![]() This is not to be construed as a lack of dedication or professionalism among controllers, but it is a statement about the nature of human memory and understanding and the inability of humans to perform indefinitely routine tasks which are never needed but always superfluous. Without active participation in the control loop, the maintenance of knowledge of what is happening becomes insufficient to perform even those residual functions adequately. The controller may no longer be able to intervene in emergencies and be flexible in dealing with nonstandard circumstances. ![]() To cast the controller in a role which requires the monitoring of automated functions rather than active involvement in them is ultimately self-defeating. The controller does not use this retrieved information for any air traffic control purpose, but merely looks at it as a reassurance to aid memory and understanding of the current air traffic control situation. The extent to which active participation in routine tasks aids memory and understanding has been consistently underestimated, so that when computer assistance takes the form of the replacement of the manual performance of routine tasks by their performance automatically, the controller often finds it necessary to introduce a new task, since positive action is now required to retrieve from the system information formerly obtained incidentally during the performance of manual functions. Many of the prospective benefits of progressive automation may prove to be elusive unless all its human factors implications are anticipated and allowed for. ![]() These changes, if well chosen and sensibly introduced, can produce many benefits, but it is important to be aware of some of their human factors consequences which may not be so welcome, the prevention of which should influence the particular forms which automation takes. Many of these innovations imply increased automation of functions or more computer assistance for controllers. The future may bring intelligent knowledge-based systems, expert systems, very accurate satellite-derived navigational information, automated speech synthesis and speech recognition, touch-sensitive input devices, glorious color-a whole panoply of technological advances which can now be foreseen, if not implemented. ![]() David Hopkin, in Human Factors in Aviation, 1988 The Impact of AutomationĪir traffic control is a large human–machine system. ![]()
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