Human performance index – a generic performance indicator

Abstract

Human skill evaluation or human skill quantification in the original definition of a human adaptive mechatronics system is the main concern of this paper. However, a deficiency in terms of consistency and subjectivity makes human skill not fully indicative of actual human performance. That is, the term human skill can mean repeatability, adaptability, or learning capability depending on the aspects and systems of interest. This paper proposes a human performance index (HPI) concept to focus on human performance instead. The main contributions are the quantification of speed-accuracy characteristics based on Fitts' classical speed-accuracy trade-off and the determination of human control strategy involved in completing a task. The experiment in this paper was conducted on a computer-based simple tracking system by using a computer mouse to follow a set of random circles on a display. Human operators were told to complete the task as quickly as possible. HPI values were then calculated with and without weightings on speed and accuracy criteria. Different human performance values reflect how human operators accomplish the same task under the same working conditions. These control strategies are associated with a degree of emphasis on the speed and accuracy characteristics of the operators' control actions.

A New Method for Tracking of Motor Skill Learning Through Practical Application of Fitts’ Law

“…Skill in any given task is both demonstrated and improved by practice (Yarrow et al, 2009). Whereas performance is concerned with the quality of the execution of a physical activity, skill is defined by the capability to achieve a goal with speed and reliability of precision (Parthornratt, Parkin, & Jackson, 2011; Reis et al, 2009). We therefore defined practical motor skill in the following terms: the ability to achieve a practical goal with spatial success over a limited quantity of time.…”

Real time virtual simulation of an underactuated pendulum-driven capsule system

“…A generic performance evaluation framework, human performance index (HPI), is proposed in [11]. The framework consists of two layers of evaluation.…”

Skill Evaluation in Point-to-Point Human-Machine Operation

“…Hence, it is communally accepted in the literature that performance is reliant on the quality of the output, whereas skill is more specific to the method of realization. Mobile machine skill metrics have been recently proposed [5,6,10,17] consisting of efficiency, sequence complexity, planning and difficulty. Human skills can be achieved trough the process of learning, increasing human performance.…”