Evaluation of Human Machine Interface Design Factors on Situation Awareness and Task Performance

Abstract

In centralized process control facilities, system performance likely hinges on effective interface design, because these interfaces are typically the only connection operators have with the systems they are managing. Decisions regarding interface design can be influenced by a variety of factors from user centered design principles to regulatory guidelines. While such guidance adds value to interface design, it does not reveal the underlying attributes that result in increased operator situation awareness and task performance. Current research focuses on design heuristics–neglecting empirical evaluations of interface design type attributes. The purpose of this research effort was to explore the effects on situation awareness and task performance for two display design attributes: information presentation (numeric versus graphic) and information arrangement (functionally grouped versus spatially mapped). Findings show negligible differences amongst these attributes for a conventional multi-process monitoring task. However, data trends toward graphic depictions arranged in a functionally grouped manner cannot be discounted as potentially being beneficial toward situation awareness and task performance.