A study on the usefulness of display format using three-dimensional drawing

The paper proposes a novel display format of VDU pictures for an industrial plant, using three-dimensional drawing. The format is a combination of a mimic diagram and bar graphs, which visually connects system configuration with parameter values thereon. An experimental study using a research simulator of a nuclear power plant with forty-two operators as subjects suggested the usefulness of the format in getting a good grasp of the balance of parameter values, in comparison with a conventional format. Probable application of the format to instructional aids, and some important factors for drawing were suggested by subjective evaluation from NPP operators.