Abstract
Two studies of train driving are presented, both within the framework of cognitive work analysis. In the first study, the modelling tool abstraction–decomposition space is adapted to routine conditions, making the analysis more representative for normal procedures. A major contribution to these analyses was the use of the method for ‘collegial verbalisation’. One particular advantage with this method over other verbalisation methods is that it supplies the analysts with data that contain much more information, but not at the expense of being more subjective. On the contrary, this method produces think-aloud protocols from video-recordings that do not have to be interpreted by the researcher. From these analyses, it was possible to distinguish information that is an intrinsic part of the train driver task from information that is dependent on the configuration and design of the current support system. The analyses show that the driver works in three rather separate time intervals with a long-range, a short-term and an immediate sense of perspective. The driver switches between these while travelling between two stations. Based on these behaviour-shaping constraints, a prototype of a planning area of a driver interface was developed, making feed-forward planning possible for the driver. Four design iterations were completed, using a user-centred system design (UCSD) approach. Early tests show that the planning area of the interface supports the feed-forward decision strategy used by drivers who prefer an active driving style. However, the driver group also made substantial changes in the design, indicating that UCSD is an efficient tool in order to capture user competencies, and to bridge the gap between analysis and design.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bainbridge L (1983) Ironies of automation. Automatica 19(6):775–779
Brehmer B (1992) Dynamic decision making: human control of complex systems. Acta Psychol 81:211–241
Brehmer B, Dörner D (1993) Experiments with computer-simulated microworlds: escaping both the narrow straits of the laboratory and the deep blue sea of the field study. Comput Hum Behav 9:171–184
CENELEC (2000) European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation, European Rail Traffic Management System, Driver Machine Interface, WGA9D, prEN 50XX6-1, October 2000, Central Secreteriat, rue de Stassart 36, B-1050 Brussels
Endsley M (1995) Toward a theory of situation awareness in dynamic systems. Hum Factors 37(4):32–64
Erlandsson M, Jansson A (2006) CVCV—an information acquisition and analysis method, applied on studies of vehicle operators' work. Behav Inform Technol 198–199 (in press)
Endsley MR, Garland DJ (eds) (1999) Situation awareness analysis and measurement. Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ
Glaser BG, Strauss AL (1967) The discovery of grounded theory: strategies for qualitative research. Aldine, Chicago, IL
Hammond KR (1993) Naturalistic decision making from a Brunswikian viewpoint: its past, present, future. In: Klein GA, Orasanu J, Calderwood R, Zsambok CE (eds) Decision making in action: models and methods. Ablex Publishing, Norwood, NJ
Hammond KR, Hamm RM, Grassia J, Pearson T (1987) Direct comparison of the efficacy of intuitive and analytical cognition in expert judgment. IEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern SMC 17(5):753–770
Jansson A, Olsson E, Kecklund L (2000) Att köra tåg: Lokförarens arbete ur ett systemperspektiv (The driving of a train: analysis of the train drivers work by use of a system perspective). Technical report 2000-031. Institutionen för informationsteknologi, Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala
Karasek R, Theorell T (1990) Healthy work: stress, productivity, and the reconstruction of working life. Basic Books, New York, NY
Kecklund L (2001) Final report on the TRAIN-project Risks and proposals for safety enhancing measures in the train driver system. Banverket, Borlänge
Klein GA (1989) Recognition-primed decisions. In: Rouse WB (ed) Advances in man–machine system research, vol 5. JAI Press, Greenwich, CT, pp 47–92
Klein GA (1993) A recognition-primed decision (RPD) model of rapid decision making. In: Klein GA, Orasanu J, Calderwood R, Zsambok CE (eds) Decision making in action: models and methods. Ablex Publishing, Norwood, NJ
Landauer TK (1995) The trouble with computers: usefulness, usability, and productivity. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Rasmussen J (1985) The role of hierarchical knowledge representation in decision making and system management. IEEE Trans Syst Man Cybern SMC 13:257–266
Rasmussen J (1986) Information processing and human–machine interaction: an approach to cognitive engineering. North-Holland, New York, NY
Rasmussen J, Vicente KJ (1989) Coping with human errors through system design: implications for ecological interface design. Int J Man–Machine Stud 31:517–534
Rasmussen J, Pejtersen AM, Goodstein LP (1994) Cognitive systems engineering. Wiley, New York, NY
Reason J (1990) Human error. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Stjernström R (2001) User-centred design of a train driver display. Technical report 2001-016. Institutionen för informationsteknologi, Uppsala Universitet, Uppsala
Vicente KJ (1999) Cognitive work analysis: toward safe, productive, and healthy computer-based work. Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jansson, A., Olsson, E. & Erlandsson, M. Bridging the gap between analysis and design: improving existing driver interfaces with tools from the framework of cognitive work analysis. Cogn Tech Work 8, 41–49 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-005-0018-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-005-0018-4