This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Zupanc, C. M. Articles by Wallis, G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Zupanc, C. M. Articles by Wallis, G. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Performance Consequences of Alternating Directional Control-Response Compatibility: Evidence From a Coal Mine Shuttle Car Simulator

The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia, czupanc{at}hms.uq.edu.au

Robin J. Burgess-Limerick

The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia

Guy Wallis

The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia

Objective: To investigate error and reaction time consequences of alternating compatible and incompatible steering arrangements during a simulated obstacle avoidance task. Background: Underground coal mine shuttle cars provide an example of a vehicle in which operators are required to alternate between compatible and incompatible steering configurations. Methods: This experiment examines the performance of 48 novice participants in a virtual analogy of an underground coal mine shuttle car. Participants were randomly assigned to a compatible condition, an incompatible condition, an alternating condition in which compatibility alternated within and between hands, or an alternating condition in which compatibility alternated between hands. Results: Participants made fewer steering direction errors and made correct steering responses more quickly in the compatible condition. Error rate decreased over time in the incompatible condition. A compatibility effect for both errors and reaction time was also found when the control-response relationship alternated; however, performance improvements over time were not consistent. Isolating compatibility to a hand resulted in reduced error rate and faster reaction time than when compatibility alternated within and between hands. Conclusion: The consequences of alternating control-response relationships are higher error rates and slower responses, at least in the early stages of learning. Application: This research highlights the importance of ensuring consistently compatible human-machine directional control-response relationships.

Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Vol. 49, No. 4, 628-636 (2007)
DOI: 10.1518/001872007X215700


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?