Suchergebnisse

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of compatible and incompatible automatic processes on performance. Subjects were trained for 8400 trials of consistent mapping practice in a semantic category visual search task and then transferred for 2352 trials to conditions that utilized the trained component processes in various ways. Results indicate that if the components were reused in a compatible fashion (target and distractor transfer), there was positive transfer. Target and distractor reversal resulted in equivalent and severe performance disruption that persisted for the entire retraining period. Target conflict produced disruption equivalent to the reversal conditions. Distractor conflict resulted in less initial disruption, which dissipated before the end of the retraining period. The results are discussed in terms of agreement with strength-theoretic views of visual search and in terms of practical training and retraining issues.

Objective: The present research examined design of a virtual keyboard for text entry with a rotary controller, emphasizing users who differ in age and system experience. Background: Existing research has minimally addressed usage frequency, age, and the effects of display shape and letter arrangement on movement and visual search components of text entry tasks. The present research was conducted to close these gaps. Method: Two experiments were completed to examine younger (18—28 years) and older (60—75 years) adults' movement and visual search capabilities using four keyboard shapes and three keyboard arrangements. In a third experiment examining combined effects on shape design, 32 younger (18—28 years) and 32 older (60—75 years) adults entered words on the two best shapes from the first experiments. Results: For the movement task, movement time was lowest for shapes with higher shape-controller compatibility. For the visual search task, search time and accuracy were best on the alphabetic arrangement. In the combined task, shape did not significantly influence performance at different levels of practice. Transfers, however, suggested that the shape with salient visual features elicited a text entry strategy for older adults that may promote more consistent performance under occasional usage. Conclusion: The studies together demonstrate that keyboard shape is important for efficient performance. Shape-controller compatibility facilitated performance in both age groups. Salient features facilitate performance, especially for older adults. In nearly all cases alphabetic arrangement yielded the best performance. Application: Recommendations are provided for virtual keyboard design for different usage frequencies, contexts, and users.

We assessed constraints on daily living of 59 healthy, active adults 65–88 years of age in focus group interviews. Individual comments about specific problems were coded along the dimensions of (a) the locus of the problem (motor, visual, auditory, cognitive, external, or health limitations); (b) the activity involved (e.g., transportation, leisure, housekeeping); (c) whether the problem was attributable to task difficulty or the perception of risk; and (d) response to limitations (perseverance, cessation, compensation, or self-improvement). The data provide information about the types of difficulties encountered in everyday activities as well as the way in which individuals respond to such difficulties. Each comment was also coded in terms of whether it was remediable via training, design changes, or some combination of the two. More than half of the problems that were reported had the potential to be improved in some way, thus providing direction for future research in human factors and aging. Actual or potential applications of this research include identifying problems and difficulties that older adults encounter in daily activities such as transportation and leisure; more specifically, determining the degree to which such problems are potentially remediable by human factors solutions. Applications of this research also include understanding the types of systems, products, and technologies that older adults interact with currently, or are interested in learning to use.

Input devices enable users to interact with systems. In two experiments, we assessed whether and how task demands and user age influenced task performance for a direct input device (touch screen) and an indirect input device (rotary encoder). In Experiment 1, 40 younger (18-28 years) and 40 middle-aged to older adults(51--65 years) performed tasks using controls such as sliders, up/down buttons, list boxes, and text boxes while using a system. The optimal input device to facilitate performance was dependent on the task being performed and the age of the user. In Experiment 2, touch screen use was assessed for 20 younger (19--23 years) and 20 older adults (51--70 years). Task demands were manipulated through button size, movement distance, direction, and type of movement. Performance was moderated by the age of the user and by task demands. Actual or potential applications of this research include guidance for the optimal selection of input devices for different user populations and task characteristics.

A new procedure for evaluating symbol comprehension, the phrase generation procedure, was assessed with 52 younger and 52 older adults. Participants generated as many phrases as came to mind when viewing 40 different safety symbols (hazard alerting, mandatory action, prohibition, and information symbols). Symbol familiarity was also assessed. Comprehension rates for both groups were lower than the 85% level recommended by the American National Standards Institute. Moreover, older participants' comprehension was significantly worse than younger participants', and the older adults also generated significantly fewer phrases. Generally, prohibition symbols were comprehended best and hazard alerting symbols worst. In addition, symbol familiarity was positively correlated with symbol comprehension. These findings indicate that important safety information depicted on signs and household products may be misunderstood if presented in symbolic form. Furthermore, certain types of symbols may be better understood (e.g., prohibition symbols) than other types (e.g., hazard alerting symbols) by both younger and older individuals. These findings signify the utility of the phrase generation procedure as a method for evaluating symbol comprehension, particularly when it is not possible or desirable to provide contextual information. Actual or potential applications of this research include using the phrase generation approach to identify poorly comprehended symbols, including identification of critical confusions that may arise when processing symbolic information

ObjectiveThis study evaluated task-scheduling decisions in the context of emergency departments by comparing patterns of emergency physicians' task-scheduling models across levels of experience.BackgroundTask attributes (priority, difficulty, salience, and engagement) influence task-scheduling decisions. However, it is unclear how attributes interact to affect decisions, especially in complex contexts. An existing model of task scheduling, strategic task overload management-no priority (STOM-NP), found that an equal weighting of attributes can predict task-scheduling behavior. Alternatively, mathematical modeling estimated that priority alone could make similar predictions as STOM-NP in a parsimonious manner. Experience level may also influence scheduling decisions.MethodAn experimental design methodology shortened a judgment analysis approach to compare a priori task-scheduling decision strategies. Emergency physicians with two levels of experience rank-ordered 10 sets of 3 tasks varying on 4 task attributes in this complex environment.ResultsBayesian statistics were used to identify best-fit decision strategies. STOM-NP and priority-only provided the best model fits. STOM-NP fit the lower-experienced physicians best, whereas priority-only—using only one cue—fit the higher-experienced physicians best.ConclusionModels of decision strategies for task-scheduling decisions were extended to complex environments. Experts' level of experience influenced task-scheduling decisions, where the scheduling decisions of more-experienced experts was consistent with a more frugal decision process. Findings have implications for training and evaluation.ApplicationWe assessed models of cues that influence task-scheduling decisions, including a parsimonious model for task priority only. We provided a sample approach for shortening methods for understanding decisions.

The present study assessed the success of several instructional programs in teaching the use of automatic teller machines (ATMs). Fifty-six older adults (aged 61 to 81) participated in the study, randomly assigned to each of four, 14-member groups. The description group received only a general overview of an ATM; the text guide group received written instructions for performing various transactions on an ATM; the pictorial guide group received written instructions accompanied by pictures of corresponding ATM screens; and the online tutorial group completed a step-by-step tutorial on a simulated ATM. Participants practiced on an ATM simulator. They were tested after a 24-h interval on their ability to perform familiar transactions on an unfamiliar ATM simulator and to perform completely novel transactions. Accuracy was best for the online tutorial group, intermediate for the text and pictorial guide groups, and worst for the description group. These data demonstrate both the importance of providing older adults with ATM training and the fact that the type of training influences the level of performance. The online tutorial. which provided specific practice on the task components, best facilitated acquisition and transfer performance.

The purpose of this study was to analyze automatic teller machine (ATM) usage across the adult life span. We conducted an extensive survey of 9000 people in the Memphis and Atlanta metropolitan areas. Approximately 17% of those people responded. The survey assessed detailed demographic information, experience with technology in general, experience specifically related to ATMs, problems and dislikes with ATMs, and reasons that people do not use ATMs. The survey provided a valuable set of data. First, we have detailed information about the demographics and individual characteristics of ATM users and nonusers; importantly, these data are stratified across the adult life span. In addition, we know the likes and dislikes of ATM users and the types of problems they typically have using ATMs. Moreover, we have a detailed analysis of why adults of all ages may choose not to use ATMs. Training and design implications of these data are discussed.

Breast cancer care is a leading area for development of artificial intelligence (AI), with applications including screening and diagnosis, risk calculation, prognostication and clinical decision-support, management planning, and precision medicine. We review the ethical, legal and social implications of these developments. We consider the values encoded in algorithms, the need to evaluate outcomes, and issues of bias and transferability, data ownership, confidentiality and consent, and legal, moral and professional responsibility. We consider potential effects for patients, including on trust in healthcare, and provide some social science explanations for the apparent rush to implement AI solutions. We conclude by anticipating future directions for AI in breast cancer care. Stakeholders in healthcare AI should acknowledge that their enterprise is an ethical, legal and social challenge, not just a technical challenge. Taking these challenges seriously will require broad engagement, imposition of conditions on implementation, and pre-emptive systems of oversight to ensure that development does not run ahead of evaluation and deliberation. Once artificial intelligence becomes institutionalised, it may be difficult to reverse: a proactive role for government, regulators and professional groups will help ensure introduction in robust research contexts, and the development of a sound evidence base regarding real-world effectiveness. Detailed public discussion is required to consider what kind of AI is acceptable rather than simply accepting what is offered, thus optimising outcomes for health systems, professionals, society and those receiving care.