Cognitive Attributes to Guide Display Design in Automated Command-and-Control Systems

Increasing levels of automation at the NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center have raised critical human factors issues in the area of display desigbutesn. Because increased automation may increase demands on cognitive resources, assumptions about human cognitive capabilities and limitations are needed as a basis for empirical research. This paper presents a cognitive description of the experienced operator within a theoretical context. The cognitive attributes summarized here are associated with negative effects of automation and implications for display design. Using this background, future research will develop display methodologies and decision aids for real-time supervisory controllers.