ABSTRACT

The interaction of humans with technology imposes certain demands on operators’ behavior. Task analysis helps us reveal the extent of these demands. Thus, analysis of human-technology interaction usually begins with a description of the tasks. The concept of task and the techniques of task analysis are the most potent tools for the analysis of the human-technology relationship. They determine the steps by which humans interact with technology. From the activity theory (AT) perspective, task analysis can be defined as the study of work activity strategies in terms of logical organization of cognitive and behavioral actions to achieve the goal of the task that derives from the demands of the system. According to this definition, the goal of the task and the goal of the system are not the same. The overall goal of a task should be accepted or formulated by the performer based on the requirements of the system. Furthermore, there is never just one optimal way of task performance. Possible strategies of task performance should be developed based on constraint-based principles that derive from the requirements of the system. This understanding of task analysis eliminates contradictions between the so-called normative and constraint-based principles of task analysis, which exists in the ecological approach to task analysis (see, for example, Vicente 1999). However, the nature of work constantly changes. Recently, the main

CONTENTS

4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 89 4.2 Meaning and Sense in Task Performance ................................................ 91 4.3 Thought Process during the Performance of Computer-Based Tasks ..... 95 4.4 Analysis of Task Performance in the Nonproduction Environment ...103 4.5 Classification of Tasks and Their Basic Characteristics ....................... 108 4.6 Conclusion .................................................................................................. 113 References ............................................................................................................. 115

change in human work is its computerization. This evokes new issues in the study of human work associated with informational technology. These issues can be addressed by task analysis of computer-based systems.