Author
Weixuan Li, Glyn Lawson, Setia Hermawati & Kyle Harrington Abstract
This study investigates the application of augmented reality to enhance rescue efficiency, alleviate workload, and improve decision-making in earthquake rescue. The findings demonstrate that AR-based solutions surpass conventional approaches in task completion duration, map utilisation, and decision-making simplicity, underscoring AR's capacity to improve human factors issues in disaster contexts. Future studies should include professional rescue teams as well as more complex simulations to test AR's effectiveness in real-world emergency situations.

Author
Wen-Chin Li, Tim Bord, Jingyi Zhang, Graham Braithwaite and Mudassir Lone Abstract
The human-centred design of augmented visualisation aids can have significant effect on human performance and cognitive processes by increasing an operator’s capability to manage complex checklists. This study investigated the use of an Augmented Reality (AR) device as a cockpit integration tool and the possible new challenges relating to Human-Computer interactions it induces. Seventeen aviation professionals (pilots, engineers, and training pilots) aged from 23 to 53 (M=29.82, SD=8.93) participated in this experiment. Their flight experience ranged from zero flight hours to 3000 flight hours (M=605.00, SD=1051.04). Two types of interaction - by gesture and voice control, have been compared with traditional paper checklists. The results show that gesture control AR gives rise to unnecessary complexity and tends to be cumbersome to use. On the other hand, voice control AR checklists could constitute an improvement in terms of usability of checklists completion in flight operations. Paper checklists tend to score higher in terms of ‘learnability’ as it is the simplest way to use a traditional checklist. It is also interesting to find that voice control AR checklists tend to be rated as the highest on both the total score of System Usability Scale (SUS) and in terms of ‘usability’. These phenomena are consistent with the comments of participants that they would prefer to apply a voice control AR checklist over a paper checklist, if they were more familiar with it in the future. The improvement in modes of interaction and the presentation of information could lead to changes in usability and operational procedures. There is a need for further exploration of the implications of AR technology on the flight deck before implementation.

Author
Victoria Cutler, Alison Clerici & Eleanor Cox Abstract
Human Augmentation (HA) technologies have been identified as a key future technology to enhance human performance, which could be of benefit in a range of contexts, including defence and security. However, there are a wide range of HA technologies, and limited methods available to evaluate the benefits and risks associated with their use. This project tested an approach to evaluating HA technologies that involved a modified version of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Early Human Factors Analysis (EHFA). The HA EHFA was tested by applying it to the use of telexistence for use in battlefield medical care. The HA EHFA was successful in being able to identify the operational benefits, capability vulnerabilities, and ethical considerations associated with the technology. It is recommended that the HA EHFA be used to evaluate HA technologies for use in a defence and security context.

Author
Weixuan Li, Glyn Lawson & Gary Burnett Abstract
Good emergency management is essential when human beings face natural disasters. However, there are many human factors challenges in this area, in particular teamwork amongst those involved with the response efforts, but also communication, navigation, and workload. This article presents the findings from nine interviews with emergency management practitioners based in China, with an emphasis on the potential use of Virtual- and Augmented-Reality to address the aforementioned human factors issues.

Author
Niall Miranda, Jean-Baptiste Bonotaux & Wen-Chin Li Abstract
Devices using voice recognition and verbal auditory alerts have advanced rapidly in the modern world. In an era that drives the world using voice commands, aviation has lagged to implement this technology in cockpits. Contrary to the rapid pace of advancements in cockpit instruments, auditory alerts have also been largely primitive. With such technologies gaining rapid acceptance in many industries, it is about time to consider adopting the same in cockpits, especially to support pilots during enhanced operational workload. This paper conducts a use case study on the prevailing aural technologies in the cockpit whilst exploring the augmentation of contemporary technologies in voice recognition and verbal auditory alerts to aid pilots’ cognition and reduce mental workload.