Perceived Intentionality via Virtual Agent’s Kinematics
Lead: Jordan Sasser, Ph.D. Student
Description: Advancement of automation brings to light an empirical challenge – how do social cues and signals fit into the design? Investigating kinematic information in the optic array found that humans have the capacity to determine actions, expected actions, and prior intentionality. The proposed framework expands upon competitive and cooperative research that determined competitive kinematics invoke perceived competitive intentions and cooperative kinematics invoked perceived cooperative intentions. The framework focuses on understanding perceived intentionality in the context of robotic movement via acceleration. The five conditions proposed are accelerations that are: mirrored to the user, faster than the user, slower than the user, varied but results in completion of the task first, and varied but results in completion of the task second. The proposed task involves the virtual agent and participant walking perpendicular towards a common goal. Participants would be randomly assigned into a condition until completing all five conditions twice. After each task, the participant will determine whether they had perceived the behaviors of the agent as competitive or cooperative. The hypothesis is slower acceleration will be perceived as more cooperative by the observer. Finding that slower acceleration produces perceived cooperative behaviors would allow better design in automation that requires interaction between human counterparts, initiating better overall encounters with automation.
Assessment of Vehicle Hand Control Usability
Two assistive technology devices used to restore vehicle control for individuals with disabilities underwent analysis that assessed both usability and performance via driving simulation.
Conspicuity of Motorcycle Headlights With and Without Distraction
Three studies were conducted to determine the effect of different lighting designs for motorcycles. Two studies were conducted in lab, which analyzed daytime running lamps, standard lights, and an enhanced lighting arrangement both with and without distraction. The final study was conducted in the field at nighttime.
Comparison between Self-Report and Observed Aggressive Driving
The relationship between several variables related to aggressive driving as assessed through self-report and observation in a driving simulator, and individual differences were analyzed.
A Human Factors Analysis of Worker Tasks in a Coffee Shop: An Initial Study for Technology Transfer to Latin America
Lead: Nick Higgins, PhD Student.
The goal of this study was to begin the process of addressing cross-cultural issues with technology transfer to Latin America by conducting a human factors analysis of worker tasks in a certain international coffee shop. Workers were observed and interviewed to determine basic tasks and potential issues with equipment, a task analysis was conducted, and workload measures were obtained. In a follow-up study, the same methodology will be used in a coffee shop of the same company in Honduras will be conducted.
The Effects of the Colors and Environment Type on Cognitive Restoration
Lead: Jessica Michaelis, Ph.D.
The effects of the colors of nature on mental status both before and after stress are evaluated with the goal of designing an intervention to restore cognitive resources.
The Effects of the Colors and Environment Type on Cognitive Restoration with Older Adults
Lead: Jessica Michaelis, Ph.D.
The effects of the colors of nature on mental status both before and after stress are evaluated with the goal of designing an intervention to restore cognitive resources. This study also takes into account individual differences across the lifespan.
Individual Differences of Driving Distraction Perception
The relationship between individual differences and the risk perception of different driver distractions are evaluated with the goal of determining how these variables co-vary.
Evaluating Distracted driving after practice
The effects of practices of both driving in a driving simulator and of a distracting task while driving was evaluated using dual-task paradigms while using a driving simulator. Internal distractions such as phone usage, texting, and conversations are used to compete with the driving task.
Workload and Usability Comparison of Tangible User interfaces
Different interfaces such as game pads, mouses, and joysticks were evaluated under both low and high workload tasks to determine how usability and performance interacts with workload and user interface.
Quantifying performance during both Internal and External Driving Distractions
Driver performance was evaluated during different internal distraction tasks such as phone usage, voice-texting, and touchscreen as well as how they interacted with different external scenes.
Assessment of Instructional Presentation for Emergency Evacuation Assistive Technology
The usability and impact on performance of pre- and post-intervention instruction sets were assessed with the goal of improving instruction sets for emergency evacuation.