A qualidade dos sistemas de sinalização viária é avaliada, tradicionalmente, com base nas características físicas de seus elementos, bem como na durabilidade e conservação dos materiais que os compõem. Em alguns casos, a verificação do atendimento aos critérios técnicos de projeto é também considerada. Depreende-se, daí, que a avaliação estrutural dos elementos de sinalização seja integralmente contemplada por meio dessas avaliações. Por outro lado, a eficácia da sinalização não é necessariamente garantida pela integridade física ou estrutural dos elementos. Por se tratar de um sistema de comunicação com o usuário, que transmite informações que influenciarão as ações dos motoristas na tarefa de guiar o veículo no trânsito, é necessário, também, avaliar o desempenho funcional dos elementos de sinalização. Em outras palavras, o funcionamento e a eficiência da sinalização são tão importantes quanto a situação de seu estado físico. Esta pesquisa descreve aspectos a serem considerados na avaliação de desempenho funcional dos sinais de trânsito com base na observação no campo e na abordagem dos fatores que afetam as medidas de desempenho, conduzindo, em rodovias federais brasileiras concedidas à iniciativa privada, dois experimentos ainda pouco conhecidos no país. O primeiro experimento avaliou o desempenho de um conjunto de placas de sinalização de regulamentação de velocidade máxima permitida, aplicadas em configurações diversas. As medidas de desempenho escolhidas foram a distância de detecção e a distância de legibilidade da sinalização, que foram medidas por meio de observadores em curso na rodovia, em condições reais de operação. O segundo experimento avaliou o desempenho de um conjunto de demarcações no pavimento de uma rodovia também em condições reais de operação. A medida de desempenho foi a retorrefletividade da sinalização horizontal sob tráfego real. A pesquisa inova ao utilizar o conceito de planejamento de experimentos, otimizando o modelo estatístico a ser estimado com menos execuções experimentais. / The quality of the traffic signs systems is traditionally assessed based on physical characteristics of their elements, as well as the durability and conservation of materials they are made of. In some cases, the verification of compliance with the technical criteria for design is also considered. Therefore, it appears that the structural assessment of sign elements is fully covered by these evaluations. Moreover, the effectiveness of traffic signs is not necessarily guaranteed by physical or structural health of the elements. Once the traffic signs comprise a system of communication with the users, which gives information that will influence the actions of the drivers on the task of guiding the vehicle in traffic flow, it is also necessary to evaluate the functional performance of the traffic signs. In other words, the operation and efficiency of traffic signs are as important as their physical condition. This research describes some aspects to take into account in the evaluation of performance of traffic signs based on observation in the field and in the approach of the factors affecting performance measures, carrying out in Brazilian federal highways under concession to the private sector two experiments still little known in this country. The first experiment evaluated the performance of a set of speed limit signs applied in different configurations. The chosen performance measures were the detection distance and the legibility distance of the signs, which were measured by subjects driving on open road under real operating conditions. The second experiment evaluated the performance of a set of pavement markings also on open road under real operating conditions. The performance measure was the retroreflectivity of the pavement markings under real traffic. The survey breaks new ground by using the concept of optimal design of experiments, optimizing the statistical model to be estimated with fewer experimental runs.

A qualidade dos sistemas de sinalização viária é avaliada, tradicionalmente, com base nas características físicas de seus elementos, bem como na durabilidade e conservação dos materiais que os compõem. Em alguns casos, a verificação do atendimento aos critérios técnicos de projeto é também considerada. Depreende-se, daí, que a avaliação estrutural dos elementos de sinalização seja integralmente contemplada por meio dessas avaliações. Por outro lado, a eficácia da sinalização não é necessariamente garantida pela integridade física ou estrutural dos elementos. Por se tratar de um sistema de comunicação com o usuário, que transmite informações que influenciarão as ações dos motoristas na tarefa de guiar o veículo no trânsito, é necessário, também, avaliar o desempenho funcional dos elementos de sinalização. Em outras palavras, o funcionamento e a eficiência da sinalização são tão importantes quanto a situação de seu estado físico. Esta pesquisa descreve aspectos a serem considerados na avaliação de desempenho funcional dos sinais de trânsito com base na observação no campo e na abordagem dos fatores que afetam as medidas de desempenho, conduzindo, em rodovias federais brasileiras concedidas à iniciativa privada, dois experimentos ainda pouco conhecidos no país. O primeiro experimento avaliou o desempenho de um conjunto de placas de sinalização de regulamentação de velocidade máxima permitida, aplicadas em configurações diversas. As medidas de desempenho escolhidas foram a distância de detecção e a distância de legibilidade da sinalização, que foram medidas por meio de observadores em curso na rodovia, em condições reais de operação. O segundo experimento avaliou o desempenho de um conjunto de demarcações no pavimento de uma rodovia também em condições reais de operação. A medida de desempenho foi a retorrefletividade da sinalização horizontal sob tráfego real. A pesquisa inova ao utilizar o conceito de planejamento de experimentos, otimizando o modelo estatístico a ser estimado com menos execuções experimentais. / The quality of the traffic signs systems is traditionally assessed based on physical characteristics of their elements, as well as the durability and conservation of materials they are made of. In some cases, the verification of compliance with the technical criteria for design is also considered. Therefore, it appears that the structural assessment of sign elements is fully covered by these evaluations. Moreover, the effectiveness of traffic signs is not necessarily guaranteed by physical or structural health of the elements. Once the traffic signs comprise a system of communication with the users, which gives information that will influence the actions of the drivers on the task of guiding the vehicle in traffic flow, it is also necessary to evaluate the functional performance of the traffic signs. In other words, the operation and efficiency of traffic signs are as important as their physical condition. This research describes some aspects to take into account in the evaluation of performance of traffic signs based on observation in the field and in the approach of the factors affecting performance measures, carrying out in Brazilian federal highways under concession to the private sector two experiments still little known in this country. The first experiment evaluated the performance of a set of speed limit signs applied in different configurations. The chosen performance measures were the detection distance and the legibility distance of the signs, which were measured by subjects driving on open road under real operating conditions. The second experiment evaluated the performance of a set of pavement markings also on open road under real operating conditions. The performance measure was the retroreflectivity of the pavement markings under real traffic. The survey breaks new ground by using the concept of optimal design of experiments, optimizing the statistical model to be estimated with fewer experimental runs.

Les nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC) pourraient contribuer à la prévention de l’isolement et au développement du sentiment de bien-être des adultes âgés, ainsi qu’à l’amélioration de la qualité de vie et de prise en charge des patients souffrant de maladie de type Alzheimer. La technologie tactile possiblement plus simple d’utilisation que l’ordinateur, y compris pour des personnes présentant des troubles neurocognitifs, constituerait une solution facilitatrice d’accès aux TIC. La formation reste toutefois l’un des déterminants majeurs de l’utilisation des technologies par des adultes âgés. Un accompagnement efficace nécessite la prise en compte des besoins des aînés et donc une évaluation fine de la nature des difficultés rencontrées et des aides à fournir. En conséquence, nous avons souhaité étudier les difficultés particulières des personnes âgées à utiliser ces technologies, mais aussi les conditions de l’aide dont ils peuvent bénéficier. Notre recherche s’est en particulier intéressée au téléphone (fixe et mobile) et à la tablette tactile, qui paraissent offrir l’avantage d’une plus grande simplicité d’utilisation que les ordinateurs et ainsi présenter un intérêt particulier pour les personnes âgées, y compris pour des personnes présentant des troubles neurocognitifs. L’objectif de ce travail était de déterminer s’il était possible d’expliquer des difficultés à utiliser les nouvelles TIC, propres aux personnes âgées, dans le but de leur proposer un accompagnement adapté. Une évaluation en situation et la comparaison des capacités d’utilisation des TIC d’adultes jeunes et âgés a montré que les adultes âgés se caractérisent par un plus grand nombre d’erreurs d’exécution et un besoin en aides plus précises et explicites, notamment pour l’utilisation des technologies mobiles. L’exploration du lien entre la nature des erreurs produites lors de l’utilisation des TIC et les compétences cognitives indiquait le caractère déterminent de la préservation des capacités d’inhibition ainsi que de la mémoire épisodique, en particulier du processus de récupération spontanée. Ces capacités étaient liées aux erreurs d’exécution et non aux omissions. La recherche d’une structuration de l’environnement informatif et d’une automatisation de certaines procédures de base indispensables à l’utilisation des TIC apparait donc comme une très probable orientation permettant de pallier les difficultés des personnes âgées. Enfin, la participation à un programme d’initiation à l’utilisation des tablettes tactiles, intégrant les principes de l’apprentissage sans erreur et de la récupération espacée, permettait d’améliorer les attitudes à l’égard des technologies ainsi que les performances lors de leur utilisation. / In modern society, use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is critical in order to avoid exclusion from many common modern day activities. Furthermore, longer life expectancy presents a major challenge to support dependent seniors, or those at risk of losing their independence but wish to continue living in their own home. ICTs seem particularly relevant in this context. Indeed, they promote social engagement, facilitate access to social networks, and provide a gateway to a wide range of information. Of particular interest in the present study are landline or mobile phones, and tablet computers, which are more readily portable, offer simpler functionality than most computers, and therefore are potentially very useful for aging people, included people with neurocognitive disorders. Broadly, such ICTs help to maintain and improve autonomy. Despite these potential benefits, seniors do not commonly use ICTs. Age-related physical and cognitive decline may affect the ability of older people to use ICTs. Therefore, it is essential to promote education and learning. However, an adapted and effective support could not exist without a fine evaluation of the nature of the difficulties and of the efficient cues. Consequently, we wanted to study the particular difficulties of older people in using these technologies, but also the conditions of the assistance they can benefit from. The objectif of this thesis project was to determine whether elderly encountered specific difficulties in using new ICT, in order to offert them an adapted support. A performance-based assessment and a comparison of the capacity of ICT ise of young and old adults has shown that older adults are characterized by a greater number of commission errors and a need for more precise and explicit cues, especially for the use of mobile technologies. Exploring the link between the nature of errors produced in the use of ICTs and cognitive skills indicated the determinent factor of inhibition abilities as well as episodic memory, in particular the spontaneous recovery process. These abilities were related to commission errors and not to omissions. Structuring the informative environment and automation of some basic procedures essential to the use of ICTs therefore appear as a very probable orientation to alleviate the difficulties of the elderly. Finally, participation in a tablet computer training program using the errorless learning and spaced-retrieval techniques, allowed to improve attitudes towards technologies as well as the performance when they are used.