The Oz Display

Functional Design in an Aviation Display

Functional interface design theory argues that the inclusion of functional information (information providing insight into how a system operates) in a display will support improved performance, rapid acquisition of skill, and improvements in learning. This approach argues that performance can be improved by:

  • Offloading knowledge-based computations onto directly perceived and manipulated forms

  • Providing visualizations of deep system constraints to develop accurate and comprehensive mental models of system functioning

3-4.JPG In the past, much of this research has been constrained to
proof of concept displays, with little empirical evidence for
the effects of functional displays. Recently, a display
developed at the Institute for Human and Machine
Cognition named the Oz display (More Information
on OZ) leveraged some functional display properties, most
notably the relationship between power, drag, and airspeed
(See Movie Below). By using the display with a fixed base
flight simulator (The ELITE IGATE PCATD), we were able to investigate the effect of functional display use on experts and novices. Both lines of research are described below.

This video shows how the Oz display communicates the relationship between power, drag, and current airspeed. Airspeed is communicated via the vertical lines on either side of the display. The color of the lines communicated the amount of power being used (green =power used, while blue=power available), while the bent wings represent the constraints of the drag curve. When power used is equal to drag, a constant speed is maintained. When power is outside the bent wings, the plane shows signs of being overpowered for the current speed, and will begin to rise or increase in speed. If the power is set inside the bent wings, the aircraft will show signs of being underpowered.

Expert Performance with a Functional Display

One of the initial questions was whether use of a functional display would improve expert performance. To test this, we ran pilots on simulations of both a conventional Cessna 172 display and a Cessna 172 outfitted with the Oz display. Results showed that:

  • Expert Power Usage
  • Pilots using the functional display increased
    control of power and attitude compared to
    their performance on the conventional display.

  • Performance with the functional display
    showed greater standardization across
    pilots than the conventional display.

For more information on experts using the Oz Display (including studies with increased workload and dual tasking conditions), see the publications below.

Publications

Smith, C. F., Fadden, S., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2005). Use of a functional avionics display under varying conditions of workload. Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society 49th Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL. [pdf].

Smith, C. F., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Chong, R. (2004). The Effect of Functional Information on an Avionics Display. Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society 48th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. [pdf].

Presentations

Smith, C. F., Fadden, S., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2005). Use of a functional avionics display under varying conditions of workload. Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society 49th Annual Meeting, October 11th, 2005, Orlando, FL.

Smith, C. F., Boehm-Davis, D. A., & Chong, R. (2004). The Effect of Functional Information on an Avionics Display. Presented at the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society 48th Annual Meeting, September 14th, 2004, New Orleans, LA.

Smith, C.F., and Boehm-Davis, D.A.(2004). The Effect of Functional Information in an Avionics Display. Presented at the 2004 APA Division 19/21 Mid-Year Meeting, March 5, 2004, Ft Belvoir, VA.

Novice Performance & Learning with a Functional Display

Another way to evaluate the potential of functional displays is to examine novices’ flight performance and learning of flight principles with a conventional or functional (Oz) display. Prior research with novices has provided several insights:

  • Novice Power Deviations in Straight and Level FlightNovices using a functional (Oz) display
    show greater flight accuracy, as well
    as more appropriate control of power.
  • Novices trained on a functional display
    understand more about how the
    system functions than counterparts
    trained on a conventional flight display.

A series of findings (detailed in the publications below) indicate that changing the nature of the display actually changes what novices understand (qualitatively and quantitatively) about flight. For more information on the effect of a functional display on novice flight performance and knowledge, see the publications below.

Publications

Smith, C. F. (2007). Evaluating Novice Flight Knowledge with a Functional Display. Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society 51st Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD. [pdf].

Smith, C. F., & Boehm-Davis, D. A. (2005). Improving Novice Flight Performance Using a Functional Flight Display. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Aviation Psychology 13th Annual Meeting, Oklahoma City, OK. [pdf]

Presentations

Smith, C.F. (2007). Evaluating Novice Knowledge with a Functional Display. To be Presented at HFES 51st Annual Meeting, October 13th, 2007, Baltimore, MD.

Prada, L.R., Boehm-Davis, D. A., Riley, V. & Smith, C.F. (2007) Designing, evaluating, and training flight decks of the future. Presented at the 14th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology. April 24th, 2007. Dayton, OH.

Smith, C.F., and Boehm-Davis, D.A.(2007). Assessing novice pilot knowledge using a Functional Display. Presented at the 2007 APA Annual Meeting, March 2, 2007, Fairfax, VA.

Smith, C.F., and Boehm-Davis, D.A.(2005). Improving Knowledge with a Functional Display. Presented at the 2005 APA Annual Meeting, 2005, Washington D.C..

Smith, C.F., and Boehm-Davis, D.A.(2005). Improving Novice Knowledge with a Functional Aviation Display. Presented at the 2005 APA Division 19/21 Mid-Year Meeting, March 4, 2005, Fairfax, VA.