The benefits of applying ergonomics to automated systems

摘要

In order to react effectively to events occurring during the control of industrial processes, operators need a continuous display of the overall system status. However, this often results in the operator being overloaded with data, or in theinformation displayed being so condensed as to be of little use. Multi-dimensional displays present an image of the overall system, created according to ten fundamental ergonomic criteria. Two of the most important criteria are that the number ofhierarchical levels should be limited to three, and that images and icons should be used wherever possible. These multi-dimensional displays are only used to present various views of the process. They cannot be used to enter commands. Information relating to the results of operator actions is displayed, providing immediate feedback that the process is proceeding correctly.