Automation in the Home: The Development of an Appropriate System Representation and its Effects on Reliance

• Published in: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2005, Vol.49 (21), p.1859-1862
• Main Authors: Sanchez, Julian, Calcaterra, Gina, Tran, Quan Q.
• Format: Review
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1541-9312; 1071-1813; 2169-5067
• DOI: 10.1177/154193120504902109

To achieve an appropriate level of reliance on an automated system, the operator must have an accurate system representation such that he/she is aware of the capabilities and limitations of the system. The appropriate use of an automated system can lead to optimal performance by the human-machine dyad. This study investigates the relationship between an accurate system representation and behaviors associated with human-automation interaction (e.g., reliance). Furthermore, age-related effects are also included in the investigation. A cooking memory aid (Cook's Collage) is used as an automated aid that keeps track of the ingredients used in a specific recipe. Participants are asked to interact with the automated device for 5 sessions (each on different days). Tasks are structured to simulate those in a real kitchen. Preliminary results suggest that that there is a different pattern of interaction with the aid as a function of age. Older adults tend to rely on the aid for real-time feedback while younger adults use the aid as a verification tool that they have executed the recipe as desired.