Human-Automation Interaction: Research and Practice

Research and development in the field of man-machine systems has evolved tremendously in the last 20 years. For almost every man-machine system, whether in the aviation industry, medical systems, industrial process control, or just for use in leisure activities or the home environment, it is possible to see many automated systems and devices that have replaced the human component as a key element. The fast evolution in computer technology has transformed the course of our daily lives by making these technological innovations a viable option on which to rely. These varied technological advances have reduced the burden of excessive physical and cognitive demands imposed upon human operators. However, they have also resulted in several behavior related problems such as a loss in situation awareness, increased mental workload, monitoring inefficiency, and inability to revert to manual control under systems malfunction. Covering a wide variety of human factors issues across several domains of application, this volume represents a snapshot of a series of experimental and investigative studies concerned with the impact of automation technology on human performance. The topics addressed deal with both theoretical and applied issues. Although more emphasis was placed on the aviation industry, several other human-machine systems where automation technology is implemented are also represented. This book enables students, scientists, and researchers from a variety of fields such as academia, government, and industry to achieve the following: * review and update their basic and applied knowledge in several domains where automation technology is implemented; * review and evaluate recent empirical studies on automation and human performance across several domains; * address training issues and guidelines for the design of intelligent, hybrid human-machine systems; and * discuss future trends in automation research applicable to the 21st century.