Accession Number:

AD0648553

Title:

SOME ASPECTS OF MAN-COMPUTER COMMUNICATION IN ACTIVE MONITORING OF AUTOMATED CHECKOUT,

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

RAND CORP SANTA MONICA CALIF

Personal Author(s):

• Chesler,Leonard
• Turn,Rein

Report Date:

1967-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

34.0

Abstract:

Requirements for active participation by test personnel in monitoring automated checkout operations arise whenever hazardous conditions exist, tight time schedules must be met, and costs of failure are high. Under these circumstances the goals of a human monitor could be to maintain context with the progress of the checkout operations and to detect and react to malfunctions in checkout equipment, incorrect design or execution of the checkout programs, and unexpected events that the latter have not been designed to handle. The human monitors effectiveness in performing these tasks depends directly on what information is available to him and how it is presented. Displays that use simple coding and formating to increase information extractability and that contain adequate anticipatory and alerting information may be essential for real-time interaction with automated checkout operations. As an example of extractable information presentation, a dynamic network display of checkout operations is discussed. Such a display permits a monitor to determine at a glance the status of the checkout process. The programming task for the display can be greatly eased by use of a digital computer equipped with graphic input devices. Author

Descriptors:

• *MAN MACHINE SYSTEMS
• *CHECKOUT PROCEDURES
• AUTOMATION
• PERFORMANCE(HUMAN)
• MONITORS
• REAL TIME
• DISPLAY SYSTEMS
• INFORMATION THEORY

Subject Categories:

• Cybernetics
• Guided Missile Trajectories, Accuracy and Ballistics
• Human Factors Engineering and Man Machine Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE