Power

Abstract

Three b r i e f s t u d i e s w e r e conducted by t h e IBM Boca Raton Human F a c t o r s department t o i n v e s t i g a t e u s e r e x p e c t a t i o n s and p r e f e r e n c e s r e g a r d i n g power switches. I n t h e f i r s t s t u d y , 24 IBM employees w e r e surveyed by showing them a power supply w i t h a paddle s w i t c h i n f r o n t . The r e s u l t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t i f t h e power s w i t c h w a s mounted v e r t i c a l l y , 100% of t h e sample expected UP t o be ON. When t h e switch w a s mounted h o r i z o n t a l l y on t h e f r o n t , 25% o f t h e sample expected LEFT t o be ON, and t h e o t h e r 75% expected RIGHT t o be ON. Ninety IBM employees p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e second study. The purpose o f t h i s s t u d y was t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e way people e x p e c t a r o c k e r s w i t c h t o work when it i s l o c a t e d on t h e s i d e o f t h e machine. O v e r a l l , 46% o f t h e sample expected t h e s w i t c h AWAY from t h e o p e r a t o r t o b e ON, and 54% expected t h e s w i t c h TOWARD t h e o p e