Human Factors最新文献

ObjectiveTo identify and interpret evidence from systematic reviews of Situation Awareness (SA) measurement across domains, focussing on measures' psychometric properties, and provide practical implications for SA measurement.BackgroundSeveral systematic reviews have been published on SA measurement, often focussing on specific measurement tools, domains, or psychometric properties. This creates a challenge for understanding the evidence supporting SA measures and for establishing best practice in SA measurement.MethodFive electronic databases were searched up to February 2025. The meta-review was prospectively registered (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024521458). Reviews were included if they were systematic and focused on SA measurement. Data were extracted on the review characteristics and the SA measurement tools identified, including their psychometric properties. Studies were assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for systematic reviews.ResultsFourteen reviews, capturing over 477 unique primary studies, were included in this meta-review. In total, 38 distinct SA measurement tools were identified and subdivided into four categories of SA measurement: self-ratings, observer ratings, probing techniques, and physiological metrics. Psychometric evidence was limited for most tools. Probing techniques, especially the Situation Awareness Global Assessment Technique (SAGAT), showed the most extensive validity evidence but were associated with usability concerns.ConclusionThe application of SAGAT may be recommended as best practice currently, while other tools offer complementary strengths for specific contexts.ApplicationThis synthesis provides guidance on best practice for SA measurement based on measurement purpose and context of use, balancing methodological rigour with feasibility to enhance SA measurement across diverse operational environments.

ObjectiveThis study examined a novel method to differentiate between mental and physical stress using Baevsky's Enhanced Stress Technique.BackgroundOccupational stress events, whether mental or physical, are handled by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, which have been shown to be associated with heart rate variability (HRV), but have not been previously differentiated.MethodNaturalistic HRV and accelerometer data were measured continuously using wrist-worn sensors during a typical 12-h direct-care nursing shift (28 ICU nurses). Physical and mental stress events were calculated using the Baevsky's Stress Index, and Activity Index was used to investigate their differences between mental and combined mental and physical stress.ResultsRoot mean square of successive differences between heartbeats (RMSSD), which is associated with the parasympathetic nervous system activity as well as low-frequency power/high-frequency power (LF/HF ratio), and the alpha value of detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA a2), which are associated with the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity, were the most predictive features of stress events (accounting for AUC of 85.46).ConclusionBaevsky's Enhanced Stress Technique shows promise in assessing occupational mental stress among ICU nurses. There were more persistent and significant physiological changes in HRV associated with combined mental and physical stress events.ApplicationFindings suggest a new stress measurement method for classifying occupational mental stress. Measurement using wrist-worn accelerometer and HRV data sources has pragmatic relevance to the design of real-time, noninvasive, and cost-efficient stress monitoring tools relevant to applications in high-stress work environments.

ObjectiveThe aim of this field study was to explore the effects of a light reduction strategy on various qualitative and quantitative outdoor lighting quality criteria.BackgroundSeveral outdoor lighting quality criteria have been highlighted in previous work related to perception and evaluation from pedestrians. Previous studies revealed that a decrease of horizontal illuminance impacts criteria, and that individual moderators need to be considered.Method70 participants had to walk on different footpaths with a reduced luminous flux at night. They completed a questionnaire and tasks about perception and evaluation of outdoor lighting quality.ResultsThe results highlight an effect of the luminous flux and/or footpath on each criterium excepted discomfort from glare. A reduced luminous flux of 50% increases perceived visibility, visual acuity, and overall lighting quality compared to a flux at 10%. Differences in layout impact perceived visibility, perceived safety and overall lighting quality. Women have a lower perceived safety score than men, which is reflected in both quantitative and qualitative content. Elderly people have poorer visual acuity and mention brightness and darkness less often when describing the footpaths.ConclusionsThrough the mixed quantitative and qualitative approach conducted, the results confirm the impact of the lighting levels reduction on outdoor lighting criteria and are closely dependent on the context and location chosen.ApplicationsTaking into account the individual variability in decision-making processes could help local authorities to conduct policies of light reduction to limit the impact on the environment and to adapt urban lighting to everyone.

ObjectiveTo understand how prior expectations and instructions about hazard prevalence affect high-stakes visual search in a semi-immersive virtual environment, where participants take on the role of firefighters in search and rescue missions.BackgroundInformation about target prevalence influences visual search in standard laboratory studies. However, little is known about how prior expectations and new information about target prevalence interact in simulated emergency scenarios.MethodsParticipants (n = 48) received training where the average number of hazards (explosive cylinders) amongst similar distractors was varied (two or six) before participants rescued a trapped person. Trial-end feedback indicated whether all targets were removed and the person rescued. They were then instructed that hazard prevalence would increase, decrease, or stay similar during test blocks. Stress was manipulated by an ongoing alarm, the threat of trial-ending explosions, and reduced movement speed. Search performance was measured by the number and type of stimuli removed and stress was assessed using self-report and physiological measures.ResultsAcross high and low stress conditions, more hazards were removed and more false positives occurred (i.e., more distractors removed) when test prevalence was lower than during training, compared to when prevalence levels remained similar. False negative errors were consistently low across conditions.ConclusionAcquired hazard expectations can override explicit instructions, leading to persistent search errors, likely due to difficulties in adjusting decision criteria.ApplicationThese results suggest that training in high-stakes hazard search should incorporate the use of tools and techniques to help mitigate the persistent influence of outdated expectations on search performance.

ObjectiveThis study reports the development and preliminary evaluation of SAAAR, a multimodal system designed to assess and support the development of situation awareness (SA).BackgroundSA is critical in anesthesiology, yet existing assessment methods lack standardized tools tailored to its complexities of anesthetic practice. Systems developed in other domains have limited applicability, highlighting the need for a purpose-built approach for anesthesia residents.MethodThe SAAAR comprises two components: a 16-item behavioral marker scale and a structured debriefing with eye-tracking. Thirteen anesthesiology faculty tested interrater and test-retest reliability, while five experts conducted content validation of the scale. Both components were implemented in a simulation-based training program for preliminary system evaluation.ResultsThe behavioral marker scale demonstrated moderate content validity and high reliability. Internal consistency was strong (McDonald's Ω = 0.928), test-retest reliability high (Spearman's ρ = 0.952), and interrater agreement moderate (Kendall's W = 0.412). Faculty reported the scale to be clear, comprehensive, and easy to use. Pilot implementation showed significant improvements across domains (Wilcoxon signed-rank test), indicating the system's potential to provide targeted feedback and guide educational interventions.ConclusionsGrounded in HFE principles, the SAAAR provides a structured approach to assessing SA in anesthesia residents and demonstrates preliminary potential to inform educational strategies. Further research is required to determine its impact on clinical performance.ApplicationThe SAAAR offers residency programs and human factors experts a practical tool for assessing SA and designing targeted training. Its adaptable framework suggests potential applicability in other high-pressure medical contexts, pending further evaluation.

BackgroundShift rotation is a popular means of aiding offshore oil and gas extraction (OGE) workers in mitigating the health and safety impacts of night shift work. However, they can disrupt workers' circadian rhythms, resulting in poor sleep quality, fatigue, and performance postrotation.ObjectiveTo determine the impacts of forward (day-to-night) and backward (night-to-day) rotations on offshore OGE workers' sleepiness, fatigue, performance levels, and subsequent circadian adaptation over time.Methods70 oil and gas workers from two offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were followed for seven days, starting the day before the shift rotation. Subjective and performance-based measures of fatigue, as well as actigraphy, were collected daily from day and night workers undergoing shift rotation and compared to those on their fixed shift schedules.ResultsForward rotations negatively affected perceived sleepiness, sleep efficiency, total sleep time (measured by actigraphy), and increased reaction time on the Psychomotor Vigilance Task compared to workers assigned to fixed day shifts. The only observed impact of the backward rotation on fixed night shift workers was decreased total sleep time.DiscussionWorkers assigned to the forward rotations took longer to adapt to the shift rotation, providing insights into how fatigue risk management strategies can be tailored to better address the needs of vulnerable shift workers.ApplicationThe findings indicate that rotating shift work is detrimental to offshore workers, and it is recommended that the amount of rotating shift work during a worker's offshore assignment be minimized, especially when transitioning from day to night.

ObjectiveWe examined whether allowing operators to self-select automation transparency level (adaptable transparency) could improve accuracy of automation use compared to nonadaptable (fixed) low and high transparency. We examined factors underlying higher transparency selection (decision risk, perceived difficulty).BackgroundIncreased fixed transparency typically improves automation use accuracy but can increase bias toward agreeing with automated advice. Adaptable transparency may further improve automation use if it increases the perceived expected value of high transparency information.MethodsAcross two studies, participants completed an uninhabited vehicle (UV) management task where they selected the optimal UV to complete missions. Automation advised the optimal UV but was not always correct. Automation transparency (fixed low, fixed high, adaptable) and decision risk were manipulated within-subjects.ResultsWith adaptable transparency, participants selected higher transparency on 41% of missions and were more likely to select it for missions perceived as more difficult. Decision risk did not impact transparency selection. Increased fixed transparency (low to high) did not benefit automation use accuracy, but reduced decision times. Adaptable transparency did not improve automation use compared to fixed transparency.ConclusionWe found no evidence that adaptable transparency improved automation use. Despite a lack of fixed transparency effects in the current study, an aggregated analysis of our work to date using the UV management paradigm indicated that higher fixed transparency improves automation use accuracy, reduces decision time and perceived workload, and increases trust in automation.ApplicationThe current study contributes to the emerging evidence-base regarding optimal automation transparency design in the modern workplace.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility of electromyography (EMG)-based human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for high-demand activities such as driving based on performance, cognitive workload, usability, and safety measures.BackgroundUpper-limb amputees face challenges in performing everyday tasks, including driving. EMG-based HMIs offer potential solutions, particularly for wrist disarticulated and trans-radial amputee, but their effectiveness in complex tasks like driving requires further investigation.MethodNineteen able-bodied participants completed a driving simulation study using an EMG-based HMI, dominant hand, and both hands. Participants performed various driving maneuvers including straight lane driving, overtaking, and 90-degree turns at intersections. Driver performance, cognitive workload (measured by blink rate and subjective measures), usability (USE questionnaire), and safety were assessed.ResultsUsing the EMG-based HMI led to higher lane offset and steering angle compared to conventional methods, but demonstrated lower steering entropy in some situations. Cognitive workload was higher for EMG-based HMI, while usability scores were lower. Safety measures were mixed, with EMG-based HMI showing better performance at intersections but lower lane offset and steering angle safety scores overall.ConclusionThe study highlights both limitations and opportunities presented by EMG-based HMIs in high-demand tasks such as driving. While the system exhibited lower performance in some conditions, it demonstrated potential for controlled driving, particularly during specific maneuvers. The higher cognitive workload and lower usability scores indicate areas for improvement.ApplicationThe findings provide valuable insights for the development of more effective EMG-based HMIs, supporting future research and clinical trials aimed at enhancing mobility and independence for individuals with upper-limb amputations.

ObjectiveTo examine how domain-switching and user characteristics may predict broad susceptibility to digital deception.BackgroundDespite successful automated filtering techniques, humans remain vulnerable to fraud, losing billions of dollars annually. Many scams are delivered by digitally mediated methods, such as phishing emails or fake social media accounts. However, research typically explores susceptibility to these deceptions independently, making it difficult to draw broad conclusions regarding susceptibility to digital deception.MethodWe recruited a representative sample to investigate how susceptibility to deception may vary across digital domains, particularly when switching between domains (i.e., domain-switching). Participants classified stimuli from five different digital domains (i.e., emails, text messages, news headlines, social media accounts, and voicemails), either randomly (i.e., domain-switching) or in separate blocks, and completed measures of cognitive reflection and digital literacy.ResultsThe results suggest that when users struggle to discriminate between deceptive and legitimate stimuli in one digital deception domain, they are likely to struggle in others. Additionally, the results suggest that while cognitive reflection and digital literacy may help insulate users from deception, domain-switching may generally hinder user performance (i.e., slower responses).ConclusionOverall, individuals appear to be consistently vulnerable to deception across digital domains and this vulnerability can be exacerbated by certain task factors (e.g., domain-switching) and user characteristics (e.g., cognitive reflection and digital literacy).ApplicationTo develop more efficacious interventions that enhance user resiliency, research should consider broad training that incorporates correlates of susceptibility (e.g., cognitive reflection and digital literacy), and more realistic task settings (e.g., domain-switching).

ObjectiveThis study aimed to conduct a systematic literature review of gestural interaction research by tracing its evolution from a focus on functionality and performance toward a human-centered paradigm, and to develop a theoretical framework that structures the understanding of gestural interaction processes.BackgroundDespite extensive research, no comprehensive review has yet been conducted on gestural interaction from a human-centered perspective, highlighting the need for a structured synthesis to inform design and evaluation practices.MethodWe first developed a conceptual Person-Action-Target-Environment (PATE) model for gestural interaction. Guided by this model, we conducted a systematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. Our review included 197 articles to identify key topics, measurement indicators, and influencing factors.ResultsThe review identified three phases in gesture research: an early focus on functionality, followed by performance-oriented studies, and a recent emphasis on user experience. Four key dimensions emerged in the measurement of gestural interaction: efficiency, ease of use, subjective experience, and tolerance degree. At least ten categories (40 factors in total) were found to influence gestural interaction, with factors related to person, interacting target and actions being extensively explored.ConclusionThis review identifies trends, measures, and influencing factors in gestural interaction research, and utilizes the PATE model to effectively structure the analysis and understanding of gestural interaction processes.ApplicationThis review provides insights and tools for researchers and designers aiming to enhance user experience in gestural interaction technologies.