In this paper, a theoretical framework for interface design for complex systems is proposed. The approach, called Ecological Interface Design (EID), is based on the skills, rules, knowledge framework of levels of cognitive control. The fundamental goal of EID is to develop interfaces that provide the appropriate support for all three levels, but that do not force cognitive control to a higher level than the demands of the task require. The framework, consisting of a set of prescriptive design principles, is discussed, and an example of its application is presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AshbyW. R. (1956). An introduction to cybernetics.London: Methuen.
2.
ConantR. C.AshbyW. R. (1970). Every good regulator of a system must be a model of that system. International Journal of Systems Science, 1, 89–97.
3.
de GrootA. D. (1966). Perception and memory versus thought: Some old ideas and recent findings. In KleinmuntzB. (Ed.), Problem solving: Research, method, and theory (pp. 19–50). New York: Wiley.
4.
FrancisB. A.WonhamW. M. (1976). The internal model principle of control theory. Automatica, 12, 457–465.
5.
GoodsteinL. P. (1981). Discriminative display support for process operators. In RasmussenJ.RouseW. B. (Eds.), Human detection and diagnosis of system failures (pp. 433–449). New York: Plenum.
6.
MorayN. P.HueyB. M. (1988). Human factors research and nuclear safety.Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
7.
RasmussenJ. (1987). Human error mechanisms in complex work environments (Risø-M-2679). Roskilde, Denmark: Risø National Laboratory, Department of Information Technology.
8.
RasmussenJ. (1986). Information processing and human-machine interaction: An approach to cognitive engineering.New York: North Holland.
9.
RasmussenJ. (1974). The human data processor as a system component: Bits and pieces of a model (Risø-M-1722). Roskilde, Denmark: Danish Atomic Energy Commission.
10.
RasmussenJ.VicenteK. J. (1987). Cognitive control of human activities and errors: Implications for ecological interface design (Risø-M-2660). Roskilde, Denmark: Rise National Laboratory, Department of Information Technology.
11.
VicenteK. J. (1988). DURESS: A domain for cognitive engineering research. Unpublished manuscript.
12.
VicenteK. J.RasmussenJ. (1988). A theoretical framework for ecological interface design (Risø Technical Report in preparation). Roskilde, Denmark: Risø National Laboratory, Department of Information Technology.
