ABSTRACT
Today's Digital Human Models (DHMs) are primarily used for designing new processes, workplaces, or products. Most of these applications have in common that they focus on the spatial design. The DHMs allow the inclusion of anthropometric dimensions, biomechanics and their variability. Available functions include sight, reach, range, and posture analyses. But modern work and workplaces often involve information technology and human information processing. According to literature research information processing and cognitive workload affect human movement behavior and, thus, require additional modifications of spatial workplace design.
It is hypothesized that the interrelationship primarily affects motion planning and less motion execution. https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">N=60https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429061943/2c936423-cf77-45da-a819-2deb9400929a/content/eq140.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> participants (male, 19 – 27 yrs) took part in the experiment to investigate this interrelationship. A console workplace was selected because users experience a vast amount of cognitive workload at similar workplaces (e.g. surveillance workplaces or radar system controllers). The setup facilitated an in-depth analysis of different goal-directed movements of the upper extremities towards a target area. During the experiment the participants reached to 14 different target positions which were assigned in a random order. In parallel, they performed a mathematic processing task for information processing. Results were analyzed using ANOVA and subsequent post-hoc tests. The ANOVA of subjective workload 104ratings confirmed that an additional information processing task resulted into significantly longer time to prepare a goal-directed movement https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">(F=33.55;p<0.01https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429061943/2c936423-cf77-45da-a819-2deb9400929a/content/eq141.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> and https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">F=37.58;p<0.01)https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429061943/2c936423-cf77-45da-a819-2deb9400929a/content/eq142.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>. The measurement of effectiveness https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">o2https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429061943/2c936423-cf77-45da-a819-2deb9400929a/content/eq143.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> was larger than the effect of a spatial shift of the target location https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">o2=0.11https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429061943/2c936423-cf77-45da-a819-2deb9400929a/content/eq144.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> and https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">o2=0.19https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429061943/2c936423-cf77-45da-a819-2deb9400929a/content/eq145.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>. However, the additional task did not result into longer movement times (https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">F=6.8;p<0.01https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429061943/2c936423-cf77-45da-a819-2deb9400929a/content/eq146.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/> and https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">F=2.1;p=0.13https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780429061943/2c936423-cf77-45da-a819-2deb9400929a/content/eq147.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>). A subsequent in-depth analysis of the temporal spatial trajectory revealed that a significant effect is only observed for the initial posture.
The results support the effect of an information processing task on motion behavior. It affects primarily motion planning but not motion execution. However, in order to exclude effects on the spatial movement and posture, subsequent analyses should follow.
