ABSTRACT
In complex operating environments, knowledge of just the present states does not provide sufficient information to allow the operators to make accurate mental predictions concerning the future behaviour of systems. Predictive displays aim to reduce this otherwise necessary mental prediction process and place more emphasis on the decisionmaking capabilities of the human operator (Warner 1968). Predictive systems have seen their greatest advancement within the aerospace industry. Trujillo (1993) highlighted the potential usefulness of predictive displays in increasing flight safety by stating that early detection of possible subsystem problems may give the flight crew more options for dealing with the failure. In other words, a method for decreasing the severity of a developing problem, such as a possible engine fault, should entail the ability to predict its behavior so that appropriate corrective actions can be taken. Thus, within the safety-driven culture in which the domain of ergonomics and human factors sits, predictive information displays are being implemented in a wide range of applied, safety-critical settings including aviation, space, and the nuclear industries. However, technological advancements, such as more powerful computing systems, have meant that the realization of predictive information displays has only recently become more feasible even though its conception is well over half a century old.
