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From: lishka@uwslh.slh.wisc.edu (a.k.a. Chri)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: Human Factors and VR
Message-ID: <1991Apr5.184932.11888@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 5 Apr 91 15:40:32 GMT
References: <1991Apr2.223640.26210@milton.u.washington.edu>
Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu (Human Int. Technology Lab)
Organization: Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene
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pat@jupiter.risc.rockwell.com (Pete Tinker) writes:

>I think that human factors concerns are *the* most important aspect of our
>work.
>[...]
>This work raises many questions about the effective use of the (potentially
>limitless) display area (volume) of virtual space, and about how it can 
>benefit users in critical situations.

This sounds really interesting!  Human factors are too often ignored
or poorly implemented (my stereo system is a good example), although
this seems to be changing.

>3-D helmet-mounted cockpit display
>systems have received a lot of attention and much is known about pilot
>perceptions in that environment, but that doesn't necessarily translate to,
>say, factory floor monitoring systems.  I think the key difference is that
>cockpit displays are intended to augment and magnify perceptions about the
>physical world, while other information systems deal with information that
>doesn't have a physical analog; their requirements are very different.
>[...]
>A big issue for me, then, is how we can capitalize on the practical potential
>benefits of virtual space without hindering the information flow to a user at
>the same time.  VR *can* be used in many applications, but there are few (IMHO)
>for which it's clearly better than more conventional approaches.  

Well, here's an off-the-wall idea for an application.  In the case of
the "factory floor monitoring systems" example you briefly mentioned
above, I think VW/VR systems could be used in an effective way.  One
thing that (I believe) usually isn't apparent about computer programs
(especially those that manipulate complex machinery) is what the
computer "sees" as the actual machine.  Sometimes this is quite
different from what we (as the users) see as the actual machine.  VR
could be used to display a 3-d representation of the machine as the
*computer* sees it.

A quick example: let's say we have some large industrial machine that
is very complex, and is used for a lot of assembly line work (e.g. a
robotic arm).  What the user sees is a large, complex machine with
many moving parts, being controlled by a computer.  In addition, the
user (as a person) is able to examine the machine and see how the
various physical pieces work together, and then analyze possible
problems.  What the computer "sees" of the machine might be quite
different: it may simply see some data-gathering devices that provide
the computer with the "state" of the machine, along with with control
devices to change the machine's state.  A VR representation of the
machine (as the computer sees it) could let an operator "see" what the
computer does.  In addition, a VR representation of the "real" machine
(possibly a simple super-imposed real-time graphic picture from a
camera) could also be included in the VR to allow the operator to
correlate between the computer's representation and the real machine.
This might be helpful in safety-critical environments, where the
computer is not able to react to some unusual event because it does
not have the necessary sensory devices. 
 
[I will apologize in advance for "anthropomorphizing" the computer.
Some may argue that computers don't actually "see", but in the above
context I think it is warranted and clear.]

>Placing
>someone in a virtual environment is fun for a while, but if it doesn't help do
>the job it won't gain much acceptance.  That's where human factors research
>comes in.

Great point.  This seems to me to be along the line of Don Norman's
_The_Design_Of_Everyday_Things_ (a great book, in my humble opinion).
Design for the user!

-- 
Christopher Lishka 608-262-4485     It is not safe out here.  It is wonderous,
Wisconsin State Lab. of Hygiene     with treasures to satiate desires both
   lishka@uwslh.slh.wisc.edu        subtle and gross.  But it is not for the
   uunet!uwvax!uwslh!lishka         timid. -- Q