Dissertation Defense: Marc Le Pape, "Human-computer interaction in extreme environments: Interaction effects between field dependency-independency and altered +/-Gz accelerations on end-user performance" (1/29/2009)

ABSTRACT: Failure to address extreme environments constraints at the human-computer interaction level may lead to the commission of critical and potentially fatal errors. This dissertation addresses gaps in our current theoretical understanding of the combined impact of an extreme environment stressor and perceptual style on task performance in human-computer interaction. The experimental study investigates the effects of altered ±Gz accelerations and field dependency-independency on human performance in the completion of perceptual-motor tasks on a personal digital assistant (PDA). Results of a controlled experiment conducted in an aerobatic aircraft under multiple +/-Gz conditions, show that perceptual style significantly impacts latency and accuracy in target acquisition for perceptual-motor tasks in altered +/-Gz environments and propose design guidelines as countermeasures. Based on the results, the argument is made that developing design requirements taking into account individual cognitive differences in extreme environments will help users execute perceptual-motor tasks efficiently without unnecessarily increasing cognitive load and the probability of critical errors.