Direct Manipulation Interfaces for In-Flight Four-Dimensional Navigation Planning

Abstract

A direct manipulation interface for 4-dimensional (spatio-temporal) in-flight replanning was developed. The interface coupled the pilots' actions and the consequences of these actions for the overall replanning goals through a visual display of the flight plan's temporal and spatial layout, as well as the temporal and spatial constraints on altering the flight plan. Three levels of interface information detail were tested for 2 scenarios with different levels of complexity of the flight plan and the changes required. It was found that the medium- and high-detail interfaces are faster, are easier to use, provide better task performance, and are preferred by the pilots participating in the experiment. The expected advantage of visualizing the spatial and temporal constraints on the interface through elliptical affordance zones did not result in a better performance, lower click count, or higher appreciation than the medium-level interface.