Sharing imagery and analysis tools in a simulated submarine control room

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Cognitive Systems Engineering
• Team Performance in Complex Environments

Background:

• Effective information sharing is critical for team performance in high-stakes environments.
• Understanding the cognitive and physiological impacts of shared data and tools is essential for optimizing team workflows.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of sharing periscope imagery and analysis tools on team performance, workload, and physiological responses during simulated submarine patrols.
• To determine if enhanced tactical picture compilation translates to improved mission outcomes or situation awareness.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen five-member teams performed simulated submarine patrol tasks under varying conditions of data sharing.
• Independent variables included sharing periscope imagery and analysis tools.
• Dependent measures comprised perceived workload, tactical picture accuracy, mission completion, situation awareness, and physiological responses (heart rate, electrodermal activity).

Main Results:

• Sharing imagery alone increased perceived workload without improving tactical picture accuracy.
• Sharing both imagery and analysis tools enhanced tactical picture compilation accuracy but did not improve mission completion or situation awareness.
• Teams sharing imagery exhibited lower physiological stress responses compared to baseline, despite increased subjective workload.

Conclusions:

• Sharing periscope imagery and analysis tools can improve tactical picture compilation through dynamic task redistribution and concurrent data analysis.
• While subjective workload may increase, shared data and tools can mitigate physiological stress, suggesting potential benefits for sustained team operations.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the trade-offs between workload, performance, and situation awareness in data-intensive team tasks.