Book Flight Simulation (Cambridge Aerospace Series) by Rolfe

importance of error-correction facilities for speech be nice if there was some recognition of the limitations of
input/output, they offer virtually nothing of practical laboratory experiments as evaluation tools. In the end, if
use for implementing this. the work that Prof WiUiges and his co-authors have carried
8. User models of editing command selection. 17 pages. out is to be of use, it will be used in real, practical situations,
Again, the title is somewhat misleading. It is basically where people have to take responsibilities, and where
a comparison of paper-and-pencil tests of editing decisions matter. It would be nice if academics in general
command selection versus using an interactive editor. recognised this, and tested their ideas more fully. Of course,
The authors come to the conclusion that there is little it could be argued in defence of the authors that most of
comparison in the results of the two methods, and what they report is still experimental, and could not be
feel that further research is needed. tried out in real situations because it is too prone to failure.
But this brings out the third criticism of this reviewer, that
9. User assistance in human-computer interfaces. 26 pages. the book was written perhaps a few years too soon, before
Once again, this is a report of some laboratory the ideas and concepts in the book have been sufficiently
experiments, within the area of word processing. It is developed and tested.
doubtful if their conclusions would apply in other
contexts, and their discussion of the use of an on-line However, it is always easy to be critical. One must also
expert assistant is rather superficial; almost behaviourist recognise that the book represents a real step forward in
in its lack of concern for what is going on inside the developing tools for the human-computer interface, and
user's head, that may have led to the request for help. there is little doubt that other groups currently active in this
particular field will fred much to interest them and to guide
10. Human-computer communication for dynamic task them in their own efforts. The thinking behind SUPERMAN,
allocation. 47 pages. Here, the authors are addressing AIDE, and the behavioural demonstrator is sound, and if
one of the more important topics for ergonomists in the tools could be brought to a state of fruition, they would
the next decade; how do we allocate control undoubtedly make a signal contribution to the human
dynamically between humans and computers where factors field. I expect that shortly there wig be good news
both could do the task? Unfortunately, the authors of from Prof Williges and his colleagues in this respect.
this chapter have chosen to use an OR paradigm for
this problem, relying on probability theory and utility Murray Sinclair
theory to generate their decision rules for choosing an
appropriate action. They then tested their model in an
experiment, and obtained a fairly good match between
Flight simulation
the model's predictions and human performance. But J.M. Rolfe and K.J. Staples (Eds)
one wonders whether normative models of this sort Cambridge Aerospace Series, Cambridge University Press,
are of any relevance to real tasks, where the 1987, pp 282+ xii, ISBN 0 521 30649 3, £40.00.
requirement for dynamic task allocation implies long-
term users, who typically have idiosyncratic ways of This book, edited by two MOD researchers, represents
working and who want control systems tailored to an impressive and valuable collection of papers from an
their requirements. equally impressive line-up of international contributors.
11. Human-computer dialogue design and research issues. Industrial and academic specialists are represented, as are
10 pages. This is really a wash-up chapter, in which renowned establishments such as the CAA in this country
the authors run rapidly through the stages of software and NASA in the USA.
interface design. This is a good chapter, and left this Ever since the first powered flight by the Wright Brothers
reviewer wishing that the editors had used this in 1903, the fact has remained that most pilots have received
structure for the rest of the book. 'on-the-job' flying training at the controls of a real aircraft
This is not a book for novices. Nor, despite its title, is it in real flight. This has posed increasingly severe problems
a book for people wishing to design dialogues. It is a book for trainers and trainees alike due to increased performance
of aircraft and the multiple demands for the pilot's attention
bringing together a series of reports, and it suffers from the
at all stages of flight. The revolutionary Link Trainer was
problems that this entails. While some of the chapters are
used in this country during the Second World War, training
concerned with weighty matters, and have interesting things
pilots for aircraft which could barely exceed 300 mile/h
to say, several of the others are a little lightweight, and there
(480 kin/h). The name of Link still features at the top of the
is a lack of continuity from chapter to chapter. In the
list of international simulator developers, but for aircraft
opinion of this reviewer, books of this sort demand strong
with advanced fly-by-wire or fly-by-light avionics, advanced
editorial guidance, and ought to have connecting sections
cockpits, and for speeds now routinely exceeding 1000 mile/h
between the chapters to help the reader along; this book
(1600 kin/h). As the introduction to the book ernphasises,
needs more than it received. Three other carping criticisms
these advances have changed the role of the flight simulator
can also be made; despite the strong emphasis on considering
considerably from a basic training facility to one which
the user throughout the book, there is remarkably little
permits system development, research and experimentation.
within the book that discusses actual users and their
problems. True, there are many experiments reported, but The first 90 pages or so of the book are concerned with
the subjects could as well be laboratory rats as humans for the mathematical modelling and physical aspects of
all the consideration there is of them within the covers of simulation, with particular reference to aircraft motion
this book. People interact with computers within an aerodynamics and flight systems such as inertial navigation,
organisational and social context, and it is an error to over- flight management, engine design, and so on. For readers
look the importance of this context. Secondly, continuing with only a basic grounding in maths or physics, these
this theme, while we must congratulate the authors for their chapters may prove tough going. However, the text
willingness to test their hypotheses by experiments, it would accompanying the numerous equations - for motion,
Applied Ergonomics September 1987 245

perturbations, orientation - is very readable and serves to Committee on Hearing, Bioacoustics and Biomechanics. He
highlight the main points and problems in achieving had virtually completed the manuscript for this book at the
representative aircraft flight characteristics. In addition, time of his sad death in May 1985. It was subsequently made
each topic is well-referenced and would enable an individual ready for publication by a group of his former colleagues.
new to the subject of flight simulation to research the topic students and friends. Noise and human efficiency is the
to whatever level he or she required. sixth in the Wiley series of Studies in human performance.
Of interest to the human factors specialist, I felt that the It is the first monograph in the series, the previous
chapter on visual systems for flight simulation was very well contributions having been edited volumes.
written, with a concise introduction on luminance require- Sound, whether it be audible, infrasonic or ultrasonic,
ments, visual fields of view (eye and head motions), stereopsis, is claimed to affect a wide range of human activities, usually
visual acuity and basic display requirements. This introduction adversely. This book takes the form of a comprehensive
forms a useful foundation for understanding current review of research which has been carried out in this field
methods and future possibilities with computer-generated by a large number of workers. Initially, the book sets out to
imagery (CGI) for flight simulation, in both civil and military introduce the reader to the subject with three background
applications. There are many significant visual system chapters. Chapter 1, "The nature of sound and noise",
advances currently being researched in the military sphere defines sound, identifies some of its essential characteristics,
such as Singer Link's ESPRIT system (Eye-Slaved Projected and describes ways of measuring and producing it. Chapter 2,
Raster Inset) which is an example of 'area-of-interest' (AOI) "The auditory system", commences with a concise
displays. AOI systems are based on the principle of description of the structure of the hearing mechanism. It
generating and displaying CGI in the direction in which the goes on to explain the associated nervous system and current
pilot is looking at any given moment. These systems are understanding of the manner in which this functions.
capable of tracking both head and eye movements and, by Chapter 3, "Hearing - our basic capacities", briefly describes
considering the distribution of visual acuity across the human auditory capabilities and the ways by which these
human retina, can project a high-resolution central field of can be measured.
view (around 15 ° - 2 5 °) for detailed inspection, surrounded
by a lower resolution but larger visual field. Currently, Chapter 4, "Masking and related phenomena", leads into
international research is being devoted to replacing spherical the main body of the book by considering the various forms
screen simulators in this context with systems capable of that masking and its associated effects can take. Chapter 5,
generating imagery using a helmet-mounted display. "Hearing loss and other after-effects on hearing", covers
this very broad area in a thorough, if necessarily abbreviated,
Another interesting chapter on the flight simulator as a manner. Subjects which are considered include temporary
research tool presents a useful summary of some of the and permanent effects of noise on hearing in terms of
facilities that are available for simulation research both in changes in threshold, loudness and pitch. Tinnitus,
the air (variable stability aircraft) and on the ground. Two recruitment, tone decay and the effects of hearing loss on
research programmes are described in brief, one concerned the perception of speech are also discussed. Chapter 6,
with the broad topic of flying 'qualities', the other concerned "Subjective reactions to noise", looks at tile scaling of sound
with cockpit data entry devices, specifically comparing a by the use of such concepts as pitch, loudness and annoyance
touch-sensitive display with a direct voice input system. Indices designed to quantify environmental annoyance over
time, such as CNR, TNI and NPL, are covered. In addition,
Space does not permit a review of other aspects of the
legal aspects of noise annoyance, economic impact and
book, such as aviation legislation and the design requirements
social costs are discussed.
for the simulator instructor's station. However, and in
conclusion, I hope that this most informative book is the Chapter 7, "Physiological effects of intense noise", covers
first edition in a series of regular updates on the topic of physiological non-auditory effects of intense noise and the
flight simulation. The subject is one of immense interest likelihood of habituation to it. The possibility of associated
across the world, particularly with the recent emergence of chronic health problems is also considered, as are special
advanced concepts such as the 'visual' cockpit and the 'auto- effects due to infra- and ultrasound. Other phenomena, such
mated wingman', both of which seek to address the traditional as startle, EEG changes and effects on sleep, are included.
role of the pilot as an active flyer, navigator and in military Chapter 8, "The intersensory effects of acoustic simulation",
contexts, deliverer of munitions. The book contains reviews discusses, and largely dismisses, the likelihood of sound
of many technologies which are not only restricted to the influencing the degree, acuity or quality of non-auditory
subject of flight simulation. Consequently I feel that it will sensation. Chapter 9, "Noise and task efficiency", concludes
become an important and useful reference source for that non-auditory effects of noise on performance are not as
government, industrial and academic institutions alike. widespread, but are more complex, than originally believed.
R.J. Stone Chapter 10 is entitled "Conclusions and prophecies",
Human Factors Department, British Aerospace Sowerby and discusses the more significant findings and trends from
Research Centre (Bristol) the foregoing text. It does not take the form of a full over-
view of the book, as the individual chapters each contain
summary sections. These summaries are likely to prove
Noise and human efficiency useful to the reader, who is frequently presented with a
M. Loeb catalogue of research results which are contradictory or
John Wiley and Sons Ltd, Chichester, pp 269 + xiv, £28.00. inconclusive.
Noise and human efficiency is an excellent and concise
Dr Loeb was Professor of Psychology at the University survey of an extremely wide and complex area of research.
of Louisville and had been Head of the Audition Section of Its extensive list of references (31 pages) would make it a
the United States Armed Forces National Research valuable addition to the shelves of any institution or
246 Applied Ergonomics September1987

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importance of error-correction facilities for speech be nice if there was some recognition of the limitations of

Applied Ergonomics September 1987 245

246 Applied Ergonomics September1987

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