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Task Interface Design Requirements

Designing the task interface means analyses of system goals, functions as well as activities and information required before allocating functions to the operator and/or to technical components of a work system such as machinery. Taking into account task design requirements should result in tasks for the operators that they can perform at least to avoid physical and mental impairment (see above). As regards human-automation interaction, this also refers to flexible adaptation to adequate degrees of automation in machinery design, which must not result in left over tasks for the operator due to ironies of automation.

Please select among the following task interface design requirements to get more information:

  • Recognise Competencies
  • Stimulate Task Identity
  • Contribute to Process
  • Adress Behaviour Types
  • Enable Feedback
  • Foster Development
  • Avoid Impairments
  • Support Cooperation
  • Provide Autonomy

Task Interface Design Requirements – Enable Feedback

Among the task interface design requirements "Enable Feedback" is important to allow the operator to perform his/her task.

Machinery should inform operator about operations available and provide feedback about operations currently applied in the work process.

Operator decides whether systems task goals have been achieved and whether adjustments are required.

Operators require feedback about their own and the systems task to maintain job control, to coordinate interactions and to optimise workload.

Figure shows batch procedure of injection moulding machine that provides visual feedback to operator about production process.

References:

  • EN 614-2:2008. Safety of Machinery – Ergonomic design principles – Part 2: Interactions between the design of machinery and work tasks – Task design. Brussels: CEN
  • Kantowitz, B.H., Sorkin, R.D. (1983). Human factors: Understanding people-system relationships. Wiley, New York.
  • Wickens, C.D., Hollands, J.G., Banbury, S., Parasuraman, R. (2013). Engineering Psychology and Human Performance. Pearson, Upper Saddle River.
Task Interface Design Requirements – Enable Feedback