Abstract
This paper describes the process involved in the development of a reaction time test bench for the Computer Aided Systems Human Engineering (CASHE) program, which is based on a strategy for converting human factors information into simulation software, using a test bench metaphor. The metaphor takes its strength from the familiarity systems designers have with test benches and breadboarding facilities currently at their disposal. The purpose of this paper is to provide a description of this software development activity, illustrate the procedure we followed, specify the decision points we encountered, and relate our lessons learned. Our goal was to convey functional specification information to the software developers in a parsimonious, unambiguous, structured manner to facilitate the development of both the software and the user interface, while complying with hardware system constraints. Development of the Reaction Time (RT) Test Benches involved the following tasks: collect and digest the Engineering Data Compendium entries; analyze the variables; determine the scope of the relevant variables to be tested; select the test bench phenomena to be demonstrated; and develop each of the deliverables. These deliverables included the variable range tables, initial variable settings, the control flow and storyboard graphics. We believe that this task is typical of the input human factors specialists can provide to designers in a variety of contexts and hence generalizes beyond this specific application.
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