POPCORN as a Tool for Future Cognitive Workload Assessment: A Conceptual Analysis

摘要

As weapon systems and their battlefield employment become increasingly complex,the understanding and assessment of the human operator becomes equally important. This project further developed a prototype cognitive workload assessment tool, POPCORN. Starting with a single laboratory, single computer model, a PC based tool that is more widely usable was developed. In its current form, POPCORN contains multiple independent and dependent variables that can be easily manipulated at numerous levels from familiarization and training levels to virtually impossible. Further, a conceptual analysis was written based upon the authors' experiences with POPCORN as well as comparison of the tool with literature in the area. Based upon this analysis, we conclude that POPCORN is capable of measuring a wide range of cognitive processes relevant to human management of complex systems.