The role of computer tools in experts’ solving ill-structured problems

The focus of this study is first, the qualitative changes within the human agent as a result of extensive computer tool use (over 5 years), also described as the effect of tool use [Pea, R. D. (1985). Beyond amplification: using the computer to reorganize mental functioning. Educational Psychologist, 20(4), 167–182; Salomon, G. (1990). Cognitive effects with and of computer technology. Communication Research, 17(1), 26–44], and second, the “quantitative changes in accomplishment” of the human agent in the presence of computer tools, also described as effect with-tools [Pea (1985, p. 57); Solomon (1990)]. This research used ill-structured problem solving as the task and experts with more than 6 years of domain and tool experience to document the changes in their knowledge structures. The study also compared the differences between the ill-structured problem solving with and without the computer tool to identify differences that may be a result of the computer’s presence.     

The determinants and expression of computer-related anger

Studies of everyday computer-related anger are rare. To shed more light upon this anecdotally common phenomenon, retrospective self-report questionnaires were used to elicit closed-ended and open-ended responses from 126 members of the general public and students in northern England who supplied psychological and behavioral data connected with a single recently experienced occurrence of computer-related anger. Inter alia, findings show verbal and physical aggression towards equipment to be common in bouts of computer anger, and physical aggression to be associated with greater negative affect prior to incidents but not with stress-related factors. However, stress-related factors and negative affect predicted variance in anger intensity over and above cognitive appraisal variables. It is concluded that computer anger is likely to be a source of stress for a small but significant number of people, that computers’ non-sentience leads to physical disinhibition, but that evidence that the expression of computer anger in social environments is inhibited by fear of people’s negative evaluations is weak. Further conclusions include the observations that anger is likely to be more intense when theoretically relevant cognitive appraisals are made, a person is in an irritable mood and when physiological arousal is elevated because of ongoing events.     

The evolution of the Computers and Writing Conference, the second decade

This article, written for the twentieth anniversary of the Computers and Writing Conference, is the sequel to “The Evolution of the Computers and Writing Conference” (Computers and Composition, 12(3), November, 1995). The earlier article analyzed many of the intellectual concerns, values, and language expressed in presentations at the Computers and Writing Conference from 1982 to 1994. This article does the same for the second ten conferences, 1995-2004. Throughout the second decade, we have developed a new comfort with computers, expanded our idea of “writing” beyond the traditional essay, and gained a respected place in the academy. Computers and writing has become an institution. At the same time, we sometimes worry about losing control over our teaching and can feel overwhelmed by the size of the task we undertake. Many of our values have stayed the same; however, we are optimistic about the place of technology in our work and in the culture at large, we love to experiment, and we routinely weave ideas from other disciplines and other areas of our lives into our computers and writing research.     

Preference for textual information and acting on support devices in multiple representations in a computer based learning environment for statistics

Two studies researched the relevance for knowledge construction in statistics of learners preference for representational system and the mediating role of learners acting with information delivered in textual, graphical and mathematical-symbolic mode.     

Are computers good or bad for business? How mediated customer–computer interaction alters emotions,impressions, and patronage toward organizations

Are computers good or bad for business? Although computers are social actors research finds that people react to computers and humans with similar tendencies, little research directly compares human–computer interaction to human–human interaction. I ask how mediated transactions with a company’s human or computer representatives alter customers’ reactions toward that company. I conduct an experiment where subjects in the role of customers received products (low or high quality) from a representative (human or computer). I measure the customer’s emotions, impressions, and patronage toward both the representative and the organization. The data indicate few differences in reactions toward the representative and the organization, however, customers perceive the organization as more responsible and in control when they have employed human, not computer, representatives. A hypothesized statistical interaction effect (a moderation effect) on several emotions indicates that computer representatives decrease the strength of the relationship between receiving low or high quality products and customer’s emotions. Although many customer reactions indicate no human/computer differences, I discuss how the statistical moderation effect of computer identity on several emotions may relate to computers are social actors and other research.     

Training adult novices to use computers: Effects of different types of illustrations

Two experiments examined the acquisition of word-processing skills (Experiment 1) and internet usage skills (Experiment 2) by novice adults using three types of illustration, specifically, full-screen illustrations with the text superimposed, icons embedded in the text, and a control, text-only condition. Training with the full-screen or embedded icons yielded significant improvements in performance relative to the text-only condition only in tests that simply required the participants to repeat the step-by-step directions. When tests required that the participants themselves retrieve and reproduce the sequence of steps, the training with illustrations – especially the full-screen illustrations – repeatedly had a negative effect on performance. The results suggest that the illustrations, by making it easy to execute each step of a procedure during training, encouraged superficial processing, which in turn yielded a set of stimulus-response associations rather than a well-linked sequence of actions in long-term memory.     

基于性能退化分析的电连接器可靠性评估

某型电连接器具有寿命长、可靠性高的特点,传统的基于失效寿命数据的可靠性评估方法行不通。提出了基于性能退化分析的可靠性评估方法,给出了进行评估的一般步骤,并以温度为加速应力设计了该型电连接器的加速退化试验。分析了电连接器的接触失效机理,进而推导出退化模型,估计出了样品的伪寿命值。利用Anderson-Darling统计量确定寿命分布类型为对数正态分布,对寿命分布函数和Arrhenius加速方程的参数值进行了极大似然估计,推导出了该型电连接器在工作温度下的可靠度函数,得出t0.9为244 240h。     

Basic program for determining the best identification scores possible from the most typical examples when compared with an identification matrix of percent positive characters

A BASIC program entitled MOSTTYP is given for evaluation of the quality of identification matrices by calculating the best identification scores that an entirely typical example of each group could achieve. The program is intended to supplement the method of identification of unknowns with presence-absence properties by comparison with a matrix of percent positive characters.     

The effect of a helmet on cognitive performance is,at worst,marginal: A controlled laboratory study

The present study looked at the effect of a helmet on cognitive performance under demanding conditions, so that small effects would become more detectible. Nineteen participants underwent 30 min of continuous visual vigilance, tracking, and auditory vigilance (VTT + AVT), while seated in a warm environment (27.2 (±0.6) °C, humidity 41 (±1)%, and 0.5 (±0.1) m s⁻¹ wind speed). The participants wore a helmet in one session and no helmet in the other, in random order. Comfort and temperature perception were measured at the end of each session. Helmet-wearing was associated with reduced comfort (p = 0.001) and increased temperature perception (p < 0.001), compared to not wearing a helmet. Just one out of nine cognitive parameters showed a significant effect of helmet-wearing (p = .032), disappearing in a post-hoc comparison. These results resolve previous disparate studies to suggest that, although helmets can be uncomfortable, any effect of wearing a helmet on cognitive performance is at worst marginal.     

Basic program for printing a coding sheet for unknowns that are to be identified against an identification matrix of percent positive characters

A BASIC program is given, entitled IDEFORM, that prints a coding sheet for use in computer-assisted identification. The coding sheet is intended for use with the program MATIDEN by which unknowns scored for presence-absence properties or characters are compared with an identification matrix of percent positive characters of a number of groups or taxa. The coding sheet is prepared from the particular identification matrix for use with that matrix.     

Reflecting upon the Past,Sitting with the Present,and Charting our Future: Gail Hawisher and Cynthia,Selfe Discussing the Community of Computers & Composition

This interview with Gail Hawisher and Cynthia Selfe highlights themes of collaboration and access, in addition to the importance of the work people in the community of computers and writing contribute nationally and internationally to the field, to rhetoric and composition, and to other disciplines. Both Hawisher and Self reflect upon thirty years of scholarship in Computers and Composition as well as discuss present initiatives with the Digital Archives of Literacy Narratives and Computers and Composition Digital Press, in addition to charting our future with a turn to the global.     

Reducing computer operating costs

This paper presents a cost reduction strategy for computer operating expenses. Different ratios are proposed to help decision makers in understanding the impact of computer operating cost on productivity and profitability. Computer Operating Cost Self-Assessment Checklist is provided.     

Effects of working conditions and sleep of the previous day on cognitive performance

The study examined the consequences of working conditions on the previous day on cognitive performance the following day. It also addressed the issue of whether this relationship was mediated by sleep and whether it differed as a function of age. The data were taken from the VISAT study (aging, health and work) and concerned the participant's general work schedule, general sleep quality, working conditions on the previous day (content, duration, load and schedule), subsequent sleep length and quality, and cognitive performance. Results showed that both physical activity and working before 6 am or after 10 pm on the previous day were significantly associated with poorer cognitive performance. Significant effects of working conditions on the previous day were also observed on subsequent sleep, but these effects did not mediate the relationship between working conditions and cognitive performance. The observed effect on cognitive performance of atypical work hours on the previous day was similar for all ages, probably because of the healthy worker effect.     

RESEARCH ON HUMAN FACTORS IN ROAD TRANSPORT

The paper attempts to list the most important fields in which research on human factors in road transport is required.

The importance of improving the efficiency of road transport is emphasized, and the figures for road casualties are quoted to demonstrate the need to study the behaviour of cyclists, motor-cyclists and pedestrians as well as motorists.

The problems on which research is required are grouped under the six headings of perception, communication of information, control of the vehicle, comfort, protection of occupants, and behaviour of drivers. Subjects regarded as of particular interest are (1) the communication of information to the driver, (2) the design of the vehicle to improve control by the driver, (3) crash injury protection for the motorist and for the motor-cyclist, and (4) the study of the driving task.     

Investigations into the skills of modern and traditional train driving

Rail operations are housed inside a complex and extremely dynamic system where work is distributed in time and space. The train driver has traditionally relied on their own decisions, plans, and actions to navigate the rail environment, but the use of modern driver systems that force how these activities are regulated has altered this dynamic. This paper reports the findings of a study that set out to investigate the skills of modern (enhanced display-based) and traditional (real world) train driving. Data were collected from a variety of UK domain experts (n = 45) using an innovative methodology that converged multiple techniques for knowledge elicitation and analysis. The findings are represented in a model of dynamic train control and discussed according to the specific features and nature of tracking skill in the rail domain. The utility of the model is demonstrated through work of its application to the design of a train simulator and research tool for systematic study of rail human factor issues.     

Bright light effects on ultradian rhythms in performance on hemisphere-specific tasks

Ultradian rhythms in indices of brain hemisphere activity and in cognitive performance have been found in numerous studies. Asymmetry of these rhythms with regard to phase and frequency have also been documented in some studies. There is some evidence that bright light can affect ultradian rhythms of arousal state and vigilance. A study on unilateral exposure to bright light has demonstrated more pronounced effects of bright light on the right hemisphere. The aim of this study was to examine whether daytime intermittent bright light could affect parameters of ultradian rhythms in performance speed on hemisphere-specific tasks, and whether the effect of bright light was symmetric for the rhythms in performance on hemisphere-specific tasks presented laterally. A counter-balanced, within-subject research design was applied. The performance of 15 participants on hemisphere-specific tasks exposed laterally was measured every 30 min starting at 08:00 h and ending at 20:30 h in intermittent bright light (IBL, pulses of 15 min of 4000 lux light regularly interspersed between 45 min of background light levels of 300 lux) and in ordinary room light (ORL) conditions (300 lux). Individual time series data were subjected to cosinor analysis. General linear model analyses (the factors were: level of processing, visual field, and the task) were performed on the rhythms’ parameters. There was a substantial lengthening of the rhythms’ periods in IBL conditions for performance speed on spatial tasks and an increase in amplitude of the rhythms of performance speed for spatial tasks in both visual fields and for verbal tasks in the left visual field in the IBL conditions when compared to the ORL conditions. The results showed that the schedule of light exposure affected ultradian rhythms of hemisphere-specific tasks differently and that the right hemisphere seems to be more “sensitive” to light than the left hemisphere.