A Comparative Study of Novice vs. Experienced Pilots Utilizing Cockpit Models Applied to the Multi Function Display System

Based on previous research findings in the expert/novice area, this thesis suggests that how people approach and solve problems largely depend on their experience level. The literature supports that experts tend to prioritize their actions differently than their novice counterparts as they negotiate their way through various critical flight scenarios. In this study we assume this difference is, in part, related to the fact that experts have a more complete understanding/perception of the overall situation than do novices. Psychologists often refer to this understanding as a more complete mental model. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the proposed format of the ICIS will effect performance of novice pilot\u27s as compared experienced pilots. In order to establish the potential difference in expert/novice problem-solving, a perception task was assigned to the participants. Specifically, the task was to rank pertinent flight information according to how the pilot perceives the items related to the scenario which she is presented via the display program. As is suggested throughout the literature aligned to this study, the results indicate that as a person gains experience ranking relevance differ. The perception test developed for this study was used to establish this assumed difference. Further indicated in the literature by Ericsson and Chamess (1994), differences in expertise provide the largest and most reliable differences in performance between individuals. Therefore, in order to test the claimed effectiveness of the new touch-screen display, the research focused on performance measures. In this study both groups were asked to solve similar flight scenarios solely with the help of the ICIS display. The performance of the participants was based on their ability to find flight information on the screen, the amount of keystrokes they used, and the time they needed to solve the problem. It was assumed the ICIS\u27s highly structured organization and would effectively guide the user through the problem-solving process, with a significant improvement in human-computer interaction graphical touch-screen display performance. Cognitive load theory suggests that available information should support structures which eliminate any excess load on working memory in order to enhance learning. The literature further explains that as individuals store learned information in long-term memory, this process reduces the burden on working memory by allowing multiple elements of information to be treated as a single or unified response (Kalyuga, Chandler &Sweller, 1998). Similar, in cognitive terms, to chunking, this layering is thought to provide benefit to the novices and experts alike in navigating computer interfaces. As a basis for design effectiveness, this study tested hypotheses using the ICIS. Seeking to support the notion that several layers of information on one display provides equal reduction of working memory, regardless of the participants\u27 level of flight experience. This study supports the assumption that layering provides benefit to the user of the ICIS, regardless of experience level

On Evidence-based Risk Management in Requirements Engineering

Background: The sensitivity of Requirements Engineering (RE) to the context makes it difficult to efficiently control problems therein, thus, hampering an effective risk management devoted to allow for early corrective or even preventive measures. Problem: There is still little empirical knowledge about context-specific RE phenomena which would be necessary for an effective context- sensitive risk management in RE. Goal: We propose and validate an evidence-based approach to assess risks in RE using cross-company data about problems, causes and effects. Research Method: We use survey data from 228 companies and build a probabilistic network that supports the forecast of context-specific RE phenomena. We implement this approach using spreadsheets to support a light-weight risk assessment. Results: Our results from an initial validation in 6 companies strengthen our confidence that the approach increases the awareness for individual risk factors in RE, and the feedback further allows for disseminating our approach into practice.Comment: 20 pages, submitted to 10th Software Quality Days conference, 201

A classification of social media methods of environmental scanning for entrepreneurial opportunity development

A limited amount of scholarly literature has focused on environmental scanning and the use of social media by nascent entrepreneurs. This paper aims to address these deficiencies in literature. A theoretical framework is presented that describes the level of scanning towards entrepreneurial opportunity development and includes fifteen social media based methods for scanning the environment with the objective of entrepreneurial opportunity development. This methods are reviewed on their data collection, interpretation and learning. Several implications for both practice and future research derive from this framework and are discussed

Visual Anxiolytics: developing theory and design guidelines for abstract affective visualizations aimed at alleviating episodes of anxiety

Visual Anxiolytics is a novel term proposed to describe affective visualizations of which affective quality is predetermined and designed to alleviate anxiety and anxious pathology. This thesis presents ground theory and visual guidelines to inform the design of screen-based interfaces to give users aspects of a restorative and anxiolytic environment at a time when attention restoration is least likely and anxiety highly probable; during sedentary screen-time. Visual Anxiolytics are introduced as an affective layer of the interface capable of communicating affect through aesthetic, abstract, ambient emotion visualizations existing in the periphery of the screen and users’ vision. Their theory is brought into the field of Visual Communication Design from a number of disciplines; primarily Affective Computing, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, and Neuroscience. Visual Anxiolytics attempt to alleviate anxiety through restoration of attentional cognitive resources by rendering the digital environment restorative and by elicitation of positive emotions through affect communication. Design guidelines analyse and describe properties of anxiolytic affective visual attributes color, shape, motion, and visual depth, as well as compositional characteristics of Visual Anxiolytics. Potential implications for future research in emotion visualization and affect communication are discussed

A Study of Designer Familiarity with Product and User During Requirement Elicitation

It is important to recognise the effects of a designer\u27s source of information and decision making during requirements elicitation. Requirements are widely recognised as an important step in the design process. Designers may have perspective based on their experience which results in a level of familiarity with the design. This paper reports on a study that explores the effects of designer familiarity with a project and its user on their ability to elicit requirement specifications. Two familiarity constructs, product and user, are measured as low or high and used to study requirement elicitation with varying familiarity. A high familiarity study using five graduate students and a low familiarity study using a team of five students during senior capstone design are compared for their requirements elicitation. The results of this study include an analysis of the requirements developed and participant survey results from the elicitation process. The results revealed familiarity does in fact have an effect on the ability of elicit requirements. Participants in the low familiarity study expressed difficulty and eliciting requirements while those in the high familiarity study were able to generate more requirements at a faster rate

Calibrating Expert Assessments of Advanced Aerospace Technology Adoption Impact

This dissertation describes the development of expert judgment calibration methodology as part of elicitation of the expert judgments to assist in the task of quantifying parameter uncertainty for proposed new aerospace vehicles. From previous work, it has been shown that experts in the field of aerospace systems design and development can provide valuable input into the sizing and conceptual design of future space launch vehicles employing advanced technology. In particular (and of specific interest in this case), assessment of operations and support cost implications of adopting proposed new technology is frequently asked of the experts. Often the input consisting of estimates and opinions is imprecise and may be offered with less than a high degree of confidence in its efficacy. Since the sizing and design of advanced space or launch vehicles must ultimately have costs attached to them (for subsequent program advocacy and tradeoff studies), the lack of precision in parameter estimates will be detrimental to the development of viable cost models to support the advocacy and tradeoffs. It is postulated that a system, which could accurately apply a measure of calibration to the imprecise and/or low-confidence estimates of the surveyed experts, would greatly enhance the derived parametric data. The development of such a calibration aid has been the thrust of this effort. Bayesian network methodology, augmented by uncertainty modeling and aggregation techniques, among others, were employed in the tool construction. Appropriate survey questionnaire instruments were compiled for use in acquiring the experts\u27 input; the responses served as input to a test case for validation of the resulting calibration model. Application of the derived techniques were applied as part of a larger expert assessment elicitation and aggregation study. Results of this research show that calibration of expert judgments, particularly for far-term events, appears to be possible. Suggestions for refinement and extension of the development are presented

An integrated environment for problem solving and program development

A framework for an integrated problem solving and program development environment that addresses the needs of students learning programming is proposed. Several objectives have been accomplished: defining the tasks required for program development and a literature review to determine the actual difficulties involved in learning those tasks. A comprehensive Study of environments and tools developed to support the learning of problem solving and programming was then performed, covering programming environments, debugging aids, intelligent tutoring systems, and intelligent programming environments. This was followed by a careful analysis and critique of these systems, which uncovered the limitations that have prevented them from accomplishing their goals. Next, an extensive study of problem solving methodologies developed in this century was carried out and a common model for problem solving was produced. The tasks of program development were then integrated with the common model for problem solving. Then, the cognitive activities required for problem solving and program development were identified and also integrated with the common model to form a Dual Common Model for problem Solving and Program Development. This dual common model was then used to define the functional specifications for a problem solving and program development environment which was designed, implemented, tested, and integrated into the curriculum. The development of the new environment for learning problem solving and programming was followed by the planning of a cognitively oriented assessment method and the development of related instruments to evaluate the process and the product of problem solving. A detailed statistical experiment to study the effect of this environment on students\u27 problem solving and program development skills, including system testing by protocol analysis, and performance evaluation of students based on research hypotheses and questions, was also designed, implemented and the result reported