With the increased demand for the utilization of computerized information systems by business users, the need for investigating the impact of various user interfaces has been well recognized. It is usually assumed that providing the user with assistance in the usage o-f a system would significantly increase the user's productivity. There is, however, a dearth of systematic inquiry into this commonly held notion to verify its validity in a scientific fashion. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of system-provided user assistance and complexity level of the problem on novice users' productivity in specifying database queries. The study is theoretical in the sense that it presents an approach adopted from research in deductive database systems to attack problems concerning user interface design. It is empirical in that it conducts an experiment in a controlled laboratory setting to collect primary data for the testing of a series of hypotheses. The two independent variables are system-provided user assistance and problem complexity, while the dependent variable is the user's query specification productivity. Three measures are used as separate indicators of query specification productivity: number of syntactic errors, number of semantic errors, and time required for completing a query task. Due to the lack of a well-defined metric for user assistance, the study first presents a generic classification scheme for relational query specification. Based on this classification scheme, two quantitative metrics for measuring the amount of user assistance in terms of prompts and defaults were developed. The user assistance is operationally defined with these two metrics. Four findings emerge as significant results of the study. First, user assistance has a significant main effect on all of the three dependent measures at the 1 percent significance level. Second, problem complexity also has a significant impact on the three productivity measures at the 1 percent significance level. Third, the interaction effect of user assistance and problem complexity on the number of semantic errors and the amount of time for completion is significant at the 1 percent level. Fourth, Although this interaction effect on the number of syntactic errors is not significant at the 5 percent level, it is at the 10 percent level. More research is needed to permit a thorough understanding of the issue of user interface design. A list of topics is suggested for future research to confirm or to modify the findings of this study.

As Artificial Intelligence systems are used by human users at an increasing frequency, the need for such systems to understand and predict human behavior likewise increases. In my work, I have considered how to predict human behavior in repeated games. These repeated games can be applied as a foundation to many situations where a person may interact with an AI, In an attempt to create such a foundation, I have built a system using Attitude Vectors used in automata to predict actions based on prior actions and communications. These Attitude Vector Automata (AVA) can transform information from actions in one game with a given payoff matrix into actions in another game. Results show that prediction accuracy was ultimately below other, similar work, in general in several repeated games. There are however some aspects, such as scenarios involving lying, in which my predictor showed potential to outperform these other systems. Ultimately, there is potential in using ideas presented as AVA to build a potentially more robust system for future efforts in human behavior prediction.

Nous définissons la résilience comme la capacité d’un Système Homme-Machine (SHM) à s’adapter positivement face à des situations critiques engendrées par des évènements sans précédent dont la fréquence d’occurrence est invraisemblable et dont les conséquences sur le système sont critiques voire catastrophiques.Nous présentons d’abord un état de l’art reposant sur le concept de résilience que nous positionnons par rapport aux approches classiques de la sureté de fonctionnement pour l’évaluation et la gestion des risques dans les SHM. Nous présentons ensuite des méthodes et des outils d’aide à la réaction et à la récupération des systèmes face à l’imprévu. Nous nous intéresserons également à l’apport des techniques d’apprentissage itératif pour le management de la résilience des SHM. Nous proposons alors une méthode d’évaluation de la résilience basée sur un couple d’indicateurs multicritères. Un estimateur reposant sur un réseau de neurones à apprentissage renforcé est proposé pour évaluer les indicateurs derésilience non mesurables ‘‘en ligne’’. Pour fiabiliser l’estimation, nous proposons unapprentissage itératif associé soit à un renforcement des paramètres d’estimation, soit à un renforcement de la base de connaissances, soit les deux simultanément.Nous appliquons nos propositions lors d’une simulation de vol d’un Groupe de Ravitaillement en Vol, composé d’un équipage tournant de 4 personnes. L’analyse des résultats expérimentaux montre la pertinence de nos contributions. Certaines perspectives de recherche sont ensuite abordées notamment l’extension de l’étude aux événements de criticité moindre et dont on disposerait d’une base de connaissances « experte ». / We define resilience as the ability of a Human-Machine System (HMS) to adapt itself positively facing critical situations resulting from the unprecedented events whose frequency of occurrence is unlikely and the consequences on the system are critical even catastrophic. We first present a state of the art based on the concept of resilience that we position compared to classic dependability approaches for HMS risk evaluation and management. We then present methods and support tools for the reaction and the recovery of systems facing the unexpected. We also detail the contribution of iterative learning techniques for the management of the SHM resilience. We propose then a method for resilience assessment based on a couple of multi-criteria indicators. An estimator based on a neural network with reinforced learning process is proposed to evaluate the ''online'' not measurable resilience indicators. For reliable estimation, we propose an iterative learning associated with a estimation parameters reinforcement process, or knowledge base reinforcement process, or both simultaneously. We apply our proposals during a flight simulation of a ‘‘Groupe de Ravitaillement en Vol’’, consisting of a rotating crew of 4 persons. The analysis of experimental results shows the effectiveness of our contributions. Some research perspectives are then discussed in particular the extension of the study to less critical events which would provide an "expert" knowledge base.

<p>This project was inspired by an ENG 5004 session that explored how humans process information coupled with a complaint in my workplace about how difficult it was to analyze our management data. The workplace problem lay in the technology in use: character based terminals presenting data in tabular format regarding schedule data for work on maps. This data tends to be graphically and geographically related. and more easily processed visually as symbols by humans.</p><p> The challenge in this project is that it attempts to engineer a business process and implement it in software (in an existing and operating system). The conceptual solution is to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) which presents schedule elements graphically (GANTT, PERT, and Resource Use Charts) in the visual paradigm with which managers are familiar. Further. the scheduled work is geographically based. so a graphical device that shows where a job is located is useful, especially when adjacent jobs that contended for data at their borders are also shown. And finally, given the graphic tools for reporting and analysis, the capabilities to use these tools to create and implement schedules would provide managers with greatly improved efficiency.</p><p> The conceptual solution indicates an evolution in technology for this customer. A move from the mainframe driven operations and character based display to more distributed processing and graphically based displays is indicated. The capability required is a small subset of the existing system which is not to be disturbed during integration and installation.</p><p> The solution to be implemented is to migrate the needed functions to a PC based terminal running a graphical user interface. The desired applications are hosted locally on the PC which is connected to the mainframe through existing networks. An application on the PC provides the interface to the mainframe for data extraction. and later, a data interface. Scheduling, database, and Geographic information systems (GIS) are resident on the PC. and are integrated to support customer use. The PC is then the Integrated Management Workstation (IMWS). The interface and database elements are essentially invisible to the manager. It is the manager's job to strategize and implement work plans. not worry about the inner workings of the computer system. The scheduling and GIS applications are represented to the manager who interacts, analyzes. and decides. The manager is the last and decisive element in the system, and uses the new capabilities to help manage the work. This project defines the problem, provides the conceptual solution, and provides the engineering management plans and system requirements to implement the solution. This project does not build anything and no code is written. These tasks are to be accomplished by the team that implements this project according to the guidance and stipulations contained in the project documents.</p> / Master of Science

Detecting human cognitive load is an increasingly important issue in the interaction between humans and machines, computers, and robots. In the past decade, several studies have sought to distinguish the cognitive load, or workload, state of humans based on multiple observations, such as behavioral, physiological, or multi-modal data. In the Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) cases, estimating human workload is essential because manipulators' performance could be adversely affected when they have many tasks that may be demanding. If the workload level can be detected, it will be beneficial to reallocate tasks on manipulators to improve the productivity of HMI tasks. However, it is still on question marks what kinds of cues can be utilized to know the degree of workload. In this research, eye blinking and mouse tracking are chosen as behavioral cues, exploring the possibility of a non-intrusive and automated workload estimator. During tests, behavior cues are statistically analyzed to find the difference among levels, using a dataset focused on three levels of the dual n-back memory game. The statistically analyzed signal is trained in a deep neural network model to classify the workload level. In this study, eye blinking related data and mouse tracking data have been statistically analyzed. The one-way repeated measure analysis of variance test result showed eye blinking duration on the dual 1-back and 3-back are significantly different. The mouse tracking data could not pass the statistical test. A three-dimension convolutional deep neural network is used to train visual data of human behavior. Classifying the dual 1-back and 3-back data accuracy is 51% with 0.66 F1-score on 1-back and 0.14 on 3-back data. In conclusion, blinking and mouse tracking are unlikely helpful cues when estimating different levels of workload. <br>

In most levels of vehicle automation, drivers will not be merely occupants or passengers of automated vehicles. Especially in lower levels of automation, where the driver is still required to serve as a fallback level (SAE L3) or even as a supervisor (SAE L2), there is a need to communicate relevant system states (e.g., that the automated driving system works reliably or that there is a need for manual intervention) via the Human-Machine Interface (HMI). However, there are currently no agreed-upon guidelines that apply specifically to HMIs for automated driving. In this paper, we summarize design recommendations for visual-auditory and visual-vibrotactile HMIs derived from empirical research, applicable standards and design guidelines pertaining to in-vehicle interfaces. On this basis, we derive an initial set of principles and criteria for guiding the development and design of automated vehicle HMIs. A heuristic evaluation methodology consisting of an itemized checklist evaluation that can be used to verify that basic HMI requirements formulated in the guidelines are met is also presented. The heuristic evaluation involves an inspection of the HMI during typical use cases, judging their compliance with the proposed guidelines and documentation of identified instances of non-compliance. Taken together, the combination of the proposed guidelines and the heuristic evaluation methodology form the basis for both design and validation recommendations of automated vehicle HMIs, that can serve the industry in the important evolution of automation within vehicles.

The provision of an adequate liability regime for ADAS technologies is an essential prerequisite for its roll out over the coming decade. Facing to the challenge of future highly automated vehicles, this paper proposed a Human-Machine Transition (HMT) approach as a common conceptual framework for considering Human Machine Interaction (HMI), liability and ethical issues in a unified way. The issues that arise are interrogated from a legal perspective, more specifically liability regimes and that of applied ethics. The paper highlights the issue of the handover/takeover. Potential consequences for insurance companies are then identified accordingly, with the aim to progress towards the sustainable deployment of automated vehicles on public roads.

Objective: The human–machine interface (HMI) is a crucial part of every automated driving system (ADS). In the near future, it is likely that—depending on the operational design domain (ODD)—different levels of automation will be available within the same vehicle. The capabilities of a given automation level as well as the operator’s responsibilities must be communicated in an appropriate way. To date, however, there are no agreed-upon evaluation methods that can be used by human factors practitioners as well as researchers to test this. Methods: We developed an iterative test procedure that can be applied during the product development cycle of ADS. The test procedure is specifically designed to evaluate whether minimum requirements as proposed in NHTSA’s automated vehicle policy are met. Results: The proposed evaluation protocol includes (a) a method to identify relevant use cases for testing on the basis of all theoretically possible steady states and mode transitions of a given ADS; (b) an expert-based heuristic assessment to evaluate whether the HMI complies with applicable norms, standards, and best practices; and (c) an empirical evaluation of ADS HMIs using a standardized design for user studies and performance metrics. Conclusions: Each can be used as a stand-alone method or in combination to generate objective, reliable, and valid evaluations of HMIs, focusing on whether they meet minimum requirements. However, we also emphasize that other evaluation aspects such as controllability, misuse, and acceptance are not within the scope of the evaluation protocol.

Projektet går ut på att ersätta den befintliga styrningen av en DC-generator för 1200 kV med en fjärrstyrning från kontrollrummet via optolänk. Den nya styrningen ska utgöras av ett PLC-system (Programmable Logic Controller) som manövreras med hjälp av ett HMI – Human Machine Interface. Bakgrunden till projektet härrör från att den befintliga styrutrustningen är opålitlig samt styrs i en farlig miljö. Rapporten går igenom hur befintlig styrutrustning fungerar samt dess ingående komponenter, hur ett PLC-system fungerar med dess bakgrund och olika programmeringsspråk. Även programmeringen och byggnationen av det nya systemet avhandlas. I slutet av rapporten ges en genomgång av de provkörningar som utförts för att säkerställa att alla funktioner fungerar som tänkt. Resultat av provkörningarna ges och diskussion förs kring projektet. Projektet är utfört åt högspänningsgruppen på RISE i Borås som använder generatorn bland annat vid kalibrering av spänningsdelare. Det nya styrsystemet innefattar alla av den tidigare styrutrustningens funktioner och några nya funktioner så som överströms- och överspänningsskydd vilka slår från spänningsmatningen om dessa begränsningar överskrids. Att styrutrustningen nu är placerad i kontrollrumsmiljö gör att operatören kan hantera utrustningen utan att vara i närheten av farlig spänning. / The report aims to replace the current control equipment for a DC-generator for 1200 kV by remote control from control room through optical fibre link. The new control will be a PLC system controlled by a HMI – Human Machine Interface. The background to the project is that the existing control equipment is unreliable and controlled in a dangerous environment. The report shows how the current control equipment works and its constituent components, how a PLC-system works with its background and different programming languages. This report will also describe how the programming and building of the hardware are done. In the end of this report are going through a test run to confirm that the system is working properly. Result of the test run are given and some discussion. The project is initiated by the high voltage group at RISE in Borås, who are using the DC-generator for instance while calibrating voltage dividers. The new control system contains all of the functions from the earlier control system but also some new functions such as overcurrent and overvoltage protection who turns off power supply if the limits are exceeded. The control system is now located in the control room so that the operator can use the system without being close to high voltage.

The direct connection of the jaw to the brain allows it to retain its motor and sensory capabilities even after severe spinal cord injuries. As such, it can be an accessible means of providing inputs for people with paralysis to manipulate their environment. This paper explores the potential for using the jaw, specifically the mandible, as an alternative input to human-machine interface systems. Two tests were developed to test the mandible's ability to respond to visual stimuli. First, a visual response time test to measure the precision and accuracy of user input through a mandible-actuated button. Second, a choice response test to observe coordination between the mandible and a finger. Study results show that the mean response time of mandible inputs is 8.3% slower than the corresponding mean response time of performing the same task with a thumb. The delay in response after making a decision is statistically insignificant between the mandible- and finger-actuated inputs with the mandible being 2.67% slower. Based on these results, the increase in response time while using the mandibular input is minimal for new users. Coordination is feasible in tasks involving both the mandible and thumb. Extensive training with a made-to-fit device has the potential to enable a visual response time equivalent to the fingers in more complex tasks. The mandible is a viable option for accessible HMI for discreet inputs. Further testing into continuous input is needed to explore the mandible's potential as an input for body augments.