Designing Software to Reduce Operator Error

大量的事故一直被归咎于操作人员的失误。虽然自动化消除了许多类型的操作错误，但它也导致了新的操作错误类型。许多这些新错误是人为因素专家所称的以技术为中心的自动化的结果，在这种自动化中，设计师将大部分注意力集中在从软件输入到输出的映射上，集中在所需功能的数学模型上，集中在计算机内部的技术细节和问题上。通常很少关注软件的设计和评估，即它是否提供透明和一致的行为，以支持操作人员的监测和控制任务。人为因素专家试图通过改变自动化的人机界面、改变操作员培训或设计新的操作程序来消除由糟糕的软件设计导致的人为错误，来克服他们所谓的笨拙的自动化。这些努力只取得了有限的成功。一些人为因素研究人员得出结论，培训不能也不应该成为解决糟糕设计的办法，并呼吁更多以人为本的自动化。如果我们能够识别导致人为错误的软件设计特征，那么我们应该能够以这样一种方式设计软件，即在不牺牲引入计算机的目标的情况下减少错误，例如提高生产力和效率。在PI先前初步工作的基础上，本研究的目标是识别可能导致人为操作错误的有问题的软件行为（设计特征），定义用于分析这些特征的正式软件规范的算法，并创建新的以人为中心的软件设计实践，从而减少操作错误和更安全的系统。更广泛的影响：大多数研究人员在人机交互集中在人与计算机之间的界面设计。然而，软件设计正开始在事故中发挥重要作用，因为它混淆了操作人员，并导致了新型的人为错误。目前对软件设计和操作失误之间的关系所知甚少。在软件设计科学中开发这一研究相对不足的领域的潜在好处在挽救生命和财产方面是显而易见的。此外，学生将有机会在跨学科领域工作和学习，这需要计算机科学、心理学和人为因素的知识。这项研究的结果将广泛传播，并纳入本科和研究生课程。

A large number of accidents have always been attributed to operator error. While automation has eliminated many types of operator error, it has also resulted in new types of operator error. Many of these new errors are the result of what human factors experts have labeled technology-centered automation, where designers focus most of their attention on the mapping from software inputs to outputs, on mathematical models of required functionality, and on the technical details and problems internal to the computer. Little attention is usually given to designing and evaluating software with respect to whether it provides transparent and consistent behavior that supports operators in their monitoring and control tasks. Human factors experts have tried to overcome what they call clumsy automation by changing the human interface to the automation, by changing operator training, or by designing new operational procedures to eliminate the human errors resulting from poor software design. These efforts have had only limited success. Some human factors researchers have concluded that training cannot and should not be the fix for bad design, and have called for more human-centered automation. If we can identify software design features that lead to human error, then we should be able to design software in such a way that errors are reduced without sacrificing the goals for which computers are being introduced, such as increased productivity and efficiency. Building on previous preliminary work by the PI, the goal of this research is to identify problematic software behavior (design features) that can lead to human operator error, to define algorithms for analyzing formal software specifications for these features, and to create new human-centered software design practices that will lead to reduced operator errors and safer systems. Broader Impacts: Most researchers in human-computer interaction have focused on the design of the interface between the human and the computer. Software design, however, is starting to play an important role in accidents by confusing human operators and contributing to new types of human error. Very little is currently known about the relationship between software design and operator error. The potential benefits of developing this relatively under-researched area in the science of software design are obvious in terms of saving lives and property. In addition, students will get the opportunity to work in and learn about an interdisciplinary field that requires knowledge from both computer science and from psychology and human factors. The results of this research will be disseminated widely and incorporated into both undergraduate and graduate classes.