Lecture 11 'Neuroergonomics'

Question 1

(Q. 19). How have researchers such as Parasuraman et al. (2000) related models of human information
processing to models of automation?

Answer 1

Any or all of the four stages of human information processing can be supported by
automation.

Question 2

(Q 20). What was Lee and Moray’s (1994) key finding about trust and automation?

Answer 2

People will use automation if their trust in the automation is higher than their self-confidence
in their own ability to control the system.

Question 3

What are two neuroergonomics examples of physical work applications?

Answer 3

> Role of cerebral functions in control of motor aspects of work (EEG, ERP, fNIRS)

> Central brain mechanisms involved in fatigue (EEG)

Question 4

What are three neuroergonomics examples of cognitive work applications?

Answer 4

> Mental workload and resource theory
Vigilance and mental fatigue
Training and neuroadaptive systems

Question 5

Just et al (2008) simulated driving carried out alone and concurrently with an auditory-sentence-verification task, what were the findings?

Answer 5

fMRI = parietal cortex showed lower activation with task (compared to driving without task); demonstrated independence of perceptual/cognitive, verbal/spatial and focal/ambient visual processing resources

Question 6

Neuroergonomics reveals individual differences in responding, awareness which could help what?

Answer 6

selection and training

Question 7

What are four reasons why automation is a good idea?

Answer 7

1 > If hazardous for humans to do (e.g. refueling nuclear power plant)

2 > If too difficult/error prone for humans (e.g. have higher control)

3 > To help people do difficult task (e.g. advise)

4. To get rid of expensive human employees in interests of economic rationalism (e.g. ATMs) controversial

Question 8

What are five problems in automation?

Answer 8

1. Automation reliability (component/software, end-user set up, mismatch in automation+human understanding)
2. Automation + workload (too great)

3 . Loss of skill and knowledge

4. Loss of job satisfaction: Just serving automation
5. Human trust in automation

Question 9

What is the four-stage model of human information processing?

Answer 9

Sensory processing > Perception/Working memory > Decision making > Response selection

Question 10

What is the ‘substitution myth’?

Answer 10

Assumption that you can successfully substitute components of human roles/tasks with technology

Question 11

What five factors contribute to human-centred automation?

Answer 11

1. Keep human informed on what automation is doing and why
2. Keep human trained: avoid erosio of manual skills
3. Keep human in control loop to some degree/at times
4. Make automation flexible/adaptive
5. Positive management philosophy about human roles