U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000


Skip to content
Facebook iconYouTube iconTwitter iconFlickr iconLinkedInInstagram

Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations

Report
This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information
Publication Number: FHWA-RD-95-176
Date: November 1996

Development of Human Factors Guidelines for Advanced Traveler Information Systems and Commercial Vehicle Operations: Task Analysis of ATIS/CVO Functions

 

CHAPTER 4. TASK ANALYSIS RESULTS

 

Analysis of Bridging Tasks

Tasks that serve as an information or procedural "bridge" between two or more functions are the second type of tasks analyzed. An understanding of such tasks is necessary because they bring together the various systems of ATIS into an integrated and functional whole.

Function of Bridging Tasks

Tasks that serve as a bridge between two or more functions provide the procedural link that integrates the output of one function with the input requirements of another. Bridge tasks include those that provide information from one function to another. They also include those that initiate or set up tasks in functions other than the ones found in the initial setup tasks. Examples of bridging tasks include:

  • A driver of an aid car modifies his route to an accident scene based on information received on route conditions. The IRANS provides guidance information for the new route and position, and routing information to the computer–aided dispatch system in the dispatcher's office (see appendix D, Scenario P12, Task 5.6.1).

  • A driver selects a motel from an IMSIS directory and, after obtaining a reservation, initiates route guidance to a restaurant using the IRANS (see appendix D, Scenario P6, Task 5.3.2.1).

Most bridging tasks are preceded by a decision task. The outcome of the decision task may be based on one of two basic conditions. The ATIS has provided the driver with a satisfactory destination or route as part of the planning function. For example, the system has been asked to plan a route from the present location to the nearest hardware store, and a route is suggested that the driver considers suitable. If either the environmental or other conditions surrounding the route have changed, the driver may initiate a change in ATIS functions. For instance, if a driver were preceding on a route to a restaurant and suddenly realized that she needed to get some money at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), she would initiate a change in functions to locate the nearest ATM along the proposed route.

In general, bridging tasks perform four different functions. These functions are summarized in table 18.

Table 18. Function and description of bridging tasks.

FUNCTION

DESCRIPTION

EXAMPLES

1. Provider of a link between planning and execution functions

This function applies mostly to IRANS and IMSIS. Following a successful completion of various planning actions, this function enables the system to start the execution of these plans.

  • Figure 15.
  • Appendix D, Scenarios P1 OSD, P2 OSD, P14 OSD, P16 OSD, and C4 OSD.

2. Initiation of coordination of destination requirements

Following a decision process, this function tells the system to initiate destination requirements that may include reservations at a restaurant or motel or, for example, warehouse loading dock activities.

This function will most likely be a secondary function of the ATIS.

  • Figure 16.
  • Appendix D, Scenarios P6 OSD, P16 OSD, and P20 OSD.

3. Initiation of functions as a consequence of a change in plans

This function is always the result of a decision process. This function directs the driver to the next set of actions to be performed. These new actions can occur within the same system or can be initiated by a different system.

  • Figure 17.
  • Appendix D, Scenarios P14 OSD, P16 OSD, and C12 OSD.

4. Execution of a function developed and accomplished by two different parts of a system

This function is the result of coordination between different parts of the ATIS system, one of which is usually external to the vehicle. The function usually involves some part of the infrastructure supporting the system.

  • Figure 18.
  • Appendix D, Scenarios C12 OSD and C13 OSD.

 

General Characteristics of Bridging Tasks

Of the 165 driver and dispatch–centered tasks examined in detail, approximately 18 percent involved actions that either shifted information from one system to another or from one function to another within a single system.

The most common ATIS bridging task is probably found in the link between planning functions and execution functions associated with IRANS and IMSIS (see figure 15). Such a task is likely to require little more than a single control action indicating acceptance of the system recommendations and simultaneous approval to begin the guidance phase of the trip. In some cases, such as when planning is done in advance of the trip, the bridging task might involve only indicating that the driver is prepared to begin the trip. Since the bridging task itself is relatively simple, there is no real reason that it could not be accomplished safely while the vehicle was moving under most conditions. The most often used ATIS bridging tasks (i.e., those that bridge planning and execution functions as well as planning and destination coordination functions) present few problems to adequate task performance. In the integrated system assumed by this analysis, performing such a task would be, for all practical purposes, a transparent activity in the operation of the system.

 

Bridging task between destination selection and route guidance.

 

A second potential use of ATIS bridging tasks is likely to be when coordinating destination requirements such as reservations at a restaurant, motel, or warehouse loading dock (see figure 16; also see appendix D, Scenarios P6 OSD, P16 OSD, and P20 OSD). Such coordination is likely to be a secondary function of the ATIS and one not likely to involve the driver beyond indicating that reservations are desired and acknowledging that they have been made. This type of task could be accomplished either immediately after confirmation of the plan or destination selection or, if desired, at some later time. Of course, if confirmation of the availability of space is important to the selection of a particular destination, this task would need to be done before initiating route guidance to the destination.

 

Bridging task coordinating destination requirements.

 

A third potential use of ATIS bridging tasks is as a result of recognizing that conditions may require a change in plans or their execution (see figure 17; also see appendix D, Scenarios P14 OSD, P16 OSD, and C12 OSD). This type of bridging task may involve more complex

behavior than the previously discussed tasks. The initiation of new functions as a result of changed conditions often involves making changes in a route while under way or similar activities that are likely to require that the driver either enter new destination or routing parameters or that he or she review suggested route changes generated by the system. It can be anticipated that such tasks may be required while driving and, furthermore, that the circumstances requiring the change (e.g., traffic congestion or hazardous road conditions) will simultaneously increase the need for the driver to concentrate on the driving task. Such task demands undoubtedly will require that the system be designed to minimize the workload exerted on the driver, while at the same time allowing the necessary actions to be performed to initiate the new function.

 

Bridging task caused by change of plans.

 

The last examined use of ATIS bridging tasks involves the execution of a function (see figure 18) that was developed by one part of the system (e.g., dispatch) but was used by another part (e.g., drivers) (see appendix D, Scenarios C12 OSD and C13 OSD). Such a task potentially involves all of the characteristics of human communications, including the inherent limitations on the accuracy of such communications.

 

Bridging task across parts of the system (i.e., dispatch and drivers).

 

Human Factors Design Implications (General and Specific)

Bridging functions are, for the most part, transparent to the driver. However, in most cases, the driver still has to acknowledge his or her acceptance of the system's recommendations. The exact method of doing so will depend on system technical design. Such a design could range from manual switch activation through voice recognition. It might also include passive acceptance or acknowledgment (i.e., performing the first required action).

In most cases, following the driver's acceptance of a specific system's recommendation, the system will automatically initiate the actions. As a consequence, such activities will be transparent to the driver and will not require any specific human factors recommendations.

However, if there is a need for the system to interrogate the driver to his or her next course of actions, these interrogations should satisfy some human factors guidelines. Text presented to the driver should be made up of short sentences, should use standard terminology, and should include one request at a time.

Finally, to minimize the driver's workload, it is essential that these system's requests be limited to a small number of steps. If it becomes impossible to reduce the number of system's requests, such as in a change of plans, the system should prompt the driver with a statement indicating the need to pull over in order to continue the process.

Table 19 summarizes the general characteristics and considerations associated with bridging tasks.

TASK TYPE

Bridging Tasks

FUNCTION

  • Tasks that serve as an information or procedural "bridge" between two or more functions.
  • These tasks provide the procedural link that integrates the output of one function with the input requirement of another.

SUBFUNCTIONS

CHARACTERISTICS

HUMAN FACTORS DESIGN IMPLICATIONS

CAUTIONARY NOTES

   

General

Specific

 

1. Provider of a link between planning and execution functions

  • Minimal cognitive and motor processes required.
  • Tasks are almost transparent to the driver.
  • These tasks need to be preceded by a decision task.
  • Need to provide a way for the driver to approve/reject system's recommendations.
  • Simple control switch or minimal input steps required.
  • Controls within easy reach, of sufficient size, and providing positive feedback.
 

2. Initiation of coordination of destination requirements

  • Minimal cognitive and motor processes required.
  • Tasks are almost transparent to the driver.
  • Need to provide a way for the driver to initiate and acknowledge system's actions.
  • Simple control switch or minimal input steps required.
  • Controls within easy reach, of sufficient size, and providing positive feedback.
 

3. Initiation of functions as a consequence of a change in plans

  • Extensive cognitive and motor processes are required.
  • These tasks need to be preceded by a decision task.
  • Input actions need to minimize workload demands on the driver.
  • Short sentences and standard taxonomy are needed.
  • Reduced number of actions to be performed.
 

4. Execution of a function developed and accomplished by two different parts of a system

  • These tasks imply extensive and accurate communication capabilities across systems.
  • These tasks need to be preceded by a decision task.
  • Accurate and extensive communication capabilities across systems.
  • System design needs to be compatible across systems.
   

 

Return to Task Analysis Results

 

Top

 

FHWA-RD-95-176

 

Previous | Table of Contents | Next

Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000
Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center | 6300 Georgetown Pike | McLean, VA | 22101