Abstract
When developing a complex system, it is often difficult to identify the human factors issues and requirement areas associated with the system. We have developed a systematic methodology to identify human factors issues and requirement areas based on an information flow model of the system, the form of which is determined by a taxonomy of automation. We have tested the methodology on an analysis of data link, which is a communications technology intended to replace much of the air-to-ground voice communications in commercial transport aircraft. Our analysis addresses such areas as what factors may contribute to errors and what the effects of those errors may be, Cockpit Resource Management (CRM) effects and requirements, pilot and air traffic controller situation awareness and workload, and the design of the Human-Computer Interface (HCI). The analysis has brought to light a number of potentially critical issues that have not yet been addressed in the data link literature. Although the analysis does not yield quantitative system design requirements, it does lead to extensive and detailed qualitative requirement areas that may then be used to drive a System Requirements Document and guide empirical research. It is also relatively simple and inexpensive to perform.
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