ABSTRACT
High demands for new drug development and advances in robotic technologies have led to automation of lab-based compound screening processes. This advancement has also led to a change in the human operator role from direct process controller to monitor and process supervisor. The objective of this research was to compare two supervisory control interfaces prototyped based on different conceptual design approaches, including an ecological interface design (EID) and conventional
engineering interface design (ENG), for supporting operator decision making on screening process errors and managing mental workload. Based on examination of an existing supervisory control system, two virtual supervisory control interfaces (VSCis) were developed to present the EID and ENG design approaches. Results indicated that the EID approach lowered workload, as measured using heart rate (a decrease in beats per minute), compared with the ENG design. The EID approach also increased operator SA, particularly in terms of perception of elements in the task. The results of the study provide a basis for future interface development in the life science domain and underscore the need for interface design guidelines to improve human performance and increase productivity.
