A new technology called Ambient Activity aims to treat the cause of dementia behaviors rather than just symptoms. The device uses personalized content such as photos, games, music, and more to engage patients and promote meaningful physical, mental, and social engagement.
Research suggests that public acceptance of self-driving cars is lower than expected, with many people preferring a more realistic portrayal of the technology. The study found that participants who read an idealized description of self-driving car ownership were more accepting than those who read a more realistic scenario.
Researchers exploring effects of automation on vehicle safety, driver behavior, and public acceptance. Presentations cover topics such as ethical concerns, system breakdowns, and self-driving cars.
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society will focus on human-centered issues in cyber operations, including situation awareness, vigilance, task-switching, and training. Presentations will address human factors gaps in cyber defense and explore persuasion principles in phishing emails.
A new study describes a scalable solution for transforming health-care delivery in primary care into the PCMH model. A simplified form of cognitive task analysis (CTA) was used to analyze how doctors' office staff thought about and delivered care, advising them on improvements.
A study evaluated 20 popular web apps for collaboration, ranking them based on usability. The top-rated apps include Google Drive, Skype, and Doodle Poll, which excelled in user control, error prevention, and aesthetics.
Researchers found that users need different workstation components when standing at a computer workstation compared to sitting down. The final standing workstation setups were significantly different from seated workstation setups, with lower desks and monitors, and closer mouse and keyboard positions.
Researchers found that voting booths in polling places with dividers and space between units led to higher anticipated system usability. Poor layouts can deter people from voting, potentially leading to disenfranchisement.
A study by researchers at North Carolina State University found that mobile device users are more susceptible to security errors while multitasking. The researchers created a simulated app store experience and asked participants to identify the safest app, with only half choosing correctly.
The Hitachi Class 800/801 Train, designed to accommodate more passengers and be environmentally sustainable, received the award for its multidisciplinary design approach that prioritized human factors. The train's design improved safety, efficiency, and user experience through prototyping and user research.
The authors identified factors that can protect against range stress in battery electric vehicles, including hands-on experience and trust in the range estimation system. The study found that even mild encounters with range stress can reduce user satisfaction and acceptance.
Research at HFES 2015 Annual Meeting highlights the importance of social cues in evaluating trust in human-robot interaction. Participants' attitudes toward robots were influenced by politeness, with rudeness overshadowing demographic differences.
The July special issue of Ergonomics in Design examines the health and safety effects of the sedentary workplace, exploring alternatives to sitting at work and proposed workplace design solutions. The research highlights key factors that facilitate successful office design and discusses barriers to implementing active workplaces.
A study found that older participants were more efficient in their search tasks despite taking longer to complete them, suggesting new ways to support consumers of health information. Younger participants used an analytical approach to find the desired results.
A special issue of JCEDM explores the current state of situation awareness, a construct that has driven advances in human factors/ergonomics fields. The articles discuss the perception and interpretation of surroundings, workload effects on SA, and its applications in complex work domains.
Two design competition winners, Intuitive Company and Georgia Tech Student Chapter, received recognition for their innovative solutions to improve the voting process. Their prototypes include smartphone apps to inform voters and train election volunteers, as well as a web-based platform to streamline the voting experience.
The authors compared the effects of continuous versus bandwidth haptic steering guidance on drivers' ability to stay in their lane and overall satisfaction. They found that bandwidth guidance was more effective at preventing errors and improving performance. The study's findings have implications for human-automation interaction/autonomy.
Researchers tested the effectiveness of caffeine and music as countermeasures to driver fatigue. Caffeine was found to improve both alertness and driving performance, while music had a lesser impact on driving skills.
A comprehensive proactive workplace ergonomics program can prevent musculoskeletal discomfort and injury, resulting in higher job satisfaction and happiness among employees. The program includes ergonomic workstations, group training, and one-on-one consultations.
Research found that younger, better-educated individuals with poorer health are more likely to seek online anecdotal advice. Experts caution against using untrustworthy online sources and urge consumers to develop skills for accessing reliable health information.
New research examines how users perceive campus emergency alerts, finding that personality traits such as neuroticism and agreeableness affect attitudes towards the system. The study suggests differentiating between serious and nonserious threats to maintain public trust and safety.
Researchers found usability problems with popular activity trackers among older adult users, including low color contrast, small fonts, and inaccurate step count tracking. The study suggests that companies should market their products directly to this demographic to improve health management.
Researchers found that individuals with the Met/Met genotype of the COMT gene performed better in a simulated air-defense task than those without this genotype. The study suggests that matching training to individuals based on their cognitive abilities could be more important than other factors in personnel selection.
The MauroNewMedia workstations address critical ergonomic issues, mitigating repetitive-motion injuries, improving airflow, and reducing noise. The award recognizes user-centered design principles that influenced every phase of development.
A study on effective leadership in Wikipedia found that shared leadership behaviors increase commenting and editing behaviors among users. The researchers analyzed over 4 million messages, using machine-learning coding to identify patterns.
A new auto steering device, proposed by Rene Guerster, aims to reduce the risk of accidents caused by sudden turns. The device, which uses computer-mediated steering, would enable drivers to steer around obstacles without releasing the wheel.
A study found that people who are overconfident, introverted, or women are more susceptible to phishing attacks. The results showed a disconnect between confidence and actual skill, with many participants misclassifying phishing emails.
Researchers developed option awareness theory to aid decision-making in complex situations. Studies showed that incorporating visual comparison of options increased correct responses by 67% while maintaining similar processing times.
A new study by Claire McAndrew and Julie Gore found that professional training in real-world scenarios can override laboratory decision preferences. The research suggests that trainers should focus on the professional, task, and environment to understand how decisions are made.
Researchers found that IVRs with male voices tend to be perceived as more usable than those with female voices, but they are not considered more trustworthy. The study encourages designers to consider voice characteristics when developing future systems to improve user experience.
Researchers found that older adults are open to robot assistance with some daily living tasks, such as housekeeping and laundry, but prefer human assistance with others. The study highlights the need for further research on how robots can support older adults in living independently.
Researchers found that blood glucose tracking apps can pose challenges for older adults due to declining vision, memory, and motor skills. The apps' design problems include small text, poor color contrast, and font sizes that decrease when text exceeds one line.
A two-part special issue of the Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making is available online, highlighting recent CEDM-related research and practice in various application domains. The issue features articles on psychological principles, human-technology interactions, and cognitive engineering methodological enhancements.
This special issue of Ergonomics in Design highlights the challenges of balancing economic pressures with human attention limits. The articles explore techniques to prevent or mitigate driver distraction through design, education, and legislation, as well as strategies for outreach and policy development.
The Fisher-Price iXL Learning System, a smart device for children ages 3 to 7, received the 10th User-Centered Product Design Award for its outstanding user-centered design. The award recognizes innovative approaches to human factors/ergonomics and industrial design.
A web-based tool called WISE has been developed to help breast cancer survivors manage their symptoms and improve employment outcomes. The tool provides customized information and decision support tools to identify ergonomic workplace problems and implement changes.
Researchers evaluate the usability of mobile voting systems on smartphones, finding that participants with smartphone experience complete tasks more accurately. The study suggests designing mobile voting systems to accommodate inexperienced voters' mental models to increase usability and accuracy.
A recent study published by Dietrich Manzey et al. investigated the performance consequences of advanced automated navigation support for surgeons. The results show that navigated-control assistance provides benefits for patient safety and surgical outcome, but also slows performance, increases workload, and reduces situation awareness.
Four middle-school students developed an innovative device, the Posture Pad, that vibrates or emits a tone when used incorrectly, aiming to prevent musculoskeletal problems. The study found 75% of students and 80% of office workers sat with incorrect posture, highlighting the need for ergonomic solutions.
A recent study explores how improved design and user behavior can reduce stepladder accidents. Potential solutions include sturdier platforms, closed tubular sections, and warnings for users to avoid overreaching.
Researchers found that untrained operators can accurately judge a robot's size relative to an opening but overestimate their driving skill. With practice, participants improve their driveability judgments, reducing the likelihood of robots getting stuck.
Researchers found that drivers who engage in a secondary task, such as talking on the phone, are more likely to stay focused and avoid accidents. The study suggests that strategically introducing an additional task can improve driver attention and stability, particularly during monotonous driving.
Researchers found that older adults are more willing than younger ones to have a robot perform critical monitoring tasks with minimal interaction. Robots can perform routine tasks like cleaning, but most respondents preferred non-interactive tasks. The study challenges the stereotype that older adults are less accepting of new technology.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and IT University in Copenhagen found that 94% of respondents violate computer authentication best practices, with novice users being more likely to do so. The study emphasizes the need for a better balance between human limitations and security measures.
Human factors researchers suggest adding engine noise to quiet hybrid cars to improve pedestrian safety. Participants rated automotive engine sounds as the most preferred category, followed by white noise and hum.
A new study suggests that mid-level viewing height promotes upright, symmetrical posture and low average muscle activity in children. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing display heights to reduce musculoskeletal strain in children.
Human factors researchers developed a software system that dramatically improves astronauts' ability to perform remote tasks under adverse conditions on the International Space Station. The system uses augmented reality techniques to guide operators during robotic installation tasks, resulting in improved accuracy and efficiency.
Researchers at Ford Motor Company tested four driver warning systems to help combat drowsy driving. The study found that these systems cut drivers' reaction time in half, with the steering wheel vibration warning being the most effective.
Researchers created a prototype just-in-time support device that provides guidance on administering CPR and assessing victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The device improved performance to the level of American Heart Association guidelines, increasing the number of people able to provide life-saving treatment.
Two studies in Florida found that economic pressure from hospitals and insurance companies can negatively affect the quality of care for some people, particularly those in prison. Researchers suggest that standard protocols and decision support systems can help prevent bias and prioritizing in patient care.