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The research is primarily concerned with the investigation of factors relating to the way that naive computer users build up their internal representations or cognitive models of the computer systems they use. Particular emphasis is placed on investigating the roles of aptitudes, attitudes and personality in the development of such models. The research also became directed towards investigating Lhe implications of advanced technology for use by members of the general public. The research is split up into the following studies: 1) A study of naive computer users investigating the way in which they responded to a simulated rail information system, in comparison with their response to its manual counterpart. The problem solving heuristics used by the subjects were investigated as well as the ways that computers were perceived in relation to other objects. 2) Two studies were carried out to investigate the roles of attitudes and aptitudes for success in an introductory computing course in the BASIC language. 3) The progress of one student undergoing the computing course was investigated closely with a view to finding out how the learning process was taking place. 4) A field study was performed in a Regional Electricity Board with the aim of identifying the attitudes towards computers of non-expert users. The questionnaire survey technique used was also intended to identify the sources of difficulty that users of computers reported and to define the information sources available to them. 5) A study was performed looking at students who had performed well on an introductory computing course and others who had performed poorly. Differences in attitude and personality between these two gruups werc investigated with particular reference to a hypothesised 'machine-oriented' personality type. 6) A final questionnaire survey was performed looking at attitudes towards machinery, computers in general and more specifically the use of automated cash-dispensers of the type used in banks. From all these studies the theoretical basis of the 'machine-orientated' personality type was developed. The implications of these issues for interface design is discussed, along with recommendations for future research in this area.

Since 1976 the author has worked with L. M. Ericsson Ab of Stockholm, Sweden, providing ergonomics advice relating to the design of operator positions for stored program controlled telephone exchanges manufactured by this company. The research was I performed in three phases: a literature review, preliminary experiments to evaluate alternative equipment designs and finally a series of trials of the prototype under simulated call conditions. The basis of the new operator position is tie provision of a computer terminal, consisting of a datascreen or video display unit (vdu) and keyboard at each operator desk. These terminals enable the operator to enter call details into memory stores from which they can be 'read' by the computer, displayed at any operator position or routed to the charging system. By eliminating many repetitious and error prone number entries, by abolishing pager handling tasks completely and by automating certain call handling operations a more efficient and effective service can be provided to subscribers. The literature review report, produced on completion of Phase I, summarised the ergonomics research relating to datascreens, keyboards, dialogues, workstations and environmental factors. As a result of the review the author was able to produce detailed ergonomics recommendations for many parts of the system. Phase II consisted of a programme of experiments to provide the data required to resolve design conflicts remaining at the conclusion of Phase I. In successive stages a panel of experts reduced the potential number of datascreen designs to practicable numbers for controlled experiments. These datascreens, filters and screen treatments were systematically compared in experiments and a suitable design was selected. In Phase III an experiment was conducted to evaluate the entire operator position under simulated call handling conditions. In addition to collecting objective measures of call handling speed and accuracy, the experiments also enabled visual fatigue to be assessed and call handling equipment and procedures to be judged by experienced operators under' reasonably realistic conditions.