Publication statistics
Pub. period:1986-2012
Pub. count:30
Number of co-authors:58
Co-authors
Number of publications with 3 favourite co-authors:
Joseph Sharit:8Colin G. Drury:6Sankaran N. Nair:4 Productive colleagues
Sara J. Czaja's 3 most productive colleagues in number of publications:
Starr Roxanne Hilt..:69Peter Pirolli:45Clayton H. Lewis:37
“
...that strange new zone between medium and message. That zone we call the interface
”
-- Steven Johnson, 1997
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Sara J. Czaja
Has also published under the name of:
"Sara Czaja" and "S. Czaja"
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Publications by Sara J. Czaja (bibliography)
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Sharit, Joseph, Czaja, Sara J., Hernández, Mario A., Lee, Chin Chin and Lang, Samantha (2012): Assessing the Usefulness of Software Tools for Aiding Meaningful Access of Internet Health Information by Older Users. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2012 Annual Meeting 2012. pp. 130-134.
“Consumers are increasingly using the Internet as a source of health information. Older users in particular, who generally have more health-related issues to contend with, can stand to benefit greatly from the vast resources of health information that the Internet can provide. However, finding, integrating, and making sense of such information in support of health management can be challenging for these users, especially in the face of age-related declines in cognitive abilities that are critical for Internet health information seeking. In this study, data from three focus groups comprised of 23 Internet users 65 years of age or older were collected to investigate the potential usefulness of four software tools that, in principle, offer the capability for aiding such users in their Internet health information search and decision-making activities. The data revealed both positive features and concerns with these tools. Overall, these data provided valuable guidance for an initial phase of design interventions directed at making these tools more usable and effective for supporting Internet health-information seeking for older users, and in the process for other users as well.”
© All rights reserved Sharit et al. and/or Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
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Marras, William S., Wanchisen, Barbara, Czaja, Sara J., Gibbons, Chris, Mathews, Judith and Story, Molly (2011): National Research Council Board on Human-Systems Integration Special Panel Session: Human Factors and Home Health Care. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 55th Annual Meeting 2011. p. 614.
“Health care is increasingly occurring in home settings rather than in professional medical settings, and consumers are expected to engage in a wide range of health-care tasks using wide varieties of technology and equipment. The Board on Human-Systems Integration (BOHSI) at the National Research Council (NRC) recently provided oversight on a study funded by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality to examine the current state of health care in the home and identify existing problems and opportunities for improvement of care through the application of human factors/ergonomics knowledge and methods. This panel will present the highlights of the findings of that study, and panelists will discuss the increasingly important role of human factors engineering within home health care.”
© All rights reserved Marras et al. and/or HFES
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Czaja, Sara J., Sharit, Joseph, Nair, Sankaran N. and Lee, Chin Chin (2009): Older Adults and Internet Health Information Seeking. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 53rd Annual Meeting 2009. pp. 126-130.
“The Internet is increasingly being used by consumers as a source of health information. This study examined factors that influence trust of Internet health information and how trust varies as a function of demographic characteristics, Internet experience, and computer attitudes. Data is also reported on the perceptions of the value and use of Internet-based health information. One hundred and twelve adults (50-85 years) were asked to perform Internet-based health information-seeking tasks and rate factors that influence their trust in Internet health information, the value of this information, and general trust of Internet information vs. trust of information from a doctor. The results indicated that trust is influenced by website identifiers (e.g., government agencies) and design features (e.g., ease of use). Most participants indicated that they would use the Internet health information and that access to this information would have some influence on their health behaviors. These findings underscore the importance of considering design and content issues when designing health websites.”
© All rights reserved Czaja et al. and/or their publisher
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Czaja, Sara J., Gregor, Peter and Hanson, Vicki L. (2009): Introduction to the Special Issue on Aging and Information Technology. In ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing, 2 (1) p. 1.
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Sharit, Joseph, Hernández, Mario A., Czaja, Sara J. and Pirolli, Peter (2008): Investigating the Roles of Knowledge and Cognitive Abilities in Older Adult Information Seeking on the Web. In ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 15 (1) p. 3.
“This study investigated the influences of knowledge, particularly Internet, Web browser, and search engine knowledge, as well as cognitive abilities on older adult information seeking on the Internet. The emphasis on aspects of cognition was informed by a modeling framework of search engine information-seeking behavior. Participants from two older age groups were recruited: twenty people in a younger-old group (ages 60-70) and twenty people in an older-old group (ages 71-85). Ten younger adults (ages 18-39) served as a comparison group. All participants had at least some Internet search experience. The experimental task consisted of six realistic search problems, all involving information related to health and well-being and which varied in degree of complexity. The results indicated that though necessary, Internet-related knowledge was not sufficient in explaining information-seeking performance, and suggested that a combination of both knowledge and key cognitive abilities is important for successful information seeking. In addition, the cognitive abilities that were found to be critical for task performance depended on the search problem's complexity. Also, significant differences in task performance between the younger and the two older age groups were found on complex, but not on simple problems. Overall, the results from this study have implications for instructing older adults on Internet information seeking and for the design of Web sites.”
© All rights reserved Sharit et al. and/or ACM Press
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Keates, Simeon, Adams, Ray, Bodine, Cathy, Czaja, Sara J., Gordon, Wayne, Gregor, Peter, Hacker, Emily, Hanson, Vicki, Kemp, John, Laff, Mark, Lewis, Clayton H. and Pieper, Michael (2007): Cognitive and learning difficulties and how they affect access to IT systems. In Universal Access in the Information Society, 5 (4) pp. 329-339.
“In October 2005, the IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center and T.J. Watson Research Center hosted a symposium on "cognitive and learning difficulties and how they affect access to IT systems". The central premise of the symposium was the recognition that cognitive and learning difficulties have a profound impact on a person's ability to interact with information technology (IT) systems, but that little support is currently being offered by those systems. By bringing together internationally renowned experts from a variety of different, but complementary, research fields, the symposium aimed to provide a complete overview of the issues related to this topic. This paper summarises the discussions and findings of the symposium.”
© All rights reserved Keates et al. and/or Springer Verlag
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Czaja, Sara J. and Lee, Chin Chin (2007): The impact of aging on access to technology. In Universal Access in the Information Society, 5 (4) pp. 341-349.
“The number of people over the age of 65 is increasing worldwide with the fastest growing subgroup those aged 80+ years. Computer and information technologies hold promise in terms of increasing the quality of life for older people. However, successful use of technology by older adults is predicated on systems that are designed to accommodate the needs and preferences of this user group. This paper discusses the implications of age-related changes in cognition for system design. Generally, the existing literature shows that, although older adults are willing to use technology, many report usability problems with existing systems and these problems may in part be due to the cognitive and perceptual demands placed on the user. These findings are discussed in terms of guidelines for system design.”
© All rights reserved Czaja and Lee and/or Springer Verlag
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Czaja, Sara J. (2006): Technology and older adults: designing for accessibility and usability. In: Eighth Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies 2006. p. 1.
“Two major demographic trends underscore the importance of considering technology adoption by older adults: the aging of the population and rapid dissemination of technology within most societal contexts. In the past decade, developments in computer and information technologies have occurred at an unprecedented rate and technology has become an integral component of work, education, healthcare, communication and entertainment. At the same time that we are witnessing explosive developments in technology the population is aging. In 2003 people aged 65+ yrs. in the United States numbered about 35 million and represented approximately 13% of the population. By 2030 this number is expected to increase to about 71 million representing 20% of the population). Moreover, there will be a dramatic increase in those aged 85+ yrs. increasing in numbers from about 4 million in 2000 to nearly 21 million by 2050. Recent data for the U.S. also indicate that although the use of technology such as computers and the Internet among older adults is increasing there is still an age-based digital divide. Not having access to and being able to use technology may put older adults at a disadvantage in terms of their ability to live independently. For example, the Internet is rapidly becoming a major vehicle for communication and information dissemination about health, community and government services. Technology also offers the potential for enhancing the quality of life of older people by augmenting their ability to perform a variety of tasks and access information. To make technology useful to and usable by older adults a challenge for the research and design community is to "know thy user" and better understand the needs, preferences and abilities of older people. It is fairly well established that many technology products and systems are not easily accessible to older people. There are of course a myriad of reasons for this such as cost, lack of access to training programs, etc. However, to a large part it is because designers are unaware of the needs of users with varying abilities or do not know how to accommodate their needs in the design process. Although, older adults today are healthier, more diverse and better educated than previous generations, there are age-related changes in functional abilities that have relevance to the design of technology systems. These include changes in sensory/perceptual processes, motor abilities, response speed, and cognitive processes. The likelihood of developing a disability increases with age, and many older people have at least one chronic condition such as arthritis or hearing and vision impairments. This presentation will discuss the implications of age-related changes in abilities that have relevance to system design and provide a summary of what is currently know about the adoption and use of technology by older people. Recommendations to accommodate these age-related changes in abilities will also be discussed. In addition, a brief discussion of strategies to include the needs of older people in the design process will be presented. It is hoped that this presentation will highlight some important issues and in doing so help bridge the existing age-related digital divide.”
© All rights reserved Czaja and/or ACM Press
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Sharit, Joseph, Czaja, Sara J., Augenstein, Jeffrey S., Balasubramanian, Govind and Schell, Vaunn (2006): Assessing the information environment in intensive care units. In Behaviour and Information Technology, 25 (3) pp. 207-220.
“This paper describes the development and application of a methodology for evaluating how physicians and nurses view the usefulness of various sources of patient information available within a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). The methodology encompasses semi-structured interviews, task analysis, a simulated case study of a critically ill patient, verbal protocol analysis, questionnaire responses based on both past experiences in the ICU and performance on the simulated task, and a post-task interview. Eleven nurses and six physicians participated in the study. Analysis of the questionnaires revealed significant differences in the rankings of the information sources by both the nurses and the physicians on each of seven evaluation criteria. Significant differences were also found among both the physicians and the nurses in rankings of the relative importance of the individual information sources for meeting task requirements. A framework for describing information gathering applicable to critical care environments was proposed as a means for better understanding how information sources are used. Overall, the methodology was found to be useful in terms of providing valuable data regarding the utility and usability of information sources. The importance of using a systematic approach for assessing the usefulness of information sources, particularly from the perspectives of performing design interventions and predicting the effectiveness of new information technologies, as well as the limitations in adopting this type of approach, are also discussed.”
© All rights reserved Sharit et al. and/or Taylor and Francis
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Hiltz, Starr Roxanne and Czaja, Sara J. (2006): Introduction to the special issue on information systems for an aging society. In ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 13 (3) pp. 309-312.
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Czaja, Sara J. and Hiltz, Starr Roxanne (2005): Digital aids for an aging society. In Communications of the ACM, 48 (10) pp. 43-44.
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Czaja, Sara J. (2003): Technology in the Workplace: Implications for Older Workers. In: Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction 2003. pp. 191-195.
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Ownby, R., Czaja, Sara J., Gray, J. T. and Carmin, C. N. (2003): Problems in Healthcare Website Designs: Implications for Usability and Comprehension in the Elderly. In: Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction 2003. pp. 241-245.
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Czaja, Sara J., Sharit, Joseph, Nair, Sankaran N. and Rubert, Mark (1998): Understanding Sources of User Variability in Computer-Based Data Entry Performance. In Behaviour and Information Technology, 17 (5) pp. 282-293.
“The pervasive use of computers in work settings implies that an increased number of workers, with varying levels of skills and abilities, will be performing computer-based tasks. This study investigated the impact of age, cognitive abilities, and computer experience on the performance of a real world data entry task. One hundred and ten subjects, ranging in age from 20-75 years, performed the task for nine hours following task training. The results indicated that abilities such as visuo-spatial skills, motor skills and processing speed had a significant impact on performance as did age and prior computer experience. With respect to age, the older participants completed less work than the younger and middle-aged subjects. Age differences in psychomotor skills and processing speed appeared to be important factors underlying age effects. In fact, the data indicated that after controlling for differences in these abilities age was no longer a significant predictor of work output. Further, after controlling for differences in work output the older people made fewer errors than the younger people. Overall the data suggest that older people will be at a disadvantage in the performance of computer-based data entry work to the extent to which speed of responding is emphasized. However, if speed of responding is not a critical element of performance they will be able to achieve comparable levels of performance to that of younger people.”
© All rights reserved Czaja et al. and/or Taylor and Francis
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Czaja, Sara J., Sharit, Joseph and Nair, Sankaran N. (1995): Age Differences in Perception of Workload for a Computer Task. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 39th Annual Meeting 1995. pp. 129-133.
“Research concerned with age and work activities is an important area of investigation since the workforce is aging and there are concerns regarding economic dependency as well as labor shortages for certain occupations. Previous work by the research team indicated age differences in the performance and perceptions of task difficulty and fatigue for three simulated real-world computer tasks. This study is an extension of that research and is investigating the extent to which age differences in performance and perceptions of workload are moderated by experience and task practice. One hundred and twenty subjects aged 25 yrs. to 75 yrs. performed a real-world data entry task. Data will be presented regarding age differences in the perception of workload, stress, discomfort, and attitudes towards computers. The implications of these results for design interventions will be discussed.”
© All rights reserved Czaja et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Czaja, Sara J., Guerrier, Jose H., Nair, Sankaran N. and Landauer, Thomas K. (1993): Computer Communication as an Aid to Independence for Older Adults. In Behaviour and Information Technology, 12 (4) pp. 197-207.
“Computer and communication technologies offer the potential of improving the quality of life for older people by providing them with links to information and services outside of the home. This study examined the feasibility of older people using an electronic text message system to perform routine communication tasks. In addition information was gathered to identify design parameters which facilitate the interactions of older people with such computer based systems. A specialized and simplified 'communication computer' was placed in the homes of 36 older women, aged 50-95 years. The system was provided with: a simple text-editor, basic electronic mail functions and access to news/ weather, movie reviews, and health information. Both performance data and user preference data were collected. Results indicated that the participants liked using the system, were able to use it with minimal difficulty, and that it provided a valuable means for social interaction and mental stimulation. The findings suggest that computer-based systems can be a valuable support tool for older adults if they are easy to use, and provide applications that are useful for them.”
© All rights reserved Czaja et al. and/or Taylor and Francis
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Czaja, Sara J. and Sharit, Joseph (1993): Stress Reactions to Computer-Interactive Tasks as a Function of Task Structure and Individual Differences. In International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 5 (1) pp. 1-22.
“The resurgence of interest in occupational stress has resulted in an emphasis on identifying work conditions that are potentially causal in generating stress reactions and psychological disorders among workers. Although a considerable knowledge base related to this topic has evolved, relatively little is known regarding the impact of computer technology on incidence of job stress. This issue is especially important for older workers, given the increased use of computers in most occupations, the aging of the workforce, and the changes in cognitive and physiological capacities that occur with increased age. The study reported in this article was concerned with developing a methodology to evaluate stress for computer-interactive tasks as a function of the mental workload of the task and the age of the individual. Sixty-five women ranging in age from 25 to 70 years performed three computer-interactive tasks that varied as a function of information processing complexity and pacing requirements. The methodology encompassed physiological, subjective, and performance measures. Results indicated differences in sensitivity among the measures as a function of task and age. The data also indicated age differences in stress reactions and performance. The findings are discussed in terms of the suitability of computer tasks for older people.”
© All rights reserved Czaja and Sharit and/or Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
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Manivannan, P., Czaja, Sara J., Drury, Colin G. and Ip, Chi Ming (1993): The Impact of Age on Visual Search Performance. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 37th Annual Meeting 1993. pp. 172-176.
“Visual search is an important component of many real world tasks such as industrial inspection and driving. Several studies have shown that age has an impact on visual search performance. In general older people demonstrate poorer performance on such tasks as compared to younger people. However, there is controversy regarding the source of the age-performance effect. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between component abilities and visual search performance, in order to identify the locus of age-related performance differences. Six abilities including reaction time, working memory, selective attention and spatial localization were identified as important components of visual search performance. Thirty-two subjects ranging in age from 18-84 years, categorized in three different age groups (young, middle, and older) participated in the study. Their component abilities were measured and they performed a visual search task. The visual search task varied in complexity in terms of type of targets detected. Significant relationships were found between some of the component skills and search performance. Significant age effects were also observed. A model was developed using hierarchical multiple linear regression to explain the variance in search performance. Results indicated that reaction time, selective attention, and age were important predictors of search performance with reaction time and selective attention accounting for most of the variance.”
© All rights reserved Manivannan et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Gawron, Valerie J., Travale, David J., Neal, Jeannette G., Drury, Colin G. and Czaja, Sara J. (1990): Evaluation of Algorithms for Combining Independent Data Sets in a Human Performance Expert System. In International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 32 (1) pp. 1-19.
“As part of an ongoing program to develop a Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) system for human factors engineers, a Human Performance Expert System, Human, was designed. The system contains a large database of human-performance equations derived from human performance research reported in the open literature. Human accesses these data to predict task performance times, task completion probabilities, and error rates. A problem was encountered when multiple independent data sets were relevant to one task. For example, a designer is interested in the effects of luminance and font size on a number of reading errors. Two data sets exist in the literature: one examining the effects of luminance, the other, font size. The data in the two sets were collected at different locations with different subjects, and at different times in history. How can the two data sets best be combined to address the designer's problems? On the basis of an extensive review of the human performance literature and statistical procedures, four combining algorithms were developed. These four algorithms were tested in two steps. In step one, two reaction-time experiments were conducted: one to evaluate the effect of the number of alternatives on reaction times; the second, evaluated signals per minute and number of displays being monitored. The four algorithms were used on the data from these two experiments to predict reaction time in the situation where all three independent variables are manipulated simultaneously. In step two of the test procedure, a third experiment was conducted. Subjects who had not participated in either Experiment 1 or 2 performed a reaction-time task under the combined effects of all three independent variables. The predictions made from step one were compared to the actual empirical data collected in Experiment 3. The best predictor of the mean in Experiment 3 was an unweighted average of the means in Experiments 1 and 2; the best predictor of the standard deviation in Experiment 3 was an unweighted average of the standard deviations, (S.D.s) in Experiments 1 and 2. Based on these results, Human uses an average of the means to combine the results from multiple independent data sets.”
© All rights reserved Gawron et al. and/or Academic Press
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Czaja, Sara J., Clark, M. Cherie, Weber, Ruth A. and Nachbar, Daniel (1990): Computer Communication among Older Adults. In: D., Woods, and E., Roth, (eds.) Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 34th Annual Meeting 1990, Santa Monica, USA. pp. 146-148.
“Currently an estimated 2.8 million people aged 65 years or older need some type of assistant in carrying out everyday activities. Therefore, there exists a need to identify strategies which enhance the functional independence of older adults. There are a number of computer and communication technologies which can be used to provide support. For the potential of these technologies to be realized, they must be easy to use, easily available and accepted by older adults. The goal of this research project was to evaluate the feasibility of having older people use computers to perform tasks in their own home environment and to identify design parameters which facilitate their interaction with these systems. The study involved installing a customized e-mail system in the homes of 38 elderly women. Additional features were added over the course of the project. Data collected included: frequency of use, number and type of messages sent, communications patterns, time distribution of messages and frequency of features used. Overall the results of the study indicate that older adults are willing and able to use computers in their own homes if the system is simple, features are added in an incremental fashion and they are provided with a supportive environment.”
© All rights reserved Czaja et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Czaja, Sara J., Hammond, Katka, Blascovich, James J. and Swede, Helen (1989): Aged Related Differences in Learning to Use a Text-Editing System. In Behaviour and Information Technology, 8 (4) pp. 309-319.
“The increased use of computer technology in most occupations means that many middle-aged and older workers who lack computer experience will need to acquire skills to interact with this technology. This study examined age-group differences in learning to use a text-editing system. One hundred and thirty-five females ranging in age from 25 to 70 participated in the study. They received training under one of three training conditions: instructor-based, online or manual-based. Age differences were assessed by comparing performance on criterion tasks. Results indicated significant differences among the groups in learning success, younger learners being the most successful. There were no significant age by training interactions. The findings indicate a need to develop more effective training strategies to teach older learners to use computer technologies. They also indicate the need for changes in system design because computer applications are difficult for novice users to learn.”
© All rights reserved Czaja et al. and/or Taylor and Francis
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Gawron, Valerie J., Drury, Colin G., Czaja, Sara J. and Wilkins, Dawn M. (1989): A Taxonomy of Independent Variables Affecting Human Performance. In International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 31 (6) pp. 643-671.
“As part of an ongoing program to develop a Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) system for human factors engineers, a Human Performance Expert System, Human, was designed. The system contains a taxonomy of independent variables which affect human performance. This taxonomy was developed in a three-step process: (1) review existing taxonomies; (2) add independent variables used in Human; and (3) remove redundancy and ambiguity. This process and the resultant taxonomy are described in this paper.”
© All rights reserved Gawron et al. and/or Academic Press
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Czaja, Sara J., Joyce, J. Bonnie and Hammond, Katka (1989): A Comparative Study of Text-Editing Programs among a Sample of Older Adults. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 33rd Annual Meeting 1989. pp. 179-181.
“Research indicates that older adults have difficulty acquiring text-editing skills. The data suggest that the cognitive demands associated with text-editing programs create problems for older learners given the age-related changes in cognitive abilities. This study compared the learning efficiency of older adults for three text-editing programs which varied in format and command structure. A total of 45, computer naive, women ranging in age from 40 to 70 years participated. The results indicated significant differences in learning efficiency as a function of text-editing program. Participants using a full screen editor with pull down menus demonstrated significantly better performance than did those using other programs. Data was also collected regarding types of difficulties encountered by subjects during learning. This type of information can be used as input into the design of future software and training programs.”
© All rights reserved Czaja et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Weber, Ruth, Czaja, Sara J. and Bishu, Ram (1989): Activities of Daily Living of the Elders -- A Task-Analytic Approach. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 33rd Annual Meeting 1989. pp. 182-186.
“Human factors research, which focuses on matching human capabilities and limitations with different environmental and task demands, has been wanting in the areas of elderly population. The main objective of this research was to use a task analytic approach to identify the demand profiles for a list of daily activities of the elderly. Sixty-six independently living elderly persons were videotaped performing 25 separate activities of daily. A computerized task analytic approach was used to analyze the activities. Tasks were described through a set of descriptors such as action (e.g., reposition), demand (e.g., carry), object (e.g., broom), body part (e.g., hand), posture (e.g., bend), location (e.g., wash room) and frequency. Crosstabulations were performed on the data to determine pattern of relationships amongst the various task descriptors, both within, and between activities. In terms of demands, few activities account for a large proportion. Lifting/lowering, push/pull appear to be the predominant actions. Relationship among task, posture, body part and demands were significant.”
© All rights reserved Weber et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Kleiner, Brian M., Drury, Colin G., Sharit, Joseph and Czaja, Sara J. (1989): Evaluating the Effects of Automation on the Human Operator. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 33rd Annual Meeting 1989. pp. 733-736.
“This study was designed to evaluate the symbiosis of human-machine systems with varying levels of automation. This paper focuses on the protocol methodology employed in the study. The approach required the use of both qualitative and quantitative techniques to derive a comprehensive evaluation of the human-machine system. Protocol Analysis supported by ethnographic software was used to evaluate the verbal transcripts. A qualitative process of code mapping and analysis was developed. The Modified Cooper-Harper scale was used to evaluate mental workload and objective measures of performance provided quantitative data of the system. The results confirmed the usefulness of a proposed classification scheme for human-machine systems. Using the methodology, human capabilities could be assessed against system demands for various configurations of a human-machine system. The importance of understanding the human's role in increasingly automated systems was again demonstrated.”
© All rights reserved Kleiner et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Small, Arnold M., Czaja, Sara J., Barr, Robin and Pew, Richard W. (1988): Programs in Human Factors and Aging: National Research Council and National Institutes on Aging. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 32nd Annual Meeting 1988. p. 183.
“Within the last year, these two Federal agencies have developed insights, research needs and programs related to human factors and aging. These will be described and their significance assessed by the panel speakers and discussants. Audience participation is invited.”
© All rights reserved Small et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Smith, David B. D., Czaja, Sara J., Clark, M. Cherie, Haber, Paul and Harootyan, Robert (1987): Aging and Technological Innovation. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 31st Annual Meeting 1987. pp. 694-695.
“Technology advances coupled with the certainty of an aging population has stimulated recent interest in the interface of technology and the older individual (Technology&Aging, 1985; Aging&Technological Advances, 1984). The U.S. population over 65 is expected to steadily increase into the first part of the next century and then rapidly grow to 20% or more by the year 2030. The course of technological advancement over this time frame is less certain but for the environment of the older person it likely involves changes in job requirements, training needs, equipment interface design and the availability of new assessment, assistance and supportive devices. This session will consider the implications of technological innovation for an elderly population in three areas: daily living tasks, health care, and work.”
© All rights reserved Smith et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Gawron, Valerie J., Travale, David J., Drury, Colin G. and Czaja, Sara J. (1987): Evaluation of Algorithms for Combining Independent Data Sets in a Human Performance Expert System. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 31st Annual Meeting 1987. pp. 811-814.
“A major problem facing system designers today is predicting human performance in: 1) systems that have not yet been built, 2) situations that have not yet been experienced, and 3) situations for which there are only anecdotal reports. To address this problem, the Human Performance Expert System (Human) was designed. The system contains a large data based of equations derived from human performance research reported in the open literature. Human accesses these data to predict task performance times, task completion probabilities, and error rates. A problem was encountered when multiple independent data sets were relevant to one task. For example, a designer is interested in the effects of luminance and font size on number of reading errors. Two data sets exist in the literature: one examining the effects of luminance, the other, font size. The data in the two sets were collected at different locations with different subjects and at different times in history. How can the two data sets be combined to address the designer's problem? Four combining algorithms were developed and then tested in two steps. In step one, two reaction-time experiments were conducted: one to evaluate the effect the number of alternatives on reaction time; the second, signals per minute and number of displays being monitored. The four algorithms were used on the data from these two experiments to predict reaction time in the situation where all three independent variables are manipulated simultaneously. In step two of the test procedure, a third experiment was conducted. Subjects who had not participated in either Experiment One or Two performed a reaction-time task under the combined effects of all three independent variables. The predictions made from step one were compared to the actual empirical data collected in step two. The results of these comparisons are presented.”
© All rights reserved Gawron et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Burri, George J., Czaja, Sara J., Drury, Colin G. and Helander, Martin G. (1987): A Field Evaluation of Office Chairs. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 31st Annual Meeting 1987. pp. 1121-1122.
“Ten ergonomic office chairs, chosen from a sample of eighty-four, were evaluated in an ergonomic field study. Twenty office employees used each of the chairs for one day. The chairs were evaluated using four different methods: a chair feature evaluation checklist, a ranking procedure, general comfort and body part discomfort ratings. The first two methods produced positive results, including significant differences between the chairs. The chair users generally had difficulties in perceiving and expressing their comfort and discomfort associated with the latter two methods. The study identified several distinct features related to chair comfort, including the design of the seat pan, back rest, arm rests and ease of adjustability.”
© All rights reserved Burri et al. and/or Human Factors Society
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Czaja, Sara J., Hammond, Katka, Blascovich, James J. and Swede, Helen (1986): Learning to Use a Word-Processing System as a Function of Training Strategy. In Behaviour and Information Technology, 5 (3) pp. 203-216.
“Three training strategies were evaluated for their effectiveness in teaching naive computer users to use a word-processing system. One hundred and thirty five women ranging in age from 25 years to 70 years participated in the study. Subjects were trained using one of three techniques (instructor, manual, computer) to perform basic word-processing tasks. The effectiveness of the training strategies was assessed by examining performance on basic word-processing tasks such as typing a letter or memo and editing an existing file. Results showed that for all subjects, computer-based training was a less effective teaching method than either instructor- or manual-based training. In general, subjects who were trained using the computer-based method attempted and completed fewer tasks, took longer to perform tasks, and also made more errors. These finding demonstrate the need for directing efforts towards the development of appropriate training methods for computer tasks.”
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