Title

Effect Of Audio-Visual Alerts On Situation Awareness And Workload In A Net-Centric Warfare Scenario

Abstract

The goal of net-centric warfare (NCW) is to give soldiers an information advantage that leads to a warfighting advantage. However, the inherent nature of NCW systems is often quite complex and dynamic, which leads to impaired situation awareness (SA) and heightened levels of mental workload for the human operator. The following study investigated the moderating effects of automated audio-visual alerts on user SA and perceived workload while using a net-centric warfare system. Twenty-six participants observed battlefield scenarios on a simulation of the common NCW system, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), and were required to pay attention and remember critical events (e.g., the appearance of an enemy unit). The system was presented with or without an automated alerting aid that provided combined auditory and visual alerts when certain critical events occurred (i.e., System to Help Implement and Empower Leader Decisions; SHIELD). Results revealed that contrary to current assumptions the use of an automated alerting aid did not impact user SA; however, perceived workload was significantly lower with the addition of the alerting aid. This work demonstrates that the automated alerts used in this NCW experiment do not affect SA (either positively or negatively) and decreased perceived workload.

Publication Date

12-1-2007

Publication Title

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Volume

3

Number of Pages

1205-1209

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

58149516314 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/58149516314

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