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Human Performance Engineering Practice
Case Studies:
Evaluating Handset Designs for an Army Communications Device
______________________________________________________Challenge
The U.S. Army needed a field communications handset that functioned as a cellular phone and a word processor—all in one unit. The handset and electronics case had to meet strict requirements for portability, ease of use, safety, size, and weight.
This device had to function in all weather, chemical, biological, and stealth environments. It also required a keypad large enough for a soldier to operate while wearing bulky Arctic gloves and a display visible both at night and in bright sunlight. Large keys on a small handset left room for very few keys, but the device had to have a full range of alphabetic, numeric, and punctuation characters, along with editing and interface navigation functions. Basically, the interface couldn't be more complex than a keyboard, yet it had to function as a complete computer keyboard.
Result
CHI Systems’ Human Performance Engineering Practice conducted a thorough ob analysis for Lockheed Martin Satellite Communications Group, using the results to create and test several alternative handset designs and interaction protocols for data entry and editing functions.
We experimented with potential designs to identify the best design from the soldier's perspective by using a range of subjects that met key low- and high-end anthropometric characteristics. We also tested different keyboard and display options, including various data-entry and editing methods.
The result was a design that met Army requirements and could be operated without any formal training, and a human engineering process that was tightly integrated into our client’s engineering Integrated Product Teams.
Reference
Riley, D. & Glenn, F. (1996) Alphanumeric Data Entry and Editing on a Telephone-Type Keypad. In Proceedings of Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 40th Annual Meeting, Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
