Publications

Complex challenges across Sandia National Laboratories? (SNL) mission areas underscore the need for systems level thinking, resulting in a better understanding of the organizational work systems and environments in which our hardware and software will be used. SNL researchers have successfully used Activity Theory (AT) as a framework to clarify work systems, informing product design, delivery, acceptance, and use. To increase familiarity with AT, a working group assembled to select key resources on the topic and generate an annotated bibliography. The resources in this bibliography are arranged in six categories: 1) An introduction to AT; 2) Advanced readings in AT; 3) AT and human computer interaction (HCI); 4) Methodological resources for practitioners; 5) Case studies; and 6) Related frameworks that have been used to study work systems. This annotated bibliography is expected to improve the reader?s understanding of AT and enable more efficient and effective application of it.

The Sandia National Laboratories Human Factors team designed and executed an experiment to quantify the differences between 2D and 3D reference materials with respect to task performance and cognitive workload. A between-subjects design was used where 27 participants were randomly assigned either 2D or 3D reference material condition (14 and 13 participants, respectively). The experimental tasks required participants to interpret, locate, and report dimensions on their assigned reference material. Performance was measured by accuracy of task completion and time-to-complete. After all experimental tasks were completed, cognitive workload data were collected. Response times were longer in the 3D condition vice the 2D. However, no differences were found between conditions with respect to response accuracy and cognitive workload, which may indicate no negative cognitive impacts concerning the sole use of 3D reference materials in the work-place. This paper concludes with possible future efforts to address the limitations of this experiment and to explore the mechanisms behind the findings of this work.

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