Teaming with Technology at the TSA: Practical Methods for Enhancing Human Performance with Automation in Operational Environments

Abstract

Automated systems are not only commonplace but often are a necessity to complete highly specialized tasks across many operational environments. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) aims to enhance human performance and increase safety through the acquisition and implementation of various types of automated systems. The Human Performance Branch (HPB) at TSA supports this aim through research on human factors that influence interactions with automation. Knowledge gained from HPB efforts informs TSA of the automated systems that will best suit worker needs, how to integrate these systems into the general workflow, and the relevant human factors that will support proper system use and, ultimately, enhance human performance. This discussion panel reviews a theoretical framework the TSA can use to guide assessment of multiple drivers of human performance in a consistent and standardized fashion as well as several TSA projects investigating three categories of human factors known to influence performance with automation – human (i.e., individual differences, cognitive constraints), context (e.g., organizational influence, environment), and system characteristics (e.g., type of automation) – and how those factors can be accounted for in the operational environment.