Cognitive consequences of clumsy automation on high workload, high consequence human performance

The growth of computational power has fueled attempts to automate more of the human role in complex problem solving domains, especially those where system faults have high consequences and where periods of high workload may saturate the performance capacity of human operators. Examples of these domains include flightdecks, space stations, air traffic control, nuclear power operation, ground satellite control rooms, and surgical operating rooms. Automation efforts may have unanticipated effects on human performance, particularly if they increase the workload at peak workload times or change the practitioners' strategies for coping with workload. Smooth and effective changes in automation requires detailed understanding of the congnitive tasks confronting the user: it has been called user centered automation. The introduction of a new computerized technology in a group of hospital operating rooms used for heart surgery was observed. The study revealed how automation, especially 'clumsy automation', effects practitioner work patterns and suggest that clumsy automation constrains users in specific and significant ways. Users tailor both the new system and their tasks in order to accommodate the needs of process and production. The study of this tailoring may prove a powerful tool for exposing previously hidden patterns of user data processing, integration, and decision making which may, in turn, be useful in the design of more effective human-machine systems

Exploring how the social model of disability can be re-invigorated: in response to Jonathan Levitt.

Levitt argues the social model of disability needs to be re-invigorated, potentially by adapting the tool for separate countries. The social model has been successfully applied for some disabled groups in the United Kingdom. However, the social model is not implemented for neurodivergent labels such as autism, through negative language of autism, causing severe problems for autistic individuals’ daily lives. The social model can be re-invigorated for autism, removing social barriers by; changing non-autistic people’s attitudes towards autism through ensuring positive language of autism, preventing the categorisation of autism and fully enacting The Autism Act 2009 and The Equality 2010

Characterization of Abandoned Mine Sites Beneath I-70 Via Crosshole and SASW Seismic Wave Methods

An approximately 2100-ft section of Interstate 70 (I-70) experienced a series of ground failures in 1994 and 1995 that were attributed to collapse of underground mine workings. Repair of the roadway consisted of construction of barrier walls of stiff grout to contain production grout pumped into the mines. Beginning in spring 1996, depressions were noted in the pavement surface over some of the grouted holes. As a consequence, a two-part investigation was initiated to determine whether the surface expressions reflect subsurface conditions that are a risk to the travel lanes and traveling public. In Phase I, Test Area Investigation, various field and analytical methods were tested and evaluated on a small scale prior to broad-scale implementation in Phase II. Crosshole and SASW seismic wave methods of subsurface characterization were included in the Phase I investigation. The paper describes the test methods employed in the field, and documents data and test results obtained from the test area. It is shown that quality geophysical measurements can be made in close proximity to the active interstate, and that no single technique will unambiguously detect voids or other anomalies over a wide range of depths. Based upon these results, specific recommendations for the Phase II investigation are provided

Grounding explanations in evolving, diagnostic situations

Certain fields of practice involve the management and control of complex dynamic systems. These include flight deck operations in commercial aviation, control of space systems, anesthetic management during surgery or chemical or nuclear process control. Fault diagnosis of these dynamic systems generally must occur with the monitored process on-line and in conjunction with maintaining system integrity.This research seeks to understand in more detail what it means for an intelligent system to function cooperatively, or as a 'team player' in complex, dynamic environments. The approach taken was to study human practitioners engaged in the management of a complex, dynamic process: anesthesiologists during neurosurgical operations. The investigation focused on understanding how team members cooperate in management and fault diagnosis and comparing this interaction to the situation with an Artificial Intelligence(AI) system that provides diagnoses and explanations. Of particular concern was to study the ways in which practitioners support one another in keeping aware of relevant information concerning the state of the monitored process and of the problem solving process

Numerical simulation of the SASW test

The paper describes numerical simulation of the SASW test. Influences of the test setup and applied filtering criteria on the accuracy of the obtained field dispersion curve for various soil stratification conditions have been examined. The results presented indicate significant variations in the evaluated dispersion in cases of irregular soil profiles if the existing criteria are applied. A new filtering criteria has been proposed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/30325/1/0000727.pd

Scaling Studies for High Temperature Test Facility and Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor

The Oregon State University (OSU) High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) is an integral experimental facility that will be constructed on the OSU campus in Corvallis, Oregon. The HTTF project was initiated, by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), on September 5, 2008 as Task 4 of the 5-year High Temperature Gas Reactor Cooperative Agreement via NRC Contract 04-08-138. Until August, 2010, when a DOE contract was initiated to fund additional capabilities for the HTTF project, all of the funding support for the HTTF was provided by the NRC via their cooperative agreement. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) began their involvement with the HTTF project in late 2009 via the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) project. Because the NRC's interests in HTTF experiments were only centered on the depressurized conduction cooldown (DCC) scenario, NGNP involvement focused on expanding the experimental envelope of the HTTF to include steady-state operations and also the pressurized conduction cooldown (PCC)