Human–Machine Interface in Transport Systems: An Industrial Overview for More Extended Rail Applications

This paper provides an overview of Human Machine Interface (HMI) design and command systems in commercial or experimental operation across transport modes. It presents and comments on different HMIs from the perspective of vehicle automation equipment and simulators of different application domains. Considering the fields of cognition and automation, this investigation highlights human factors and the experiences of different industries according to industrial and literature reviews. Moreover, to better focus the objectives and extend the investigated industrial panorama, the analysis covers the most effective simulators in operation across various transport modes for the training of operators as well as research in the fields of safety and ergonomics. Special focus is given to new technologies that are potentially applicable in future train cabins, e.g., visual displays and haptic-shared controls. Finally, a synthesis of human factors and their limits regarding support for monitoring or driving assistance is propose

Virtual reality storytelling as a double-edged sword:Immersive presentation of nonfiction 360°-video is associated with impaired cognitive information processing

This study examines the effects of the immersive presentation of nonfiction omnidirectional video on audiences’ cognitive processing. Participants watched a sample of 360°-video nonfiction content, presented either in a virtual reality headset or on a computer screen. Measures of heart rate variability and electrodermal activity were collected, together with self-reported ratings of presence, information recognition, and memory. The results indicate that the immersive presentation elicits higher arousal and presence, but also lower focused attention, recognition, and cued recall of information. These effects on focused attention and memory were not mediated by variations on arousal or presence. Implications are discussed in terms of the psychological effects of immersive media, as well as their relevance for media practitioners

Learned effects of structural components of newscasts on viewers’ information processing: The case of Stings

This article proposes that syntactic features of newscasts can act as learned motivational stimuli determining both viewers’ attention and memory for information. An experiment was conducted in which we manipulated the presence of stings (a type of widely used audiovisual connector) and the arousal levels of stories, while participants’ attention and recall of information were measured. The results suggest that stings elicit motivational activation among viewers; however, differences in motivational activation were observed depending on whether it was due to arousing content or to stings. These results highlight the relevance of accounting for learned motivational processes in media information processing research.This research was partially supported by Televisió de Catalunya; by the Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) (PR. 068- 2007) within the frame of the call CENIT 2006; by two grants from the Spanish Government, PSI2011-23033, and CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 CSD2007-00048; by one grant from the Catalan Government, SGR 2009-1521; and by one grant from the European Research Council under the European Community’s Seventh Framework (FP7/2007-2013 Cooperation grant agreement 613465-AThEME)

Expectations of train drivers for innovative driving cabin

International audienceThis paper aims at identifying the expectations of train drivers or other railway staff about Human-Machine Systems (HMS) in future cabins. The identification of the best technical solution needs surveying preferences and efficiencies of possible new information technology configurations of Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI) considering human factors as input and output sensors. Technical recommendations about the train cabin of the future are provided. They consider results from a state-of-the-art on HMI in transport systems, from technology maturity issues, and from two large scale surveys realized during project. Recommendations are then proposed to train manufacturers for deeper investigation or for innovative driving cabin implementation

Perception of Recycled Plastics for Improved Consumer Acceptance through Self-Reported and Physiological Measures

This article aims to provide in-depth insight into how consumers perceive recycled materials in comparison with natural raw materials at both the perceptual and attitudinal levels. To this end, we combined classic self-reported measures of sensory aspects, preferences, environmental attitudes, and consumption habits together with physiological measures of cognitive–emotional processing. Three different materials—two recycled materials, M2 and M3, and one raw material, M1—were chosen for inspection through three different sensory conditions, which we refer to as channels —visual, tactile, and visuo-tactile. The assignation of materials to sensory channels was counterbalanced so that each participant evaluated only one of the materials per channel. Although participants in general were not very accurate in discriminating between the materials, self-reported sensory evaluations showed that M3 (a recycled material that is made to look non-recycled), was clearly less liked. Meanwhile, the psychophysiological analyses revealed higher levels of electrodermal activity for the tactile evaluations of both recycled materials (M2 and M3). Finally, the results from the attitudes and habits evaluations indicate that the participants had positive environmental attitudes yet poor consumption habits. Altogether, these results suggest that some sensorial properties differ between recycled materials and natural raw materials and that there is a chance to improve and implement new consumption habits. The implications of these results are further discussed both in terms of suggestions for designers and methodological recommendations for researchers

Deconstructing multi-sensory enhancement in detection

The mechanisms responsible for the integration of sensory information from different modalities have become a topic of intense interest in psychophysics and neuroscience. Many authors now claim that early, sensory-based cross-modal convergence improves performance in detection tasks. An important strand of supporting evidence for this claim is based on statistical models such as the Pythagorean model or the probabilistic summation model. These models establish statistical benchmarks representing the best predicted performance under the assumption that there are no interactions between the two sensory paths. Following this logic, when observed detection performances surpass the predictions of these models, it is often inferred that such improvement indicates cross-modal convergence. We present a theoretical analyses scrutinizing some of these models and the statistical criteria most frequently used to infer early cross-modal interactions during detection tasks. Our current analysis shows how some common misinterpretations of these models lead to their inadequate use and, in turn, to contradictory results and misleading conclusions. To further illustrate the latter point, we introduce a model that accounts for detection performances in multimodal detection tasks but for which surpassing of the Pythagorean or probabilistic summation benchmark can be explained without resorting to early cross-modal interactions. Finally, we report three experiments that put our theoretical interpretation to the test and further propose how to adequately measure multimodal interactions in audiotactile detection tasks