Abstract
Evidence suggests that high cognitive workload in control room environments is increasingly associated with human error. This paper assesses whether visual clutter in display terminals is associated with operator error rates in high-stress monitoring tasks.
Methods: We used simulator-based data from a cohort study of 120 control room operators aged 28–45. Statistical analysis was used to examine correlations between display density (visual clutter metric), subjective cognitive workload, and operational error rates.
Findings: Greater visual clutter on displays related to both higher levels of subjective cognitive workload and lower levels of situational awareness; in turn, lower situational awareness related to higher operational error rates. Correlations between visual clutter and error rates were stronger for novice operators than for expert controllers.
Interpretation: Our findings highlight the potential trade-offs of highly detailed visual display configurations on operator performance. These findings are highly relevant for interface designers developing next-generation control systems. They support calls for organizations to implement dynamic decluttering mechanisms during high-stress operational phases.
Adapted from Zhou Y. et al. (2023) 'Visual Density and Operator Workload.' J. Cognitive Ergonomics.
With reference to the abstract, outline one positive and one negative correlation found by this study.
