Skip to main content

Information Complexity in Air Traffic Control Displays

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNPSE,volume 4553))

Abstract

Air traffic controllers use visual displays to interact with various automation systems. Information complexity in those systems may cause controllers to miss or misinterpret visual data, thereby reducing safety. The purpose of this study was to answer three basic questions: 1) What constitutes information complexity in automation displays? 2) How complex is “too complex” for controllers? 3) Can we objectively measure information complexity in the displays? We first developed a general framework for measuring information complexity. The framework reduces the concept of complexity into three underlying factors: quantity, variety, and the relations between basic information elements; each factor is evaluated at three generic stages of human information processing: perception, cognition, and action. We then developed nine metrics of display complexity, each measuring the effects of a complexity factor on information processing at a given stage. These metrics provide an objective method to evaluate automation displays for acquisition and design prototypes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Andersen, R.A., Snyder, L.H., Bradley, D.C., Xing, J.: Multimodal representation of space in the posterior parietal cortex and its use in planning movements. Ann. Rev. Neurosci. 20, 303–330 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bennett, C.H.: How to define complexity in physics, and why. In: Complexity, entropy and the physics of information, pp. 137–148. Addison-Wesley, Redwood City, California (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Burleson, B.R., Caplan, S.E.: Cognitive complexity. In: McCroskey, et al. (eds.) Communication and personality: Trait perspectives, Hampton Press, Cresskill, NJ (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cowan, N.: The Magical number 4 in short-term memory: A reconsideration of mental storage capacity. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 24(1), 87–114 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Crutchfield, J.P., Young, K.: Inferring statistical complexity. Physics Review Letters 63, 105 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Drozdz, S., Kwapien, J., Speth, J., Wojcik, M.: Identifying Complexity by Means of Matrices. Physica A314, 355–361 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Edmonds, B.: What is Complexity? - The philosophy of complexity per se with application to some examples in evolution. In: Heylighen, F., Aerts, D. (eds.) The Evolution of Complexity, pp. 1–18. Kluwer, Dordrecht (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Georgopoulos, A.P., Schwartz, A.B., Kettner, R.E.: Neuronal population coding of movement direction. Science 233, 1416–1419 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Grassberger, P.: Information and complexity measures in dynamical systems. In: Atmanspacher, H., Scheingraber, H. (eds.) Information Dynamics, pp. 15–33. Plenum Press, New York (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Halford, G.S., Wilson, W.H., Phillips, W.: Processing capacity defined by relational complexity: Implications for comparative, developmental and cognitive psychology. Behavioral Brain Sciences 21(6), 803–831 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Heylighen, F.: Self-organization, emergence and the architecture of complexity. In: Proceedings of the 1st European Conference on System Science, AFCET, Paris, pp. 23–32 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Klemola, T.: Cognitive complexity metrics and requirements comprehension. In: Australian Conference on Software Measurement. Sydney, Australia (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  13. McCabe: A complexity measure. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering SE-2, 308–320 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sears, A.L.: Automated metrics for user interface design and evaluation. Int. J. Biomed. Comput. 34, 149–157 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Tullis, T.S.: A computer-based tool for evaluating alphanumeric displays. Human-Computer Interaction: INTERACT, London, England (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wickens, C.D.: Engineering Psychology and Human Performance, 2nd edn. Harper Collins, NY (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Xing, J., Andersen, R.A.: Memory activity of LIP neurons for sequential eye movements simulated with neural networks. J Neurophysiol. 84(2), 651–665 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Xing, J., Heeger, D.: Quantification of contrast-dependent center-surround interaction. Vision Research 41, 571–583 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Xing, J., Manning, C.: Complexity and automation displays of air traffic control: Literature review and analysis. Washington DC: Federal Aviation Administration; Report No: DOT/FAA/AM05-4 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Xing, J.: Measures of information complexity and the implications for automation design. Washington DC: Federal Aviation Administration; Report No: DOT/FAA/AM04-17 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Julie A. Jacko

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Xing, J. (2007). Information Complexity in Air Traffic Control Displays. In: Jacko, J.A. (eds) Human-Computer Interaction. HCI Applications and Services. HCI 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4553. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73111-5_89

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73111-5_89

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-73109-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-73111-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics