Stress Effects of Human-Computer Interactions

摘要

Experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of human/computer interactions on indicators of stress. Men solved 50 database queries consecutively presented on a video display terminal (VDT). Each query required solution within 45 seconds of its initial presentation to avoid a reduction in potential earnings. A solution required the correct selection of three successive hypertext indices hierarchically structured from the query to the data answer. In a second study 16 men and 16 women solved 80 database queries under conditions of high or low work density. The results indicated that motivated time pressured work at a VDT will produce tonic elevations over a resting baseline in blood pressure, heart rate, and masseter electromyogram (EMG) activity in men and women who are experienced computer users. A relationship exists between the personality of the computer user and the magnitude of systolic blood pressure. Under conditions of 8 second constant and 8 second variable system response times (SRTs) in men, the constant and variable SRTs did not differentially affect physiological responses. Men and women showed higher systolic blood pressure during high density work than during low density work. Females showed reliably greater masseter EMG activity during high density work than during low density work.