Human performance in a multiple-task environment: Effects of automation reliability on visual attention allocation

Ralph H. Cullen, Wendy A. Rogers, Arthur D. Fisk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Diagnostic automation has been posited to alleviate the high demands of multiple-task environments; however, mixed effects have been found pertaining to performance aid success. To better understand these effects, attention allocation must be studied directly. We developed a multiple-task environment to study the effects of automation on visual attention. Participants interacted with a system providing varying levels of automation and automation reliability and then were transferred to a system with no support. Attention allocation was measured by tracking the number of times each task was viewed. We found that participants receiving automation allocated their time according to the task frequency and that tasks that benefited most from automation were most harmed when it was removed. The results suggest that the degree to which automation affects multiple-task performance is dependent on the relative attributes of the tasks involved. Moreover, there is an inverse relationship between support and cost when automation fails.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)962-968
Number of pages7
JournalApplied Ergonomics
Volume44
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Attention allocation
  • Automation reliability
  • Multiple-task environment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Human Factors and Ergonomics
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)

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