Monitoring performance and mental workload in an automated system

Abstract

Human performance in computer-aided system has engrossed inevitably human issues in cognitive functioning. The present endeavor focuses on the associated influence of training, automation reliability on the monitoring performance and workload in multi-task ambience. MAT battery was utilized with engine-system monitoring, two dimensional tracking, and fuel resource management tasks were the concerned elements, in which only system engine-monitoring task was automated in the training as well as in the final test sessions. A 2 × 2 × 2 × 3, mixed factorial design was employed. Monitoring performance, false alarms, reaction time and root mean square error performance were recorded as dependent measures. Results revealed that automation-induced complacency might be the feature of multi-task condition where subjects detected automation failures under high static system reliability. Results further showed that mental workload significantly reduced from pre- to post-sessions. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.