ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the actual constraints on the Generic Intelligent Driver Support (GIDS) prototype design. It reviews the situations, task elements, support functions, interface characteristics, and individual factors that comprise the Small World paradigm. The chapter discusses the constraining factors on the implementation of the GIDS system. The success of the GIDS project is dependent upon the use of a systems approach to design, an approach that is multi-disciplinary in nature. The role of the engineer is to consider the possibilities of the hardware and its limitations, such as time to failure, operating environment, tolerance to load, etc. The role of the ergonomist is to advise the system designer on the human component in the same way that the engineer advises on the hardware and software components, in terms of tasks and in terms of capacities and limitations.
