This article focuses on the attitudes of community-dwelling elderly persons toward the use of electronic memory aids. Questionnaire data from 100 elderly volunteers indicate that more than one half were interested in an electronic memory device for at least one purpose. Those who said that they would use the device had higher levels of education, used more household electronic devices, were more likely to have someone available to help them use a device, and had more health problems than those who preferred to not use it. Most would use a memory aid to monitor medications and remember appointments, followed by remembering addresses and phone numbers. The expected use, design, preferred methods of instruction, and concerns about the device varied. Study results suggest the need to develop devices with different degrees of flexibility and complexity. Future studies should evaluate training methods to use such technology.

The High Definition Systems Usability Test Tool (HUTT) was developed to demonstrate and assess different human-computer interface (HCI) concepts for generic operator console positions within an advanced naval tactical display environment. To facilitate a “rapid prototyping” approach to interface development, HUTT was developed as a general purpose tool. The HUTT can be used by the human factors engineer as a rapid prototyping tool enabling quick construction and evaluation of alternative interface concepts. Changes to the organization and operation of a prototype can be made quickly, ensuring that more time can be spent on evaluation as compared to development. The demonstration will focus on the uses and operation of the HUTT. Demonstration participants will be shown how to develop, install and modify the OSF/Motif compliant graphics (pull-down menu structure and window contents) and the functionality of the HUTT to reflect changes in interface concepts.

CRT displays aboard U.S. Navy ships use a standardized monochrome Naval Tactical Data System (NTDS) symbol set to represent properties of symbols such as platform type (e.g. Aircraft Carrier, Combat Air), environment (e.g. air, surface, subsurface), and identification (e.g. hostile, friendly). A color symbol set has been proposed in NATO Standardization Agreement 4420, Display Symbology and Colours for NATO Maritime Units (1990). The U.S. Navy is currently considering ratification of this Standardization Agreement (STANAG). Empirical comparisons of operator performance using the NTDS symbology versus those using the color-filled NATO STANAG symbology were conducted. Two additional experimental symbologies were also created. The first, called NTDS Equated, is a color version of the NTDS symbol set, and the second experimental symbol set, called NATO Outline, is a color outline version of the color filled NATO STANAG symbol set. Test subjects were asked to find (hook) specific symbols during a tactically relevant scenario. Time to the first correct hook and percentage of correct hooks were subjected to analyses of variance (ANOVA). Experimental results revealed that the NATO STANAG symbol set outperformed all other symbol sets in terms of symbol recognition time, and outperformed the NTDS Standard symbol set for symbol recognition accuracy as well. The results indicated that tactical information can be transferred more quickly and accurately to watch standers through effective use of symbol coding. Test subjects familiar with the NTDS symbology expressed a preference for the color symbol sets in opinion surveys administered after the experiment. General conclusions resulting from comparisons across symbol sets were that color fill was more effective than color outline, and that operator performance gains were achieved as a result of color coding and greater information content on the symbol. This paper presents the human performance assessment that was conducted, the results, and the implications of the findings for ratification of NATO STANAG 4420.

The 21st century Navy combatant ship will experience exponential increases in shipboard information to be processed, disseminated and integrated. High Definition System (HDS) technology will provide for the convergence of text, graphics, digital video, imagery, and complex computing to allow for a new range of advanced capabilities that exceed those of currently available workstations. These capabilities could result in unmanageable and overwhelming cognitive workloads for Navy tactical operators in CIC (Combat Information Center). For this reason, a prototype user interface was designed using future combat system requirements, proposed HDS capabilities, and human-computer interface design standards and principles. Usability testing of the protoype user interface was conducted as part of an effort to identify integrated information management technologies which reduce operator workload, increase human performance, and improve combat system effectiveness. This demonstration will focus on explanation and demonstration of future concepts envisioned for the AEGIS operational environment; organization and functionality of the menu structures and window contents; the usability testing methods utilized; results from usability testing; and plans for utilization of the prototype shell in other operational environments.

This study was conducted to develop a design concept for an electronic memory device to enhance medication compliance in older users. The effort was supported by a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). A user-oriented approach was used to develop a design concept for a memory device for older users. One hundred seniors were interviewed to identify their physical, physiological and cognitive capabilities and limitations, as well as their preferences for memory aid functions. Specific design requirements were gathered from user testing of six currently available memory aids with 30 of the original 100 elderly subjects. The interview and user testing results were consolidated to provide the basis for tradeoff criteria for memory aid interface concepts, and for the development specifications for an optimal interface design for a memory aid designed specifically for the elderly user. A design concept was developed for a medication device that would be easy to use, would reduce the likelihood of scheduling errors, and would be non-threatening to older users who might otherwise be intimidated by an electronic device. The Phase I effort focused on enhancing medication compliance, which is a priority issue with the senior population.