Payoffs and Challenges of Human Systems Integration (HSI) Modeling and Simulations in a Virtual Environment

Abstract

To ensure that the human component is adequately addressed in system design, requirements for human performance, manning levels, training, and safety, the elements of human systems integration (HSI) must be considered early in the design process. HSI requirements are integrated through implementation of HSI modeling and simulation (M & S). Objectives of HSI M & S are to: (1) assess alternative concepts in terms of human performance, productivity, workload, and; (2) provide human performance inputs to system level simulation, and determine the impact of system design and organization on human performance and safety; (3) quantify relationships between human capabilities and system characteristics; and (4) visualize and quantify spatial relationships between humans and system elements. Payoffs of HSI M & S are the ability to: (1) acquire data on human performance, skills, and safety provisions in advance of system construction; (2) model human performance in system concept alternatives; (3) assess human performance as a function of human machine interface (HMI) design concepts; and (4) assess team performance as a function of HMI design, communications design, and collaborative problem solving. Challenges of HSI M & S in a virtual environment include problems associated with: (1) virtual interfaces (of the simulated system); (2) human perception and cognition in virtual environments; (3) virtual object manipulation; and (4) quality of data acquired during simulation.