Evaluation of Man-Computer Input Techniques for Military Information Systems

The publication describes the evaluation, in terms of speed and accuracy, of four configurations of procedures for inputting information into a semi-automated information processing system. Sixty USMA Prep School enlisted men were given an experimental task requiring each to translate 35 free-text messages into computer-acceptable terminology. Accuracy and speed of two input procedures were each compared under two conditions of verification. In one procedure, the subjects translated the incoming message onto a paper format before transcribing on a CRT screen (off-line). In the other procedure, the message was transcribed directly on the CRT screen (on-line). In the unverified condition, one man performed the input operation without error check; in the verified condition, two men translated the same message, compared their translations, and resolved differences before entering the information into the data base. Performance results under the four experimental conditions were also compared with a similar 7th Army TOS procedure in which a message is translated onto a paper format and the unverified message is copied on the CRT screen by the UIOD (user input-output device) operator. (Author)