Sandstorm Design’s Director of Research to Present at HFES Conference

PR Log (Press Release) – Jun 24, 2009 – The Director of Research at Sandstorm Design, Mark Jodlowski, PhD Human Factors, has been selected by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) to present at their annual conference in San Antonio, TX, this October.  

The presentation will address his paper on the validity of a comprehension-based model of dynamic environments developed in 2007. His findings suggest that pilot training can be improved by having pilots interpret instrument values, such as if an aircraft is going too fast or descending too quickly, to achieve a specific goal. Pilots appear to leverage both familiar mechanisms of long-term working memory (LTWM) and encoding based on pilot training techniques (i.e., control & performance or primary and supporting).

Based on these results, Mark Jodlowski proposes the consideration of event-based training that frequently requests and captures pilots’ evaluation and assessment of the state of the aircraft with respect to a goal as a training technique. This would influence pilot encoding skills and facilitate the development of situation awareness.

Mr. Jodlowski hopes that the presentation stimulates discussion of the topic and inspires someone in the audience to support his endeavors further.

The HFES works to “promote the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of systems and devices of all kinds.” Established in 1957, it caters to various specialties through its 23 technical groups and numerous local and student chapters. Mr. Jodlowski will present to the Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making Technical Group.

For more information on the HFES, please visit www.hfes.org.