Designing flight deck applications: combining insight from end-users and ergonomists

Abstract

Technological advancement brings opportunities for enhanced information, support, and functionality within the flight deck. Whilst this has many benefits to the pilot and the overall safety of the aircraft, the practical integration of new technologies needs to be carefully considered throughout the entirety of the design process. The application of Human Factors methods must ensure that new technologies do not expose the system to new failures. This paper compares two methods of generating design recommendations for new technological features; the system human error reduction and prediction approach (SHERPA) and the Design with Intent (DwI) method. The assimilation of the recommendations from both methods presents interesting findings that highlight the benefits of integrating end-users within structured Human Factors methods to generate effective and usable technological interfaces. Case examples showing the similarities and differences between the concepts that the two methods generate are presented. The practicalities in using each approach within a Human Factors-driven design process are also discussed. The findings highlight the importance of end-user engagement in the early phases of the design lifecycle and how this relates to a Human Factors approach to design.