The Effects of Panel Arrangement and Locus of Attention on Performance

Abstract

A 2 × 2 × 8 factorial design was used to determine the effects of mirror-imaged panel arrangement and locus of attention (i.e., whether the subject focused attention external to the control panel or internal to the control panel) on operator performance. Response time and error data were collected for both nonemergency and simulated emergency situations. For the nonemergency performance condition the mirror-image group took longer to operate the controls and made slightly more errors. Performance in emergency situations was particularly degraded in the mirror-imaged condition. More instances of strain and fatigue were reported by the subjects using the mirror-imaged panel. The use of mirror-imaged complex control panels in high-stress environments is not recommended when separate panels are being operated by the same person.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Chapanis, A. (1965). Man-machine engineering. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Chapanis, A. , and Lindenbaum, L. E. (1959). A reaction time study of four control-display linkages. Human Factors, 1, 1–7.

Chapanis, A. , and Mankin, D. (1967). Tests of ten control-display linkages. Human Factors, 9, 119–126.

Fitts, P. M. , and Jones, R. E. (1947). Analysis of factors contributing to 460 "pilot-error" experiences in operating aircraft controls (Tech. Memorandum TSEAA-694–12). Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Aero Medical Laboratory.

McCormick, E. J. , and Sanders, M. S. (1982). Human factors in engineering design (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Pigg, L. D. (1954). Orientation of controls in bilateral transfer of training (Tech. Report 54–376). Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Air Development Center.

Ray, R. D. , and Ray, W. D. (1979). An analysis of domestic cooker control design. Ergonomics, 22, 1243–1248.

Schurick, J. M. (1982). The effects of shape-coding and mirror-imaging on the performance of a simulated roof-bolting task. Unpublished master's thesis, California State University, Northridge, CA.

Seminara, J. L. , Gonzales, W. R. , and Parsons, S. O. (1977). Human factors review of nuclear power plant control room design (EPRI Report NP-309). Palo Alto, CA: Electric Power Research Institute.

10.

Vancott, H. P. , and Kincade, R. G. (Eds.) (1972). Human engineering guide to equipment design (rev. ed.). Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

11.

Woodson, W. E. (1981). Human factors design handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill.