Cornell University Ergonomics Web
DEA 3250/6510 CLASS NOTES
INFORMATION DISPLAYS
Display Function
To give accurate and unambiguous info to the operator about the functional
condition of the system.
Display can provide:
- Need to know information - warning
- Nice to know info - advisory (e.g. fuel indicator gas gauge in car)
- Historical info (e.g. odometer in car, forklift with dial that tells
how long in operation
- Anticipatory display look forward in time and makes a prediction (e.g.
cars that will anticipate when a collision will occur; lunar Rover for
the moon; collision avoidance for air traffic control)
Basic Functional Requirements of a Display
- Speed
- how quickly does the display respond?
- how quickly does the user respond?
- Accuracy - avoid errors and ambiguity
- Sensitivity - ability to detect changes in the variable being displayed
at a relevant magnitude
Human Functional Requirements
- Detection - The user must be able to detect either the presence of
the display or a change in the display (e.g. excellent signage graphics
that are poorly visible but the lighting is so bad)
- Recognition - the user has to be able to extract information from the
display. Often an issue of:
- figure/ground contrast (e.g. printing a brochure in red on a gray background
make it very difficult for older people to read it).
- display design details
- ambient setting (kind of illumination)
- Understanding
- words - target appropriate language/languages; don't create ambiguity
- symbols - unambiguous, detectable, and recognizable
STATIC DISPLAYS
Static displays are displays where the underlying variable does not going
to change with time.
Static displays include road signs, symbols, instructions etc.
Typically, static display design use the following conventions:
- Prohibited - red "prohibited" circle symbol , usually with
a red line from top left to bottom right. Also red has to be 35% of sign
area , and background has to be white
- Warning signs and danger signs - triangle (yellow or orange background)
has to be minimum 50% of sign area. Outline must be black.
- Mandatory action (you must do something) - filled circle with a blue
background and usually a white figure or symbol on this.
- Safe - square green background and must be at least 50% sign area.
- Emergency shut down requirements: · symbol had to be black
- Road warning, hazard area - black angled stripes on either a yellow
or orange background.
In addition to how well the sign is designed, where sign is located is
also critical for visibility (e.g. a sign may fade in strong sunlight or
be hidden by bushes and trees).
Signs containing text should also be written in appropriate languages.
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