A Comparison of Alphanumeric, Direct Manipulation Graphic, and Equivalent Interface Design for a Production Scheduling Task

<p>Scheduling is an essential factor influencing the efficiency of any production system. The effectiveness of the scheduling system depends upon the interaction of the human and machine. Thus, to effectively design the interface between the human and the machine, the human factors professional must understand scheduling behavior and the information requirements of the scheduling task. The present study modeled human scheduling behavior and determined the information requirements of the scheduling task. The study also compared alphanumeric, direct manipulation graphic, and equivalent interfaces to determine which interface best supports scheduling. The results of the study show that schedulers monitor the current system state and preview to future system states to test scheduling options and make scheduling decisions. Thus, current state, goal state, future state, and discrepancy between goal state and future state information help schedulers. In addition, the analysis suggests that a mixed format interface design best supports the human in the scheduling system. Recommendations for interface design and future research are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

1992

Author dc:creator

• Fulop, Ann C.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Glynn D. Coates
• Donald Allen
• Mark Scerbo
• Robert M. McIntyre

• Production system
• Human computer interaction
• Scheduling
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Industrial Engineering

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_etds/271

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:psychology_etds-1274