Augmented Reality Improves Procedural Work on an International Space Station Science Instrument

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Cognitive Engineering
• Operational Efficiency

Background:

• Previous studies indicated augmented reality (AR) enhances procedural work but not for simple operational tasks.
• The effectiveness of AR for simple tasks in operational settings remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if AR instruction methods improve task completion speed, reduce mental workload, and minimize errors for simple operational tasks.
• To compare AR instructions against traditional paper-based instructions.

Main Methods:

• Participants performed simple procedural tasks on spaceflight hardware.
• Two instruction methods were used: augmented reality (AR) and paper-based instructions.
• Task completion times, mental workload, and errors were measured.

Main Results:

• AR instructions led to significantly faster task completion times compared to paper instructions.
• AR instructions reduced mental workload, specifically mental and temporal demand.
• A training transfer effect was observed: AR training improved subsequent performance with paper instructions.

Conclusions:

• Off-the-shelf AR, such as the HoloLens, effectively enhances procedural work for simple tasks in operational environments.
• AR technology can improve efficiency and safety in operational settings, potentially reducing costs and preventing critical failures.