Human communication, mutual awareness and system dependability. Lessons learnt from air-traffic control field studies

Citation
L. Rognin et Jp. Blanquart, Human communication, mutual awareness and system dependability. Lessons learnt from air-traffic control field studies, RELIAB ENG, 71(3), 2001, pp. 327-336
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Engineering Management /General
Journal title
RELIABILITY ENGINEERING & SYSTEM SAFETY
ISSN journal
09518320 → ACNP
Volume
71
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
327 - 336
Database
ISI
SICI code
0951-8320(200103)71:3<327:HCMAAS>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
The dependability of many complex and critical systems strongly relies on h uman operators, both through human reliability and human ability to handle adequately the unexpected events. This paper focuses on ergonomics field st udies of air traffic control activities, and more specifically on the analy ses of communication within teams of controllers. We show how operators use spontaneously the natural redundancy and diversity of human communication (multimodality, addressing features,...), so as to successfully maintain mu tual awareness. This is the key for reliable cooperation, for the sake of g lobal system dependability that rests on mechanisms such as error detection , recovery, and prevention (by anticipation and regulation). This study hel ps in providing specifications for the design of systems efficiently suppor ting both human cooperation and human ability to contribute to dependabilit y. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.