Visualization, Simulation and the Investigation of Human Behavior

Dr. Peter Hancock, Director
Human Factors Research Laboratory
  University of Minnesota

Abstract:
In this work, I present a synopsis of a number of on-going research projects at the Human Factors Research Laboratory of the University of Minnesota. In particular, I feature a number of visualization projects in which surrogate virtual worlds are created for the testing and evaluation of driver and observer response. Principal among these is a roadway construction project concerning traffic calming through a town on the north shore of Lake Superior which is built around a highly traveled corridor, especially during the tourist season of the middle summer months.

The challenge has been to use principles derived from theories of visual perception to influence and "slow" drivers down as they emerge from a high-speed rural two-lane highway into the town area. The most effective solution was found to be regulation of speed via the control of effective lane width by differential coloring of the concrete driving surface. Similar efforts are now proceeding but in urban and suburban regions of the Twin Cities.

In addition to these visualizations, I present results from a simulation validation procedure and an investigation of driver response in accident-likely conditions that has been enabled by the linked simulation facilities in the laboratory. Briefly, two drivers occupy the same virtual driving environment and by means of computer control we are able to introduce them into a collision-likely situation and observe their avoidance responses. This effort is now continuing using such different environmental manipulations as fog to evaluate the influence of viewing distance in initiating two-vehicle collisions.

Finally, I report upon an innovative procedure to provide drivers with more information about vehicles braking ahead which shows a third braking light area, illumination in proportion to the degree of actual deceleration. Thus the faster the vehicle slows, the more light area is illuminated. Also, I discuss preliminary findings from a study of advanced warning flashers which indicate to an on-coming driver when a traffic light in front of them will change. The study examines the driver response to this additional information.

Peter Hancock is the founder and Director of the Human Factors Research Laboratory at the University of Minnesota. He holds appointments in the Departments of Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Kinesiology, Mechanical Engineering, and Psychology.  Dr. Hancock is the author of over two hundred refereed scientific articles and publications as well as editor of numerous books.  In 1999 he was the Arnold Small Lecturer of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and in 2000 he was awarded the Sir Frederic Bartlett Medal of the Ergonomics Society of Great Britain for lifetime achievement.

April 13, 3:00 p.m.
Visual Arts Building, Rm. 132 Need a map?
Cosponsored with the UCF Department of Mathematics

Breaking High-grade German Ciphers in World War II

Peter Hilton, Distinguished Professor
Department of Mathematics
University of Central Florida

Abstract:
The battle is not always won on the battlefield.

One of the greatest secrets of World War II was an obscure installation at which German codes were broken.  Churchill considered it one of his most potent weapons, and without it, England might have fallen.

Peter Hilton was there. Peter was a member of the team of mathematicians working on the German Naval Enigma machine and, subsequently, Hitler's favored ciphering machine, the Geheimschreiber, at Bletchley Park in World War II.  He will describe the nature of the machines and of the methods used to decipher messages encoded by these machines; he will also give a picture of the daily life of the cryptanalysts.

April 27, 11:00 a.m.
UCF Computer Science Colloquium Room

Modeling and Simulations: A Case Study with Magnetrons

Dr. D.J. Kaup
Institute of Nonlinear Studies & Departments
of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Clarkston University

Abstract:
In one sense, mathematics is a means of posing certain suppositions, and then logically following through to the final consequences of those suppositions. The test of the validity of those suppositions, is whether or not the predicted consequences are, in some sense, similar to those observed.

One such case is the design and construction of high power magnetrons. These devices are very important for almost all radar systems, commercial and military. For decades, engineers have been able to design and build magnetrons. They had devised many design rules, for designing a specific device for a specific purpose.

But it has been only in the last ten years, that we have started to approach a consistent theory of how and why these devices operate as they do, when they do. This lecture will discuss how applied mathematics has played a key role in the formulation of the proper suppositions for understanding these, and similar devices.

Monday May 15, 2000
11:00 a.m.
IST Conference Room C

A Virtual Environment for Naval Flight Deck Operations Training

Sean Price
Applied Mathematics and Operational Research Group
Department of Informatics & Simulation
Royal Military College of Science
United Kingdom

Abstract:
The main aim of this paper is to develop a prototype virtual environment for training Flight Deck Officers with a view to study the types of interactions required in such an environment. The application is ideally suited to exploit techniques based on proprioception, in particular the trainee's arm signals.

Monday, June 12, 2000
11:00 a.m.
Refreshments will be served at 10:45 a.m.
IST Conference Room C

A Comparison of the Low Fidelity TRANSIMS and High Fidelity CORSIM Highway Simulation Models

Dr. Larry Rillet, Texas A&M University

Abstract:
In recent years there has been an increased emphasis in the transportation modeling field on replacing macroscopic supply functions with simulation models. For example, the highway supply relationship in the Transportation Analysis and Simulation System (TRANSIMS) is based on a low fidelity microsimulation model. The research presented in this seminar examines how TRANSIMS’ low fidelity highway simulation module compares to a high fidelity simulation model and empirical observations from an ITS implementation project. A section of Interstate 10 in Houston, Texas was used as a test bed and ITS data were obtained for calibration and validation purposes. For comparison purposes the high fidelity CORSIM model, which is used extensively in North America for operational analyses, was also calibrated and tested with the same data. It was found that both models did equally well at replicating the baseline volume data. In addition, the mean travel time output from the calibrated TRANSIMS model tended to be approximately twenty percent greater than the mean travel time from the calibrated CORSIM model. In general, the observed travel times were found to lie between the simulated values from the TRANSIMS and CORSIM models. More importantly the link and corridor travel time variability appeared to be significantly less than the observed travel time variability. It is hypothesized that this difference may affect certain measures of effectiveness, such as automobile emissions, that will be estimated using the TRANSIMS model.

Abstract:
Advanced Distributed Learning offers tremendous potential for revolutionizing the way in which instruction is designed and delivered. IST has recently completed three prototype ADL demonstrations, each of which represents a differing vision of ADL based on unique end-user requirements. Presentation topics will include a discussion of core ADL instructional elements, why ADL is so tough to define, and logistical considerations when developing and implementing ADL.  One of the on-line ADL prototypes will be demonstrated to provide an example of the complexities inherent in developing an effective learning management system.

Dr. John W. Jacobs, III is a psychologist and senior research scientist at the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Simulation and Training. Dr. Jacobs recent research projects have involved advanced distributed learning, cognitive task analysis/intelligent tutoring systems, technology integration, and simulation-based performance assessment. Prior to working at IST, Dr. Jacobs was a senior consultant for an organizational consulting firm specializing in developing and implementing simulation-based assessment systems. He has consulted with numerous Fortune 500 firms and government/educational organizations, including Ford, GTE, FBI, Wendy’s, Houston Independent School District, Barnett Banks, Learning International, state of Alaska, National Defense University, and others. Prior to this, Dr. Jacobs conducted a meta-analysis of the flight simulation training literature as a research fellow at the Human Factors Laboratory of the Naval Training Systems Center, Orlando, FL.

Friday, June 16
11:00 a.m.
Refreshments will be served at 10:45am.

New Method of Music Therapy and the Use of Simulation Information Technology

Dr. Vyacheslav (Slava) Kui-Beda
Music Psychotherapist
Samara Medical & Social Rehabilitation Center
Samara, Russia

Abstract:
Musical compositions provide a rich and complex environment that transcends cultural and language boundaries.  More importantly, music can be used to form links between the realms of consciousness and individual and collective unconsciousness that are effective in the treatment of a wide range of conditions.

Dr. Kui-Beda will provide an overview of the method he has developed called "The Method of Concentration of Psycho Emotional Condition in Man" that has recently been awarded a patent by the Russian patent agency.   Briefly stated, the psychotherapist associates aspects of the patient's condition with a color scale.  These associations are then used to select musical components and formulate musical compositions that effectively treat the condition and return the patient to a healthy state.  The advances in simulation information technology provide the capabilities to both compose and play back synthetic musical environments that are uniquely matched for psychotherapy.  Demonstrations of musical compositions created by Dr. Kui-Beda will be included in the presentation with outlooks about how the addition of synthetic visual environments may be incorporated to strengthen the effects of the synthetic aural environment used for treatment.

Prediction of Micro-Sleeps Based on Thalamo-Cortical Oscillations

Dr. Vaclav Prenosil
Vice Chancellor
Military Academy
Brno, Czech Republic

Abstract:
This presentation discusses the possibility of improving the reliability of interaction between a human operator and some technical system. The main methodical tool considered here for the purpose of detection and prediction of an operator's micro-sleep is the analysis of EEG signals resulting from thalamo-cortical oscillations, which can be detected in the human operator's brain. If the results of such an analysis are presented back to the particular operator in a suitable way, they can have a positive influence on the level of his/her attention. This opens the way for operator training for higher resistance to a decrease in attention and for micro-sleep prevention. A possible set of significant parameters (markers) of EEG character, suitable for micro-sleep detection, is proposed and practical application and preliminary verification experiments discussed.

Dr. Prenosil is Vice-Chancellor of the Military Academy, Brno, Czech Republic,  and is responsible for management of all scientific programs, scientific education, and research and development activities. The MA is the only military university in the Czech Republic offering an M.S. and Ph.D. in sciences and engineering. Dr. Prenosil is directly in charge of scientific departments, scientific laboratories, and a variety of research and development programs at the academy.  His areas of responsibilities also include international cooperation programs, international student exchange, and NATO defense cooperation activities.

In addition to his work as Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Prenosil continues his own scientific work started in 1986, concentrating on the concept of hybrid systems with increased reliability.

Dr. Prenosil continues in his active teaching, since 1998 as an assistant professor teaching military electronics, IT and cybernetics. Since 1999 he has served as a Member of the Czech Army Scientific Board of the Minister of Defense.

Thursday, August 31
2:00 p.m.
Refreshments served at 1:45 p.m.

Human Behavior Representation – Future Military Applications and Recommended Research and Development Activities

Dr. Uwe K.J. Dompke
Study Director, NATO Long Term Scientific Study on Human Behavior Representation
Manager, Institute for Technology of Intelligent Systems (ITIS)
at the University of Federal Armed Forces Munich, Germany

Abstract:
Emerging technologies will have a great impact on the implementation and on the military use of simulation systems in the future. Human behavior representation (HBR) plays a main part in this development. It offers support in different future military application areas; examples are thinking automated opposing forces (training and exercise), closed simulation systems (defense planning), Decision Support Tools (support to operations), and virtual environments (acquisition).

The results of the NATO Long Term Scientific Study on HBR Technology (LTSS SAS-017) will be briefed. This study has determined future military operational needs and has identified technology areas, which could support HBR based on these needs.  The progress in these technology areas in the future was evaluated and recommendations given how to proceed with multilateral R&D programs in the near future. The presentation of a first proposal for collaborative research projects will conclude the presentation and will open the floor for discussion.