Effects of User Interface Design on Cognitive Load in Air Traffic Management

The current study conducted by Mindset Technologies and Frequentis has validated a methodology to assess the influence of the CHI design of ATM applications on the cognitive load of air traffic controllers interacting with ATC communications systems. We examined the impact of fixations, saccades, blink rates and blink duration of the controllers’ eyes. The collected data was then categorized in the perceived cognitive load, subjective reports by test personnel on the competency of decision-making, the perceived usability, and human error resilience among others. Two analyses were performed, one using the gaze and mind tracking method and the second determining the cognitive load via the NASA task load index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire. Both methods are valid for measuring and conducting a mental workload (MWL) assessment. The paper describes the testing methodology, the setup of the experimental laboratory and discusses the results of the study indicating that gaze tracking and monitoring of blinks and saccades have a higher sensitivity to cognitive load effects than the subjective rating (NASA-TLX).