Easily Applicable Methods for Measuring the Mental Load on Tractor Operators

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14
Author(s):  
Hans Arvidsson ◽  
Gunnar Larsson ◽  
Anders Larsolle ◽  
Gregory Neely ◽  
Per-Anders Hansson
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Mental Load ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Scale Assessment ◽  
Single Scale ◽  
Machine Operators ◽  
Load Simulator ◽  
Operator Workload

Abstract. Agriculture technology is moving toward automation, placing operators in a supervisory role. This change in operator workload may lead to increased stress and higher mental load, resulting in reduced attention and hence greater risk of illness or injury to humans and damage to equipment. This study investigated the use of easily applicable equipment to measure mental load.Three methods were used to measure the mental load on machine operators: heart rate monitoring, two types of electroencephalograph (EEG) evaluation, and an assessment protocol. Three driving exercises (general driving, slalom driving, and loading) and a counting exercise were used in a driving simulator to create different levels of mental load. Due to the number of exercises, a single-scale assessment protocol was used to save time. We found that only the assessment protocol gave clear results and would work well as an evaluation tool. The heart rate and EEG measurements did not provide clear data for mental load assessment. Keywords: Agriculture, Awareness, Continuous measurement, EEG, Heart rate, Mental load, Simulator, Single-scale assessment, Tractor operator, Work machinery.

scholarly journals Quantified factory worker: field study of a web application supporting work well-being and productivity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Päivi Heikkilä ◽  
Anita Honka ◽  
Eija Kaasinen ◽  
Kaisa Väänänen
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Knowledge Work ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Production Data ◽  
Automated Manufacturing ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Mental Load ◽  
Machine Operators

AbstractThe work on the factory floor is gradually changing to resemble knowledge work due to highly automated manufacturing machines. In the increasingly automated work environment, the machine operator’s task is to keep the production running and to solve possible problems quickly. This work is expected to become more autonomous, which raises the importance of supporting the workers’ well-being. An important aspect of that is giving concrete feedback of success at work as well as feedback on physical and mental load. We implemented a smartphone optimized web application, Worker Feedback Dashboard that offers feedback to machine operators about their well-being at work and personally relevant production data as well as their connections to each other. The feedback is personal and based on objective, near real-time measurements. We present the results of a field study, in which ten machine operators used the application for 2–3 months. We studied the operators’ user experience, usage activity, perceived benefits and concerns for the application with questionnaires, interviews and application log data. The operators found the feedback interesting and beneficial, and used the application actively. The perceived benefits indicate impacts on well-being as well as on work performance. Based on the results, we highlight three design implications for quantified worker applications: presenting meaningful overviews, providing guidance to act based on the feedback and refraining from too pervasive quantification not to narrow down the meaningful aspects in one’s work.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SURGEON'S PHYSIOLOGICAL AND KINEMATIC PARAMETERS AND THE QUALITY OF SURGICAL PERFORMANCE AND WORKLOAD IN LAPAROSCOPIC TRAINING

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Sánchez-Margallo ◽  
J Castillo Rabazo ◽  
D Durán Rey ◽  
I López-Agudelo ◽  
M R González-Portillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Objective Evaluation ◽  
Laparoscopic Training ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Surgical Performance ◽  
Hand Motion ◽  
Task Load ◽  
Tissue Manipulation ◽  
Level Of Experience

Abstract INTRODUCTION This study presents the first steps and results towards the development of a system for predicting the quality of surgical performance and workload in laparoscopic training. MATERIAL AND METHODS Surgeons wore a smartwatch which recorded their heart rate and hand motion during each laparoscopic procedure. Data was then correlated with both the Surgery Task Load Index (SURG-TLX) subjective questionnaire and the Global Operational Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (GOALS) objective evaluation tool. Statistical analysis was conducted in order to study the relationship between parameters and to compare the results according to the surgeons’ level of experience. RESULTS Nine laparoscopic surgeons participated in this study, five gynecologists and four digestive surgeons. Gynecological surgeons showed a positive correlation between their level of experience, heart rate, hand motion, and GOALS score, except for bimanual dexterity. The reduction in the variability of hand accelerations led to improved tissue handling. Digestive surgeons showed a negative correlation between their level of experience and the reported temporal demand and complexity of the procedure. Novice digestive surgeons reported increased workload during surgery, mainly in mental, physical, and temporal workload. In both surgical specialties, it was observed that reduction in surgical workload was associated with improved GOALS score. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary results showed that bimanual dexterity is independent of the experience of gynecological surgeons. During laparoscopic surgical procedures, reduced variability in hand accelerations leads to better tissue manipulation. In addition, in gynecological and upper gastrointestinal procedures, reduced surgical workload is associated with improved surgical performance.

The cumulative effects of work-related factors increase the heart rate of cabin field machine operators

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Jankovský ◽  
Ján Merganič ◽  
Michal Allman ◽  
Michal Ferenčík ◽  
Valéria Messingerová
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Machine Operators

scholarly journals Driver Monitoring for a Driver-Centered Design and Assessment of a Merging Assistance System Based on V2V Communications

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 5582
Author(s):  
Sofia Sánchez–Mateo ◽  
Elisa Pérez–Moreno ◽  
Felipe Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Assistance System ◽  
Internal Variables ◽  
Mental Load ◽  
V2v Communications ◽  
Interface Definition ◽  
System Prototype ◽  
Alternative Solutions

Merging is one of the most critical scenarios that can be found in road transport. In this maneuver, the driver is subjected to a high mental load due to the large amount of information he handles, while making decisions becomes a crucial issue for their safety and those in adjacent vehicles. In previous works, it was studied how the merging maneuver affected the cognitive load required for driving by means of an eye tracking system, justifying the proposal of a driver assistance system for the merging maneuver on highways. This paper presents a merging assistance system based on communications between vehicles, which allows vehicles to share internal variables of position and speed and is implemented on a mobile device located inside the vehicle. The system algorithm decides where and when the vehicle can start the merging maneuver in safe conditions and provides the appropriate information to the driver. Parameters and driving simulator tests are used for the interface definition to develop the less intrusive and demanding one. Afterward, the system prototype was installed in a real passenger car and tests in real scenarios were conducted with several drivers to assess usability and mental load. Comparisons among alternative solutions are shown and effectiveness is assessed.

scholarly journals HEART RATE AS AN INDEX OF THE MENTAL LOAD

Sangyo Igaku ◽  
1968 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 377-379
Author(s):  
Tomikazu ISHIBASHI ◽  
Akira OHTANI ◽  
Takeo MIURA
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Mental Load

Association Between Motor Ability and Handwriting Performance in Children With Probable Developmental Coordination Disorder

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Melvin Ibana ◽  
Priscila Caçola
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Coordination Disorder ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Motor Ability ◽  
Evaluation Tool ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Core Deficit ◽  
Standard Assessment ◽  
Movement Assessment ◽  
Coordination Disorder

Handwriting is a core deficit in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Fifty children were tested with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition; Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Short Form; Evaluation Tool of Children's Handwriting (ETCH); McMaster Handwriting Assessment Protocol; and Beery-Buktenica Test of Visual–Motor Integration (Beery–VMI–6). The results showed significant differences in components of the ETCH between groups (p < .05) and significant relationships between handwriting (ETCH and Beery–VMI–6) and motor ability measures (r > .30). We conclude that the ETCH and the Beery–VMI–6 are sensitive measures of handwriting ability for children with probable DCD, but more research is needed to identify a gold-standard assessment for evaluating handwriting in this population.

scholarly journals Operator workload analysis on coconut tree climbing using portable coconut climbing equipment

2021 ◽  
Vol 922 (1) ◽  
pp. 012074
Author(s):  
M Dhafir ◽  
M Idkham ◽  
Safrizal ◽  
A A Munawar ◽  
P Azrial
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Workload Analysis ◽  
Heart Rate Data ◽  
Coconut Tree ◽  
Aceh Province ◽  
Heavy Work ◽  
High Level ◽  
Operator Workload ◽  
Operator Safety ◽  
Energy Consumption Rate

Abstract Recently, the work of climbing coconuts, especially in Aceh Province Indonesia still uses traditional methods, namely by climbing coconut trees directly. Traditional climbing is very high risk because it can fall which threatens the safety of life. Besides that, this job is also a heavy work category because it requires a lot of energy to do it. Therefore, the analysis of operator workload on climbing coconut trees using portable coconut climbing equipment is expected to be useful for developing tool designs and methods for climbing coconuts that are safer, more comfortable and more effective. The calculation of the operator’s workload is based on heart rate measurements, where three operators have their heart rate data taken during coconut tree climbing activities, either manually or using portable climbing tools. The workloads analyzed are qualitative and quantitative workloads. The results of the workload analysis indicate that climbing is traditionally classified as a “medium” job with an average IRHR value of 1.45, while using portable climbing equipment is classified as heavy work with an IRHR value of 1.54 The traditional climbing energy consumption rate is 3.29 kcal/hour.kg-ow (kilocalories per hour per operator’s weight), while using a portable climbing equipment is 3.82 kcal/hour.kg-ow. The high level of operator workload is largely determined by the operator’s habits in doing climbing as well as skills that must be trained in operating the tool. However, in terms of operator safety, the use of portable equipment has a higher level of security because there are footrests and handrails as well as seat belts.

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