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Abstract

Models of humans (operators, controllers) in human-machine systems have tacitly assumed that humans must have a model of the process in order to control it. Humans have therefore traditionally been described as information processing systems with an internal or mental model of the process as an important component. A more systemic or cybernetic view acknowledges that the human must be a model of the process in order to control it. This suggests a different approach to modelling, which is functional rather than structural, and where the emphasis is on how thejoint human-machine system can maintain control of a situation. A specific model, called the Contextual Control Model (COCOM), which is based on the principles of cognitive systems engineering, illustrates the approcach, COCOM provides a foundation for analysing controller performance as well as implementing controller needs.

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Modelling the controller of a process

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