Visuele informatiepresentatie in gevechtsvliegtuigen [Visual information presentation in combat planes]

With the increase in the number of electronic sensor and combat systems, the amount of information that is, or may be, presented to the fighter pilot has been explosively increased. In order to optimize the pilot's performance and to limit his workload, the design of the human-machine interface has to be based on the (new) technological possibilities and the human-factors principles concerning visual information presentation.
In this connection, the present report provides an overview of the present knowl-edge with reference to visual information presentation in cockpits. First, elemen-tary ergonomic principles and norms are presented for the various ways by which information can be coded and structured. The next chapter treats mainstream theories, recent insights, and general principles concerning human information processing. Chapter 4 discusses for each main function of the pilot's task the relevant principles of information presentation. This chapter also will go into the degree to which the most central main functions (particularly flight) interferes with the other functions and how this interference may be reduced. Finally, chapter 5 presents an overview of the technological developments that offer new opportunities to reduce interference, and thereby workload, and to enhance situational awareness. These developments can be divided into four categories: improved graphical displays, head-up displays, enhanced vision systems, and helmet-mounted displays. With these developments, a stream of information can be created that is more selective, flexible, fitting with individual preferences, adapted to changing operational situations, and maximally in harmony with human-factors insights. It is, however, not to be expected that one display system can be developed that is favourable under all circumstances. One major opportunity of the new technological advancements is that information can be presented such that it may be understood directly and translated into action. Other potential advantages involve separate, combined or integrated presentation of information. However, in many cases interference among tasks has to be minimized by automation or by allocation of tasks over several opera-tors. Both measures are expensive, impose high demands to crew cooperation ('crew resource management') or crew and machine ('co-pilot') and may be at the cost of the flexibility, which is of crucial importance during dog fighting.