Human Interactions in Man-Machine Systems

Abstract

Human interactions play a vital role in the reliability of man-machine systems. Techniques art necessary to insure that those which occur do so because they are so designed and planned. A tentative approach to providing lists of such interactions, and ways of defining, labelling and measuring them are suggested as basic to design input. Methods for isolating units of interactive behavior are proposed and samples of system behavior and their respective activities described in terms of actions and reactions. The need for definition and labelling of activities couched in operational terms is emphasized in the interest of design, training and measurement of human interactions in man-machine systems. Techniques for accomplishing these steps are suggested.