Display, Control, and Software Evaluation Requirements for Emerging Tactical Army Computer Systems

Abstract

The soldier-computer interface (SCI) has become increasingly the principal focus of the man-machine interaction. As such, it represents a critical element to be assessed during human factors engineering test and evaluation. Inadequate design of displays and input/output devices such as keyboards can degrade system performance below levels necessary for functional effectiveness. Delays and errors that occur at the operator's console are translated directly into reduced system effectiveness. Adequate human factors test and evaluation requires the development and application of a sound methodology and criteria for testing and evaluating the effectiveness of display and input-output devices of the soldier-computer interface. This paper reviews the development of the methodology and criteria used to assess the SCI by the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (TECOM).

The Compass Paradigm for the Systematic Evaluation of U.S. Army Command and Control Systems Using Neural Network and Discrete Event Computer Simulation

“…The problem is that, with the advent of computer based control and communications devices, the human operator has become the focal point of a potentially inundating volume of information. This is because the computer can acquire, correlate, and present data at a rate that far exceeds the information processing capabilities of the human operator (Benel and Avery, 1985). While one of the fundamental reasons for introducing automation into complex system designs is to reduce the probability of human error by reducing the anticipated operator workload, in practice this reduction does not always occur (Parasuraman and Riley, 1997).…”