An Empirical Evaluation of Interfaces for Army Tactical Operations

Abstract

Timely and accurate decisions in the Army domain are directly linked to the commander's ability to assess the battlefield. We reviewed both existing and proposed Army interfaces and applied a Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE) approach to the development of an alternative interface: the RAPTOR interface (Representation Aiding Portrayal of Tactical Operations Resources). This interface and a version of the Army's recently-implemented digital interface (the Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below — FBCB2) were evaluated using a simulated offensive scenario and domain experts from an active Army unit. The results indicate that the RAPTOR interface produced significantly better performance for quantitative, categorical and needs assessments. It is concluded that the RAPTOR interface summarizes critical information for Army units at all levels and makes this information easily accessible through effective graphical formats and interaction style.