The technology of Instructor/Operator stations has migrated from mechanical assemblies of meters, lamps, buttons and switches to computerized displays and controls based on graphics systems. These systems still seem to be produced using ‘one-off’ techniques. This paper looks at the characteristics that could be expected of a generic man machine interface that would be suitable for a range of training tasks. The difference between requirements for uses such as an Instructor's workstation, an Operator's workstation and a CBT student's workstation are examined.
In particular, this paper considers characteristics such as:-
Ease of use
Is this really a consideration?
User efficiency
How can a user get the best out of the system?
Context adaptability
Can the system fulfil the needs of many different users?
Re-configurability and applicability of the solution
How can a system be designed which is applicable to many different tasks?
Integration with data sources
How can a generic man machine interface be connected to a training system and what services need to be provided?
Cost-effectiveness
How can a cost effective solution for a wide range of tasks be provided?
The paper develops an architecture for a generic man machine interface which can satisfy the criteria discussed in this paper. Some ‘standard’ software and hardware is examined to see how it fits into this architecture and how much of the solution it can provide.