best were drawn by eye.
The maximum Controllers at air route traffic
lifting frequency of females is
approximately 0.7 of that of males at
the same relative burden. The difference
is probably due to the difference in the
capacity of the oxygen transporting
system in the two sexes. From the
results of the above experiments
guidelines for practical use have been
worked out.
8.2.14 (70904)
Dehlin, O., Hedenrud, B., and Horal, J.
Back symptoms in nursing aides in a
geriatric hospital. Scandinavian Journal
of Rehabilitation Medicine, 1976,
8.2, 47-53.
The incidence of back symptoms,
particularly in the lumbar region, was
investigated in 267 female nursing
aides in a geriatric hospital. The overall illumination than most techniques
incidence of lowback symptoms was
46.8%. Low-back insufficiency was
present in 40%, lumbago in 18.4% and
sciatica in 7.6%. Nursing aides with
low-back symptoms had a higher
incidence of cervical and thoracic
spine symptoms than those without
low-back symptoms. Recurrence of
low-back symptoms had been common,
appearing in 82%. Nursing aides with
low-back symptoms considered their
work more stressful to the spine than
those without low-back symptoms.
No relationship was found between
different kinds of lifting technique
and the incidence of low-back symptoms. The design of systems for
8.2.15 (71238)
Anon.
Conditions and restrictions on the
formulation of a human biometric data
bank. Translation into English of
Applied Anthropology Document
A.A. 69/74, 1974. RAE Translation
No 1833.
The paper considers the formation
and use of a proposed bank of human
biometric data. Simulation of the way
in which the data could be used
indicated that in very many cases the
data bank could only answer practical
questions if they were phrased
specifically, unless recourse was
available to the original, individual
data. However, by its combination of
data from many sources, the bank
would allow the formation of artificial
sub-populations and reduce the need
for lengthy field studies.
Visual displays
8.2.16 (70935)
Gustafson, P.C., Aschenbaeh, J., and
Sluzer, R.L.
Plan view display (PVD) background
lighting. Final report, Nov 1974 -
Dec 1975. Reports Announcements
(Report No AD-A024 954/0GA).
Paper presented at the Eighth ARRB
control centres (ARTCC's) have
complained that display information
on plan view displays (PVD's) causes
eyestrain and headaches after a
prolonged period of controlling traffic.
The controllers indicated that
background brightness level similar to
the type previously experienced for
raster-scanned displays might be a
remedy. Therefore, an investigation
and evaluation of several methods of
generating a uniform background
brightness on the PVD were conducted.
Results show that the defocused raster
method is the most effective and
practical type of background bright-
ness generation to be considered for
field evaluation. The etched-surface
cathode-ray tube also tended to
produce a more uniform background
investigated. This report is a survey of
several methods to generate a uniform
background brightness on the face of a
plan view display (PVD) in an air route
traffic control centre (ARTCC). The
background brightness is intended to
offset the undesirable PVD
characteristics of high contrast and
front surface reflections, which is
annoying to the vision of the air traffic
controllers.
8.2.17 (70940)
Zimmermann, R.
communications between men and
machines. (In German). Regelungs-
technische Praxis, Feb 1976, 18.2,
4 5 - 4 9 ; abstr in Computer and Control
Abstracts.
When designing optical indicator
systems the methods of arranging and
coding the information and its format,
owing to human powers of
discrimination, are of greater
importance than the contrast and
resolution of most modern presentation
systems. Human ability to disciminate
varieties of symbols (eg, Chinese) is
almost infinite but the number of
useful symbols does depend on the
resolution of the indicator system.
Where true symbols are used they must
be readily associable with the object
represented. From some 200 to I000
different symbols only 20 should be
simultaneously used. While size and
location play a part the grouping and
arrangement is vital for clear under-
standing. Colour has to be carefully
used as the untrained eye can only
distinguish some 11 colours, which are
not equally clear if the background
colour varies.
8.2.18 (70943)
Bryant, J.F.M., and Smith, G.
The shape of traffic signal arrows.
Conference, University of Western
Australia, Perth, 2 3 - 2 7 August 1976,
22 pp.
The purpose of experiments
described was to determine the shape
of a traffic signal arrow which would
have high visibility both day and night
and would be resistant to blur and
'irradiation'. The first two experiments,
conducted in the laboratory, enabled
a set of arrows to be chosen on the
basis of contrast and blur. The third
experiment, using the current designs
of traffic lanterns, explored the effects
of intensity, size, day versus night
conditions, colour and lens pattern as
well as arrow shape on visibility under
practical conditions.
8.2.19 (70961)
Ortli, B., Weckerle, H., and Wendt, D.
Legibility of numerals displayed in a
4 x 7 dot matrix and seven-segment
digits. Visible Language, 1976, 10.2,
145-155.
Conventional and especially designed
numerals in 4 x 7 dot matrices and
7-segment displays were tachistoscopically
presented to, and identified by, human
observers. The number of errors made
in this identification task were analysed
as a measure of legibility in terms of
information transmission. It is shown
that the representation of digits in
such matrices can be improved by
appropriate design.
8.2.20 (70963)
Hind, P.R., Tritt, B.H., and
Hoffman, E.R.
Effects of level of illumination,
strokewidth, visual angle and contrast
on the legibility of numerals of
various fonts. Paper presented at the
Eighth ARRB Conference, University
of Western Australia, Perth, 2 3 - 2 7
August 1976, 27 pp.
Examination of the effects of level
of illumination, strokewidth, visual
angle and contrast on legibility of
numerals shows that some fonts tested
are significantly better than others.
There is an optimum luminance level
(of about 34.3 cd/m 2 ) for legibility of
white letters on a black background.
White letters on black background are
significantly more legible than black
numerals on a white background.
Optimum legibility is obtained when
strokewidth/height ratios are less than
one-sixth for black numerals and
about one-twelfth for white numerals.
A set of numerals was selected from
all those tested which is significantly
better than any of the standard sets,
particularly for black numerals on a
white background.
Applied Ergonomics June 1977 113