Novel Display Design for Spatial Assessment in Virtual Environments

In this work in progress paper, we share novel conceptual display design ideas (pending validation and testing) to aid users with their spatial assessment in either two or three-dimensional spaces such as Virtual Reality (VR) environments. The example scenario used is to help a remote human team player (2nd user) to work with an asset Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and human team player (1st user) in the field. The scenario’s goal is to deliver relief packages (i.e., medical, clothing, and food supplies) at a fixed location in an urban and hostile terrain containing adversary UAV and their human team players. Inspired by the Lens theory and Ecological Interface Design principles, the proposed display design ideas allow the user to retain past and present asset and adversary location information whilst knowing when the adversary was too close to assets and civilians and the precision of display views based on the number of sensors available.

Ecological Interface Design and Head-Up Displays: The Contact-Analog Visualization Tradeoff

Objective This study investigated how the visualization of an ecological interface affects its subjective and objective usefulness. Therefore, we compared a simple 2D visualization against a contact-analog 3D visualization. Background Recently, head-up displays (HUDs) have become contact-analog and visualizations have been enabled to be merged with the real environment. In this regard, ecological interface design visualizing boundaries of acceptable performance might be a perfect match. Because the real-world environment already provides such boundaries (e.g., lane markings), the interface might directly use them. However, visual illusions and undesired interference with the environment might influence the overall usability. Method To allow for a comparison, 49 participants tested the same ecological interface in two configurations, contact-analog (3D) and two dimensional (2D). Both visualizations were shown in the car’s head-up display (HUD). Results The driving simulator experiment reveals that 3D was rated as more demanding and more disturbing, but also more innovative and appealing. However, regarding driving performance, the 3D representation decreased the accuracy of speed control by 6% while significantly increasing lane stability by 20%. Conclusion We conclude that, if we want environmental boundaries guiding our behavior, the indicator for the behavior should be visualized contact-analog. If we desire artificial boundaries (e.g., speed limits) to guide behavior, the behavioral indicator should be visualized in 2D. This is less prone to optical illusions and allows for a more precise control of behavior. Application These findings provide guidance to human factors engineers, how contact-analog visualizations might be used optimally.

Integrating Operator Function in Work Domain Analysis of Electric Grid Operations

The electric grid system is complex, and whether the failure of a subsystem can cascade through the whole system depends on the severity and the type of failures. Cascading failure analysis often uses Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the impacts to the system. Functional taxonomy can help researchers define the unexpected failures and events in the simulations systematically. Work domain analysis, a method in ecological interface design, describes a system at a functional level. Operators play an important role in electric grid operations, and understanding operators’ goals is crucial for modeling a cascading failure analysis. This paper describes an approach to integrate users’ goals (operator function) in the work domain analysis of electric grid operations. It can support not only the task analysis but also design affordances related to the goals, experience, and capabilities of users.