Extenics matter-element analysis on dilemma problem in HMI design of nuclear power plant

Abstract

The Human machine interface (HMI) plays a critical role for operator monitoring and controlling the system. The background colors of HMI, as one of human factors, directly influence on the performance of operator, including sensitive and fatigue degree, and furthermore affects the safety and economy of nuclear power plant (NPP). The selection between color differences (affects sensitive and number of matched colors) and performance overtime (affects fatigue degree) are dilemma problem. This paper proposes an extenics matter-element analysis to settle the dilemma problem in HMI design of NPP. By combining both matter-element analysis and extension in HMI, this method changes opposability problem into consistent problem, and discrete problem into continuum problem. A basic background color selection model and weighting method are established too. Taking HMI design as an example, this paper expounds a basic method of solving dilemmas by extension matter element theory. The model, which reflects the distance between selected element and the optimal interval that can be used and further developed for analyzing or solving similar dilemma problem, it is effectively find the best answer for human performance in industry design, and the design of NPP can be further optimized based on this method.