Equipment Note The Use of Real-Time Simulation by Means of Animation Film As an Analytical Design Tool in Certain...

An animated-film sequence simulating the significant visual aspects of a vehicular trip on a projected but nonexistent airport road system was produced in order to provide a direct, essentially realistic, and immediately comprehensible means of s 'experiencing ' the process of data perception and response required in negotiating the road system safely and accurately to a selected destination. The film objectively and incontrovertibly confirmed the existence of a problem caused by a suspected ergonomic defect in the road-system design. It seems unlikely that such could have been confirmed to the satisfaction of all concerned by the use of any other method before the actual road system was completed and its negotiation could be experienced in situ. The history of this project suggests that film-animation simulation can be a valuable design tool in situations where the fourth dimension is an important factor. Further, it suggests that live-action film of existing situations can be a more valuable aid in analysing and correcting design defects than has been generally appreciated.