A Function-Behavior-State Approach to Designing Human-Machine Interface

Abstract

A view of a plant system as a human-machine system is a generic concept for any system that serves human use. The first step in designing an interface for a particular application is to determine information content and dynamics about the display of the information content. The theory and methodology for this step is called the interface design framework (framework for short). In previous literature several frameworks were proposed for applications at varying levels, including process plants; however, few set out their basis from the design and manufacture of a plant system for which the interface is designed. This paper presents a novel interface design framework which originates from design theory and methodology for general technical systems. In particular, the framework is based on a set of core concepts of a function-behavior-state model originally proposed by the AI research community and widely applied in the design research community. Several advantages of this new framework are: (1) the provision of a model-based fault diagnosis facility, and (2) the seamless integration of the design (manufacture, maintenance) of plants and the design of human-machine interfaces. An example is given to explain how to apply this framework in designing an interface.Copyright © 2004 by ASME