Command and Control on the Move: Assessing the Impact of Input Device, Button Size, and Road Condition

Abstract

Digital command and control systems have contributed to the success of the U. S. military in combat in recent years. Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) and Blue Force Tracker are examples of systems that have provided an advantage on the battlefield. However, interface design of these systems has not been optimal, especially when they are employed in high stress and mobile environments. The present study examined the effects of input device (touch screen or trackball), button size (small, medium, large), and road conditions (still, highway, off-road) on performance. The dependent variables were accuracy, reaction time, and motion sickness. The experimenters tested seven undergraduate freshmen from the U.S. Military Academy. The data show that a touch screen monitor with large button size is optimal for moving vehicles. These findings have important implications for the design of human-machine systems expected to operate on the move.