An Investigation into Software Structures for Man/Machine Interactions

摘要

The current trend in command and control/information systems within the Navy, toward greater use of interactive capabilities, has the effect of bringing the true 'user'--the decision-maker--into direct contact with the system, rather than using a programmer as an intermediary. It is therefore necessary that the system designer orient the man/machine communication less toward his own programming community and more toward a user whose familiarity with computer devices and terminology is somewhat less than his own. For a clear view of the typical user and the functions he and the system perform, a survey of recent Navy systems is described. A review of the literature in information systems to determine the availability of information useful to the system designer in interactive software performance is presented. Finally, a research program to derive the needed information is proposed. (Author)