Man-machine-environment systems engineering research based mental workload measurement model of using software

Abstract

The traditional methods of mental workload measurement include the main task metrics, subtask metrics, physiological measurements, and subjective measurements. First, these evaluations are subjective, not considering the objective content of the task itself; second, these evaluations focus on the output of the task and do not consider mental processes during task execution, and therefore, the evaluation results are subjective and not overall. This paper takes the measurement of mental workload of using software as the research object, from the man-machine-environment systems engineering (MMESE) perspective, according to the information input of the task itself, as well as the information processing and decision-making process to build mental workload measurement model of software operation. And two evaluation indexes are given from the objective and subjective factors separately. Finally, this model is applied to evaluate the mental workload of shipboard command software's core function, and some design suggestions have been given for reducing the mental workload. © 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.