Man-Machine Interface Issues in the Design of An Automated Decision System

Abstract

This paper describes issues in building an effective interface between an automated decision system and the human user of that system's output. Designing an interface so that the user can understand and evaluate the output is an important issue, especially with advances in technology that increase the potential for decision automation. The specific issues addressed during the design application discussed here are: 1) the development of an object display to present the output of an automated decision system when the decision can be only partially automated and 2) presenting the logic used in automated decisions to a human user. The application is a decision system developed to help nuclear power plant operators determine what response should be made during severe emergencies. The logic is executed by a computer to produce real time output using on-line sensor data.