Four Generations of Artificial Environments (AEs)

1. Four Generations of Artificial Environments (AEs) Where we have been, where we are, and where we are going

2. First Generation Unidirectional Communication-Information moves from the machine to the person but not the person to the machine. Perform the actions necessary to accomplish the objective via automated or manual control.

3. Second Generation Bidirectional Communication-Information moves from the machine to the person and from the person to the machine. Perform the actions necessary to accomplish the objective via automated or manual control.

4. Third Generation Virtual Reality-Information moves from the machine to the person and from the person to the machine. Ideally, the synthetic environment is indistinguishable from the actual environment. Perform the actions necessary to accomplish the objective via automated or manual control.

5. Fourth Generation Life Simulation-The synthetic and actual environments are indistinguishable and the person does not know whether they are in an actual or synthetic world. Perform the actions necessary to accomplish the objective via automated or manual control.

6. Automation Usage Decisions (AUDs) AUDs: Choices in which a human operator has the option of using manual control or one or more levels of automation (LOAs) to perform a task.

7. Some AUDs Are Commonplace Checkbooks may be balanced with a calculator or by mental computation Automobiles can be set to cruise control or the driver may operate the accelerator pedal Stock purchases may be based on the output of software programs or investors may depend upon their subjective assessment of the market

8. Some AUDs Have Historic Consequences Casey Jones Pearl Harbor Three Mile Island Perform the actions necessary to accomplish the objective via automated or manual control.

9. Some AUDs Have Historic Consequences USS Greenville 2000 Election Perform the actions necessary to accomplish the objective via automated or manual control.

10. Types of Automation Static: Level of automation is set a the design stage Adaptive: Level of automation varies depending upon the situation

11. Optimal And Suboptimal AUDs If it is assumed that the objective is to perform a task, the optimal AUD is to employ the level of control, manual through full automation, that maximizes the likelihood of a successful outcome. A suboptimal AUD is a choice to use a level of control that does not maximize the likelihood of successfully performing a task.

12. Types of Suboptimal AUDs Misuse is over reliance, employing automation when manual control or a relatively low LOA has a greater likelihood of success Disuse is the under utilization of automation, manually performing a task that could best be done by a machine or a higher LOA. Perform the actions necessary to accomplish the objective via automated or manual control.

13. Errors Resulting in Misuse and/or Disuse Recognition Errors-Operator fails to recognize that an alternative, either automated or manual, is available. Appraisal Errors-Operator inaccurately estimates the utilities of the options. Intent Errors (also called action errors)-Operator knowingly selects the alternative that does not maximize the likelihood of task success. Perform the actions necessary to accomplish the objective via automated or manual control.

14. Two Images of an Operator An operator is a single minded individual whose sole object is to maximize task performance An operator‘s decision to rely on automation is based on a number of contingencies only one of which is to achieve a successful performance. Perform the actions necessary to accomplish the objective via automated or manual control.