SOME ASPECTS OF MAN-COMPUTER COMMUNICATION IN ACTIVE MONITORING OF AUTOMATED CHECKOUT,
Abstract
Requirements for active participation by test personnel in monitoring automated checkout operations arise whenever hazardous conditions exist, tight time schedules must be met, and costs of failure are high. Under these circumstances the goals of a human monitor could be to maintain context with the progress of the checkout operations and to detect and react to malfunctions in checkout equipment, incorrect design or execution of the checkout programs, and unexpected events that the latter have not been designed to handle. The human monitor's effectiveness in performing these tasks depends directly on what information is available to him and how it is presented. Displays that use simple coding and formating to increase information extractability and that contain adequate anticipatory and alerting information may be essential for real-time interaction with automated checkout operations. As an example of extractable information presentation, a 'dynamic network' display of checkout operations is discussed. Such a display permits a monitor to determine at a glance the status of the checkout process. The programming task for the display can be greatly eased by use of a digital computer equipped with graphic input devices. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0648553
Entities
People
- Leonard Chesler
- Rein Turn
Organizations
- RAND Corporation