On machines that have two operator workstations, there is sometimes a question of the optimum arrangement of controls. The controls at both workstations can be either mirror imaged or arranged in a left-to-right sequence. This experiment was performed to investigate the sequential arrangement of controls on a dual workstation roof bolter, a machine used in underground coal mining. The use of shape coded control knobs was also investigated to determine their relative advantage with each arrangement. The results indicated that there was no clear stereotype for the arrangement of controls. Shape coded knobs were somewhat helpful during learning.
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