Toni Ivergard and Brian Hunt
CONTENTS
10.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 265
10.2 Sense Organs and Perception…………………………………………………………………… 266
10.2.1 Sight and Vision………………………………………………………………………… 267
10.2.2 Colour Vision……………………………………………………………………………. 270
10.2.3 Central Vision…………………………………………………………………………… 271
10.2.4 Focusing of Colours on the Lens………………………………………………. 272
10.2.5 Colour Blindness………………………………………………………………………. 273
10.2.6 Meaning and Perception…………………………………………………………… 274
10.2.7 The Effects of Aging…………………………………………………………………. 274
10.2.8 Hearing……………………………………………………………………………………… 275
10.2.9 Other Sense Organs…………………………………………………………………… 276
10.3 Job Skills………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 276
10.4 Perception and Simple Decisions…………………………………………………………….. 278
10.4.1 Discrimination of Signals…………………………………………………………… 278
10.4.2 Simple Decisions……………………………………………………………………….. 279
10.4.3 Changes with Age……………………………………………………………………… 282
10.5 Overloading and Underloading……………………………………………………………….. 284
10.5.1 Fatigue and Alertness………………………………………………………………… 284
10.5.2 Underloading…………………………………………………………………………….. 286
10.6 Motor Functions………………………………………………………………………………………. 288
References and Further Reading……………………………………………………………………….. 289
10.1 INTRODUCTION
The abilities and limitations of the operator in control room work are discussed in more detail in this chapter. We aim to give concrete data that can be of use in the design of control rooms. Much of the background discussion, motivation, and other important aspects is omitted in order to bring about a fully comprehensive solution, as it is not possible to summarise these in a handbook of this type. For more detailed information, the reader should refer to the specialist psychological or sociopsychological literature, or consult ergonomic or psychology experts in the field (for example, Stevens, 1975; Hamilton, 1983; Salvendy, 1986).
The description of human psychology and physiology is also highly simplified. Models of the type given in this book have a certain justification in the planning of control rooms and the like. However, they must be used with care. The discussion is based on the model shown in Figure 2.17. The operator’s sense organs and perception are considered first and then the decision and memory functions are examined. In conjunction with these, we give examples of decision-making speed, different types of decisions, and the problems associated with over – and underloading. Some information on the human motor system and ability to carry out various manoeuvring and control movements is given in the later part of this chapter. Chapters 3, 4, and 5 provide examples on the design of information and control devices.
