Publications
2004
-
Lanzi, P., Marti, P., Pozzi, S., Scrivani, P.,
Users as cultural mediators in interactive system design.
In Reed, D., Baxter, G., Blythe, M. (Eds.) "Living and Working with Technology". Proceedings of the twelfth European conference on cognitive ergonomics, ECCE12, 12-15 September 2004, York (UK).The paper discusses the role of users in interactive system design and in particular their involvement as "cultural mediators" to facilitate communication,sharing and collaboration between final users and designers. Whilst the benefits of user-centred and articipatory design are widely accepted as a general framework for interactive system design, the practice often fails in involving the users as equal partners in the design process. In the paper, we examine the case of complex systems design and in particular Air Traffic Management.
The domain is interesting because even if it traditionally recognises the fundamental role of the Human Factor in system design, however user participation in the design process is too often reduced o an acceptance test of the future system. Despite of this practice, the paper reports cases of different kinds f user involvement in system design. In particular, it discusses the role of in-house experts, testers and cultural mediators showing through the presentation of case studies the importance of not only involving users ut also of purposely diversifying their role in relation to the different phases and objectives of the design rocess. -
Gordon, R., Shorrock, S.T., Pozzi, S. & Boschiero, A.,
Using human error analysis to help to focus safety analysis in ATM simulations: ASAS Separation.
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2004 Conference, 22-25 August, 2004, Cairns (Australia).This paper describes the process used to analyse HF and safety issues in a new Air Traffic Management (ATM) procedure - the Mediterranean Free Flight (MFF) Airborne Separation Assurance System (ASAS) applications.
The paper describes: 1) the overall safety assessment process in MFF; 2) the human error analysis (HEA) method called TRACEr-lite; 3) the process of developing safety scenarios for simulations; and 4) the lessons learnt from the simulations using safety scenarios. By simulating hazardous events in ground-based simulations, it was possible to gain a greater understanding of the hazards in general, how hazards are detected and possible mitigation by discussing the issues with the air traffic controllers in debriefing sessions.
-
Pasquini A., Rizzo A., Save L.,
A methodology for the analysis of SPAD.
Safety Science, Vol. 42, pp 437-455, Elsevier, 2004.This paper describes a methodology for investigating the incidents where a train passes a signal displaying a danger aspect, without authorisation (SPAD).
The methodology combines the analysis of historical databases concerning the SPAD events with the investigation on the field. The investigation considers all the components that support the train driver in performing his activity. The application of the methodology has shown that a strong involvement of the stakeholders is very important to understand the real operative procedures and the way the supporting components are used by the train drivers and by the other relevant users.
Operative procedures and role of components are sometimes quite different from those hypothesized by the system designers. The paper describes the analysis of a real incident to illustrate the application of the methodology, and to show the importance of understanding the real operative procedures adopted by the train drivers.