Comment From the Editor-in-Chief

Abstract

The April edition of Ergonomics in Design examines the integration of visual, tactile, and/or auditory inputs to optimize designs for human use. Historically, more researchers have published on vision compared with other sensory modalities. This is unsurprising given that in the study of human factors, as in our daily lived experience, the visual modality tends to dominate spatial perception. The first article, by Lukman et al., examines this important modality vis-à-vis accessibility design standards for the visually impaired in the built environment. In this article, the authors considered whether the level of luminance contrast suggested in the Australian design standards was adequate for the participants, who were classified as either low vision or blind, when accessing public spaces. Using tactile ground surface indicators, especially the discrete type, on a variety of colored floor panels, the authors examined the level of contrast required to allow adequate warning of any upcoming danger in participants’ traveling path. The authors found that the minimum luminance contrast value (i.e., 30%) suggested within the current Australian accessibility standards is adequate for a majority of participants in detecting the discrete indicators from relatively safe distances on the travel path. However, participants preferred a contrast reserve, expressed as a ratio, that they could detect comfortably without having to realize the presence of tactile ground surface indicators at the limits of their contrast sensitivity. The authors further reported that higher the luminance contrast, greater the distance from which the participants could detect warning elements visually. Although the authors only reported the influence of discrete indicators and compared their findings with other published studies, their experimental findings are useful for human factors and ergonomics designers and architectural engineers in designing safe, optimal access to public spaces for the visually impaired. Furthermore, according to the design guidelines for the visual environment from the National Institute of Building Sciences (2015), “Illuminance is today’s standard design method, while luminance is tomorrow’s” (p. 14). Although modeling luminance-based design is complex due to factors such as viewer location, viewing angles, and floor surface characteristics, the authors were able to provide valuable insights into the “luminance” factor for the visually impaired in a laboratory “built environment” setting. In a similar vein, Katzman and Oron-Gilad’s article evaluates the integration of a tactile system with auditory communications in military environments. The authors took an off-the-shelf tactile display system and integrated it with the communication system in armored fighting vehicles to test its effectiveness for communication during an infantry training course. Team communication is critical for operating such vehicles because of the driver’s limited visual field and the need to manage vehicle stability in different terrain conditions and under extreme situations. Maintaining smooth communication with the vehicle commander throughout the task is paramount to personnel safety and success of the mission. This two-phase experiment was conducted on soldiers, including drivers, vehicle commanders, and driving instructors. First, experimenters conducted a feasibility study while operating the armored fighting vehicle in an open terrain. The study incorporated different driving scenarios, including auditory-only, auditory–tactile, and tactile-only conditions. Second, researchers designed a dismounted simulation to study the usability of the integrated system consisting of auditory and tactile communications. This study utilized a subjective questionnaire incorporating a system usability scale and Likert-type scales. Results showed that irrespective of the extreme vehicle vibrations that drivers experience while operating the armored fighting vehicles, participants successfully perceived the tactile cues from the off-the-shelf display system. The study provides evidence in support of applying ergonomics and usability principles in combat operations. Factors such as proper placement of the tactile display can lead to more efficient tactile alerts, thereby lessening the mental workload experienced by drivers of armored vehicles, especially in extreme environments. As noted by the authors, tactile interfaces for communications in the military setting are still in their infancy. However, this article shows the promise of incorporating tactile communication in such specialized environments. Both articles in this issue highlight the role of human factors and ergonomics professionals in better understanding and incorporating different sensory modalities for more efficient user–product interactions. Similarly, the classic, thought-provoking article titled “On the Design of Time” (Hancock, 2018) invites us to extend design opportunities beyond space and into the realm of time. In the current issue, Dr. Tom Sheridan, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has observed that more human factors and ergonomics professionals approach “design” “with respect to space” than “with respect to time.” While commending Dr. Hancock’s views, Sheridan emphasizes three kinds of temporal relationships that a designer must also pay attention to: (1) ordering a temporal sequence of discrete human tasks/ subtasks; (2) allocating human temporal attention among different tasks, which themselves may or may not be changing with time; and (3) continuous manipulation of a dynamic process. Of course, our current issue would not be complete without the response from Dr. Hancock, in which he agrees with Dr. Sheridan, arguing for more research on designing in the experiential mode of time. In the past year, many senior and associate board members have either retired or graciously stepped aside to allow new members to participate on the editorial team. I want to thank them for their generous service, and at the same time, I am looking forward to working with the new editorial members. More important, I am urging our academic readers to submit their students’ papers this year so that their design work can be selected for an annual student award sponsored by Dr. Brian Peacock. Please see hfes.org/news/ peacock for more information.