Author
Rowen, Aaron
Other Contributors
Grabowski, Martha; Wallace, William A., 1935-; Mendonça, David; Willemain, Thomas R.; Merrick, Jason;
Date Issued
2019-12
Subject
Decision sciences and engineering systems
Degree
PhD;
Terms of Use
This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.;
Abstract
Displays present critical information to operators in complex safety-critical systems such as nuclear power, medicine, emergency response, oil and gas processing, space exploration, firefighting, marine transportation, and air traffic control. Wearable augmented reality displays (WARDs) present operators with new capabilities for mobile, situated information access in systems that require operator task performance, situation awareness (SA), communication, and mobility for safe operation. Recent research has begun to clarify the impacts of WARDs on operator performance and SA, but very little attention has been focused on WARD impacts on operator communication and mobility, and on how operator communication and mobility impact operator performance and SA. This work explores these impacts on 211 ship navigators using either WARDs or conventional displays in a real-time, physical simulator. Operators using WARDs showed improved operator performance and SA, improved operator communication, particularly in stressful situations, and enhanced operator mobility. Improved operator communication was linked with positive impacts on operator performance and SA, while enhanced operator mobility was associated with reduced operator performance. These results improve understanding of how novel display capabilities impact operator performance, SA, communication, and mobility, as well as how operator communication and mobility may influence operator performance and SA, and contribute novel research on how operator communication and mobility may influence operator performance and SA in safety-critical systems.;
Description
December 2019; School of Engineering
Department
Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering;
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Relationships
Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection;
Access
Restricted to current Rensselaer faculty, staff and students. Access inquiries may be directed to the Rensselaer Libraries.;