[R U X] Corner
................................................................................ We are graduate and undergraduate students in the Research in User eXperience (RUX) Lab in the Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology. RUX investigates the usability and user experience of technology in our everyday world. This is a regular column that explores different technologies typically used by Embry-Riddle students. ................................................................................
Life as an ATC: Attention, Task-Switching, Concentration Aaron Collard, Kelly Harris, Emily Rickel, Katlyn Skilton RUX Researchers Recently, the RUX Lab gained insight into what is recognized as one of the most stressful occupations: Air Traffic Controllers (ATC). To learn more about the responsibilities of ATCs, we observed and interviewed an ATC student as they monitored aircraft and prevented collisions during simulated scenarios in ERAU’s En Route Lab. The data we collected was then used to perform a task analysis. Task analyses are useful in analyzing complex activities by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Each step of the process can then be examined from a variety of perspectives (for example, task complexity, the time required to complete the task, data inputted and outputted, decisions required, likely/typical errors) in order to better understand how users interact with a system. ATC Responsibilities (and How They Juggle Them) Within the En Route Lab, teams of 3 students work together to complete scenarios that aim to promote students’ communication and aircraft handling skills. The three different roles for the team are Radar Controller, Associate, and Pseudo Pilot. The tasks that we have analyzed revolve around the Radar Controller. The purpose of these tasks is to monitor aircraft and to avoid collisions among aircraft. The lab environment surrounding the Radar Controller is dimly lit to allow for viewing information on the control screens. The many screens that the controller looks at are the weather display, which is located up and to the right of the controller, the radar, which is directly in front of the controller, the map of the flight area located above the rest of the screens, and the frequency touchpad, which is below the radar and to the left. Page 14
Photo Courtesy / Aaron Collard
Standard Enroute radar position setup with identifying labels.
The controller sits in front of a keyboard and a trackball mouse. The controller uses a headset which may be activated either by a foot pedal or a handheld button. To the right of the operator are a row of flight strips and a Flight data display. ATCs can be controlling anywhere between one and 20 plus airplanes at the same time. This leads to controllers having to constantly multi-task to ensure the safety of the aircrafts. They are constantly accepting and handing off aircraft while also monitoring and adjusting other aircraft. They must consistently switch from task to task. Many times, controllers will have to switch their focus to another monitor to get more details about an aircraft. Anytime a change is made to an aircraft, the controller will need to simultaneously type an entry into the computer and relay the information to the pilot over the radios. ATCs are constantly switching from task to task and dividing their attention to complete each task. This can lead to unconscious errors being made.