| Embedded control systems, such as digital watches, pagers, VCRs, and aircraft control systems, provide intelligent behavior in devices that are part of the infrastructure of modern life. These devices, realized by software running on a micro-controller embedded in the physical device, perform repetitive tasks, optimization tasks, and tasks formerly performed by operators.;Researchers have reported that operators of complex embedded control systems frequently ask "what is it doing now?", "why is it doing that?", and "what's it going to do next?" This phenomenon, labeled as an "automation surprise," occurs when the operator's expectation of the behavior of the automation is different than the actual behavior of the automation. In response to this confusion, operators increase their workload dramatically by turning the automation off or by using the automation inappropriately.;This dissertation proves the hypothesis that operators of an embedded control system with displays based on the intent, situation, and actions of the embedded control system, exhibit significantly better situational awareness than operators with displays based on outputs. An experiment was conducted using the embedded control system in a commercial aircraft cockpit. The design of cockpit displays based on the intent/situation/action representation of the embedded control system yielded improved pilot situational awareness (p = 0.01). |
