Real-Time Workload Monitoring: Improving Cognitive Process Models
Abstract
This article describes a study aimed at validating a method to measure workload in near-real-time in a complex human-machine-interface (HMI). Modeling cognitive processes, reviewing resource models and developing new displays and controls for aircraft cockpits require tools ensuring a sufficiently precise estimation of workload with respect to their quantitative and temporal resolution. These tools are essential not only for validating existing models and theories, but also to discover new interrelations. Currently, however, such tools are not (yet) available. Therefore, at the flight simulator center in Bueckeburg (Germany) it is planned to conduct various series of experiments to test the pupillometric analysis technique "Index of Cognitive Activity" with regard to it being suitable to be used in an aircraft environment. For a validation, mental stress values obtained from different sources will be correlated with each other. A workload index with the Index of Cognitive Activity method will be obtained in a computer test and during a standardized simulator mission flight. A NASA TLX carried out during the flight and during mission debriefing will be used for comparison. While the first series of experiments described here aims at a general validation, further experiments will study scaling and how to validate multiple resource models.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA592753
Entities
People
- Bjoern G. Symank