ms, and 0 ms relative to the start cue). The findings indicate that both early and delayed assistance provide unique advantages but are subject to a fundamental trade-off: early assistance improves movement accuracy, whereas delayed assistance better preserves the sense of agency. The most effective cooperation occurred within a ±100 ms window, balancing accuracy and agency—factors essential for improving device acceptance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104721"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104730
Kuanting Chen , Kyle Holland , Margaret J. Foster , Jennifer M. Yentes
This scoping review aims to synthesize existing evidence investigating the impact of firefighters' personal protective equipment (PPE) on mobility and performance in the United States. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews, five databases were searched, and fifteen articles meeting the criteria were reviewed. Findings revealed that PPE impaired firefighters’ dynamic balance (4 of 4 studies), static range of motion (all 4 studies showed various degrees of limitations), gait (3 of 3 studies), and subjective perceptions of comfort and movement ease (5 of 5 studies). In contrast, all studies investigating static balance and firefighting task completion time showed these performances were unaffected, although evidence in these areas remains limited. Factors influencing mobility and performance in PPE included gear fit, design features, wear conditions, and firefighter fitness levels. This review highlighted the importance of high physical fitness among firefighters and the need for end-user wear trials in gear design and evaluation.
{"title":"The effect of United States firefighters’ personal protective equipment on mobility and functional task performance: A scoping review","authors":"Kuanting Chen , Kyle Holland , Margaret J. Foster , Jennifer M. Yentes","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104730","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104730","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This scoping review aims to synthesize existing evidence investigating the impact of firefighters' personal protective equipment (PPE) on mobility and performance in the United States. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews, five databases were searched, and fifteen articles meeting the criteria were reviewed. Findings revealed that PPE impaired firefighters’ dynamic balance (4 of 4 studies), static range of motion (all 4 studies showed various degrees of limitations), gait (3 of 3 studies), and subjective perceptions of comfort and movement ease (5 of 5 studies). In contrast, all studies investigating static balance and firefighting task completion time showed these performances were unaffected, although evidence in these areas remains limited. Factors influencing mobility and performance in PPE included gear fit, design features, wear conditions, and firefighter fitness levels. This review highlighted the importance of high physical fitness among firefighters and the need for end-user wear trials in gear design and evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104730"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145967208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104734
Seobin Choi , Kiana Kia , Allen Chan , Mina Salehi , Woodam Chung , Jeong Ho Kim
This study evaluated the effects of passive back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) on biomechanical load and postural stability during simulated manual timber felling at three cutting heights. Twenty healthy adult male participants performed timber felling tasks under four BSE conditions (two rigid, one soft, and no BSE). During the tasks, electromyographic (EMG) activity, trunk angle, postural sway, and perceived exertion were measured. Results showed that rigid BSEs reduced trunk flexion and low back EMG activity at the middle cutting height, where trunk flexion was greatest. No significant changes were observed at low or high cutting heights, likely due to insufficient exoskeleton engagement. BSE use shifted postural control strategies rather than providing a uniform stabilizing effect. Additionally, BSEs lowered perceived exertion for the whole body and low back. These findings suggest that BSEs may help reduce low back loading at the middle cutting height during manual timber felling, but further field testing is warranted.
{"title":"Effects of back-support passive exoskeletons on biomechanical loads and postural stability during simulated manual timber felling","authors":"Seobin Choi , Kiana Kia , Allen Chan , Mina Salehi , Woodam Chung , Jeong Ho Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104734","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104734","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of passive back-support exoskeletons (BSEs) on biomechanical load and postural stability during simulated manual timber felling at three cutting heights. Twenty healthy adult male participants performed timber felling tasks under four BSE conditions (two rigid, one soft, and no BSE). During the tasks, electromyographic (EMG) activity, trunk angle, postural sway, and perceived exertion were measured. Results showed that rigid BSEs reduced trunk flexion and low back EMG activity at the middle cutting height, where trunk flexion was greatest. No significant changes were observed at low or high cutting heights, likely due to insufficient exoskeleton engagement. BSE use shifted postural control strategies rather than providing a uniform stabilizing effect. Additionally, BSEs lowered perceived exertion for the whole body and low back. These findings suggest that BSEs may help reduce low back loading at the middle cutting height during manual timber felling, but further field testing is warranted.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104734"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145967967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104732
Jiachen Wang, Qianhan Bao, Daofei Li
With the rapid advancement of automated driving, motion sickness (MS) has gathered significant attention from both academia and industry. Advanced sensing, decision-making, and control systems in autonomous vehicles offer promising opportunities to mitigate MS in next-generation transportation. Traditionally, objective metrics such as Motion Sickness Dose Value (MSDV) and Motion Sickness Incidence (MSI) are derived directly from vehicle motion states to quantify MS severity. However, these metrics often overlook the filtering or amplification effects of human body dynamics on the motion stimuli experienced in occupant heads. To address this, we designed two motion planning algorithms to generate vehicle trajectories: one optimized solely based on vehicle motion (control group) and another incorporating occupant head motion dynamics (experimental group). Real-road experiments with 23 participants, using a within-subject design, were conducted on an automated vehicle. Results demonstrated that trajectories with ‘head-motion-first’ concept can significantly reduce MSDV, with subjective assessments via the Misery Scale (MISC) showing notable reductions in MS severity. This study represents one of the few occupant-in-the-loop on-road validations of MS mitigation through automated driving, confirming the effectiveness of incorporating head motion dynamics into MS-oriented trajectory planning.
{"title":"On-road evaluation of sickness-less motion planning in automated vehicles: ‘Head motion first’ helps!","authors":"Jiachen Wang, Qianhan Bao, Daofei Li","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104732","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104732","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the rapid advancement of automated driving, motion sickness (MS) has gathered significant attention from both academia and industry. Advanced sensing, decision-making, and control systems in autonomous vehicles offer promising opportunities to mitigate MS in next-generation transportation. Traditionally, objective metrics such as Motion Sickness Dose Value (MSDV) and Motion Sickness Incidence (MSI) are derived directly from vehicle motion states to quantify MS severity. However, these metrics often overlook the filtering or amplification effects of human body dynamics on the motion stimuli experienced in occupant heads. To address this, we designed two motion planning algorithms to generate vehicle trajectories: one optimized solely based on vehicle motion (control group) and another incorporating occupant head motion dynamics (experimental group). Real-road experiments with 23 participants, using a within-subject design, were conducted on an automated vehicle. Results demonstrated that trajectories with ‘head-motion-first’ concept can significantly reduce MSDV, with subjective assessments via the Misery Scale (MISC) showing notable reductions in MS severity. This study represents one of the few occupant-in-the-loop on-road validations of MS mitigation through automated driving, confirming the effectiveness of incorporating head motion dynamics into MS-oriented trajectory planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104732"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104720
Fabiha Islam , Zipporah Bright , Mei-Hsiu Chen , Liang Zhan , Chao Shi
Virtual reality (VR) is a promising tool to promote mental health support for depressed and healthy populations. However, in current VR-based therapy, most users visualize on computer or smartphone screens, which lack depth cues (2D screen). The 2D screen may add cognitive load, reducing VR usability, especially in users suffering from mental health issues such as depression. These 2D screens might further reduce the therapy outcomes if they affect users' situation awareness (SA) and engagement. Many mental health professionals are not fully aware of the benefits or potential applications of immersive VR therapy. This study aims to evaluate the potential benefits of more immersive technologies, such as VR, using head-mounted displays (HMDs). As a first step towards potential clinical implementation, we ran an experiment with 21 healthy participants who performed a 3D reaching and cutting fruit task using: (1) a VR HMD, and (2) a 2D screen. Pupil diameter, fixation, saccade duration, and saccade amplitude data were collected. Pupil diameter results showed that the VR environment can mitigate the impact of high task difficulty on participants’ cognitive workload (CWL). Fixation and saccade results indicated that participants could tentatively maintain consistent levels of SA and engagement within the VR environment, regardless of task difficulty. These findings suggest that VR holds promise as a therapeutic platform for alleviating CWL and maintaining engagement compared to 2D screens.
{"title":"Evaluating the effect of immersive virtual reality technologies on cognitive load, situation awareness, and engagement using eye movements","authors":"Fabiha Islam , Zipporah Bright , Mei-Hsiu Chen , Liang Zhan , Chao Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104720","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104720","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Virtual reality (VR) is a promising tool to promote mental health support for depressed and healthy populations. However, in current VR-based therapy, most users visualize on computer or smartphone screens, which lack depth cues (2D screen). The 2D screen may add cognitive load, reducing VR usability, especially in users suffering from mental health issues such as depression. These 2D screens might further reduce the therapy outcomes if they affect users' situation awareness (SA) and engagement. Many mental health professionals are not fully aware of the benefits or potential applications of immersive VR therapy. This study aims to evaluate the potential benefits of more immersive technologies, such as VR, using head-mounted displays (HMDs). As a first step towards potential clinical implementation, we ran an experiment with 21 healthy participants who performed a 3D reaching and cutting fruit task using: (1) a VR HMD, and (2) a 2D screen. Pupil diameter, fixation, saccade duration, and saccade amplitude data were collected. Pupil diameter results showed that the VR environment can mitigate the impact of high task difficulty on participants’ cognitive workload (CWL). Fixation and saccade results indicated that participants could tentatively maintain consistent levels of SA and engagement within the VR environment, regardless of task difficulty. These findings suggest that VR holds promise as a therapeutic platform for alleviating CWL and maintaining engagement compared to 2D screens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 104720"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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