ABSTRACT
The ability to generalise vigilance research to operational environments has been questioned, largely due to differences between laboratory research and real-world settings. The taxonomy of vigilance tasks proposed by Parasuraman and Davies (1977) represents an attempt to classify vigilance tasks so that tasks with similar information-processing demands can be compared and the ability to generalise results enhanced. Although the taxonomy originally included complexity, the term specifically referred to multiple sources of information. Complexity has been overlooked in much of the traditional vigilance literature, although it is included in more recent studies of jobs such as air traffic control. In this paper, the taxonomy is evaluated in relation to two vigilance intensive jobs - closed circuit television surveillance operators and air traffic controllers. In its present form, the existing taxonomy of experimental settings has limited applicability to these operational settings. Therefore, recommendations for expanding the taxonomy to include more aspects of complexity are made. It is argued that the revised taxonomy be used in conjunction with situation awareness, which makes provision for the cognitive processes involved in these jobs.
Subject(s)
Aircraft , Aviation/classification , Awareness , Occupational Health , Video Recording , Classification , HumansABSTRACT
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Subject(s)
Humans , Aerospace Medicine/education , Aerospace Medicine/methods , Spain , Aviation/legislation & jurisprudence , Ergonomics/legislation & jurisprudence , Preventive Medicine/education , Preventive Medicine/methods , Psychology/education , Aerospace Medicine , Aerospace Medicine/standards , Spain/ethnology , Aviation/classification , Ergonomics/methods , Preventive Medicine/classification , Preventive Medicine/standards , Psychology/legislation & jurisprudenceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Insufficient information exists about the safety of patients with accelerometer-based rate-responsive pacemakers in air transport by general aviation aircraft. METHODS: The response in pacing rate of two types of accelerometer-based rate-responsive pacemakers with data logging capabilities was studied during test flights with single engine fixed wing aircraft. Results were compared with the rate-response of these pacemakers during transportation by car and were also interpreted in respect to physiological heart rate response of aircrew during flights in single engine fixed wing aircraft. In addition, a continuous accelerometer readout was recorded during a turbulent phase of flight. This recording was used for a pacemaker-simulator experiment with maximal sensitive motion-sensor settings. RESULTS: Only a minor increase in pacing rate due to aircraft motion could be demonstrated during all phases of flight at all altitudes with the pacemakers programmed in the normal mode. This increase was of the same magnitude as induced during transport by car and would be of negligible influence on the performance of the individual pacemaker patient equipped with such a pacemaker. Moreover, simultaneous Holter monitoring of the pilots during these flights showed a similar rate-response in natural heart rate compared with the increase in pacing rate induced by aircraft motion in accelerometer-based rate-responsive pacemakers. No sensor-mediated pacemaker tachycardia was seen during any of these recordings. However, a 15% increase in pacing rate was induced by severe air turbulence. Programming the maximal sensitivity of the motion sensor into the pacemaker could, on the other hand, induce a significant increase in pacing rate as was demonstrated by the simulation experiments. CONCLUSION: These results seem to rule out potentially dangerous or adverse effects from motional or vibrational influences during transport in single engine fixed wing aircraft on accelerometer-based rate-responsive pacemakers with normal activity sensor settings.
