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Newsletter
Updated: December 15, 2003
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Contents: POC Home Overview Newsletter Next Meeting Job Openings Membership Sites of Interest Officers Old Newsletters Chapter Operations Site Map |
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NewsletterUpdated: December 15, 2003 |
| November '03 | Volume 38 Number 4 |
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http://www.erols.com/hfespoc |
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Perhaps one of the most significant human factors oriented news items of late concerns the findings of the independent commission investigating the demise of our NASA Space Shuttle Columbia. The predominate theme of the report implicates NASA's senior management structure in permitting a string of managerial blunders and defects to occur; for not accepting personal responsibility for a corporate culture that seemingly did not encourage dissenting opinions, or permitting employees to speak up when something did not seem to be copasetic without the threat of being dismissed or belittled. Squelching internal reports of perceived problems in order to keep things looking reasonably good when investigations into potential safety issues should be vigorously pursued is not the kind of culture that wins the support of the Congress nor the populace who want a strong, viable, safe space exploration program..
Does the terminology "macroergonomics" or organizational development and management (ODAM) come into play here? One would certainly think so. And so NASA has much work to do to restore that high caliber image and a superb safety culture, to excel, and restore the nation's confidence in our space program.
This now very public experience might prompt us to examine our own involvements in system development and operation. How often have we either compromised, or were forced to compromise, on some design or procedural matter that somehow just did not "feel right" to us as human engineering design specialists? How often did those tough decisions come back to haunt us, or the people we attempt to serve: the system users or clients etc.? How often is the "awkward result" small enough to be below the threshold of visibility - unlike the Columbia, or the Challenger previously, where the whole world is watching?
Sometimes we never learn or find out the consequences of some of our design inadequacies until they stare us in the face, as when hundreds of data points (accidents, incidents, etc.) show up in the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration records. Most of our uncomfortable or inadequate designs might not make the big splash that a NTSB investigation of the big newsmakers does. Ya gotta think about that some. I often wonder how many poor soldiers or marines who are using weapons or material systems in harsh deployment conditions would like to politely tell the designers and the human factors engineers who attempted to look after their equipment designs just what they actually think of the material we supplied to them - before we envisioned they would use such equipment in the super hot sandy deserts of the Middle Eastern lands we now find thousands of our troops coping with for months at a stretch.
On a less somber note, did you know that New Zealand ergonomists are reporting that children who play incredible amounts of video games (e.g., PlayStation et al.) are developing repetitive strain injuries? Warnings of overuse suggest parents should insist upon rest breaks from playing those electronic video games or their children risk musculoskeletal disorders affecting the hands, arms, neck and shoulders.
Enough digression. You are reminded that the next regularly scheduled meeting of our HFES Potomac Chapter is an afternoon date on Tuesday, December 9 to tour the Virtual Operating Room at the Uniformed Services Medical Simulation Center. This should be a unique opportunity to see a state-of-the-art virtual reality training facility. Note that the RSVP deadline is no later than noon, Monday, December 8. See the meeting and RSVP details elsewhere in this newsletter and on our chapter web site at http://www.erols.com/hfespoc
Our recent election results are now official. Congratulations: to Dick Horst, who is now our chapter's President elect and will take on that office at the January 2004 annual business meeting. Donna Smith-Lopez was elected as our new secretary; and Sue Evans was elected as a Director at Large on the Executive Committee. Dick is currently our newsletter editor, and now with his new responsibilities, is even more interested in locating a successor in that editor's role. Come join us and volunteer for the job will you? Donna of course has also been serving as our Chapter's meeting program director; and Sue is currently the President of the Board of Certification of Professional Ergonomists (BCPE) in Bellingham, WA. We do have active HFES officers working in our best interests.
A reminder that the Call for Papers deadline is Monday, December 1, 2003 for the combined Potomac Chapter and APA Divisions 19 & 21 Mid-Year Symposium, Engineering and Military Psychology: Improving Lives and Enhancing National Security. This conference will be held March 4-5, 2004. For submission details check the POC web site at http://www.erols.com/hfespoc or check www.apa.org/divisions/div21.
Come get active in your HFES Chapter.
Jerry Krueger, Ph.D., CPE
President, Potomac Chapter HFES
Topic: Tour of the virtual operating room facility of the Uniformed Services Medical Simulation Center (The web site for the Simulation Center is http://simcen.usuhs.mil.)
Meeting Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2003
[NOTE] Meeting Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Please try to arrive around 2:30 p.m.)
Cost for Meeting: There is no charge for the meeting.
Reservations: No one will be turned away at the door, but please RSVP so that we know how many will be attending. To let us know you are coming, please call Donna Smith-Lopez at (703) 445-1616 x117; or email smithdl@svtcsle.com, no later than noon, Monday, December 8th.
IMPORTANT SECURITY NOTE: Because we will be at a government facility, identification is required. US citizens need a driver’s license or other picture ID. Non-residents will need a passport. If you're asked the purpose of your visit, tell the guard that you're visiting the National Capital Area Medical Simulation Center in Bldg. 163.
Driving Directions:
From the Beltway
From USUHS
Need Assistance in order to attend the meeting? If you need a ride, have accessibility concerns, or other special needs, we will attempt to pair you with someone else who is attending the meeting. To request assistance or share concerns, please contact Jack Laveson at (703) 642-3677, or at hfespoc@erols.com.
January Meeting to Feature the Use of the JACK Modeling Tool in Developing Army Gun Technology
The Potomac Chapter’s January meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held at the National Rifle Association Museum in Vienna, VA. The date is January 14th from 6:30 to 9 pm. The meeting topic is the JACK modeling program that was used to develop the newest guns now being used by the Army. Rich McMahon, or his designate, will give us a presentation on how the JACK program was used and the craftsmanship and anthropometric detail required in the development of present generation firearms.
We will also have a half hour presentation by Doug Wickland, curator of the museum. He will show us the differences between the various guns we hear about on TV. He has worked extensively with Aberdeen and the History Channel to produce several recent television programs. These presentations will take place in the NRA auditorium. Come early if you wish and tour the museum.
We will need RSVPs and must provide the names of attendees to the museum ahead of time. More details will be forthcoming soon via email and the chapter web site – www.erols.com/hfespoc
The September chapter meeting, held on September 10, 2003, was a tour and presentation of ongoing research in the Human Factors and Applied Experimental Psychology Program at the Catholic University of America. Professors Raja Parasuraman, Mark Sebrechts, and Deborah Clawson, and a number of graduate students and post-docs in the program, presented their latest research and demonstrated their lab facilities. There are two main labs – the Cognition and Virtual Reality Laboratory (CVRL) and the Cognitive Science Laboratory (CSL).
Research in the CVRL uses virtual reality technology (both large screen and head-mounted display systems) to address a variety of issues in human cognition and spatial learning (see http://pace.psy.cua.edu/vrl/). One set of studies examines the effectiveness of VR as a tool for spatial navigation. The interests are in the use of VR for training, and in using VR to transform training environments in ways that make them "better than reality." Specific issues involve the character of spatial mental models, the effectiveness of transfer, and transparency as a way to improve survey knowledge. A second set of studies, in collaboration with members of the Rehabilitation Engineering group at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, examines the utility of virtual environments in working with special populations. Emphasis is on eye tracking to understand looking behavior and associated attention and planning for persons who have suffered a stroke and eye gaze patterns that may improve social interaction for children with autism.
Human factors research in the CSL is currently focused on the effects of different types and levels of computer automation on human attention and performance, particularly in the context of aviation (see http://psychology.cue.edu/csl/research). A major thrust has been the investigation of pilot performance with adaptive automation in the cockpit. Another line of research has examined the human performance effects of advanced procedures for management of air traffic, including "free flight." In recent years work has also begun in the area neuroergonomics, the study of brain and behavior in work environments. These studies investigate the neural bases of human perception, cognition, and performance in relation to systems and technologies of the real world. Methods used in HFE studies at the CSL include medium-fidelity simulator studies with pilots and air traffic controllers as expert participants, psychometrically-validated questionnaires, field surveys, performance tests on laboratory flight-related tasks, and psychophysiological measures of attention and mental workload.
Seeking Newsletter Editor for The User's Perspective - Will Train!
With taking on the responsibilities of Chapter President next year, I would like to pass on the Newsletter Editor position to someone else. It is probably time for new blood in this regard anyway, since I have done the newsletter for (thinking, approximating) 6 years now. Please contact me if you would be willing to take on this responsibility, starting in January, 2004, or soon thereafter. It is a great way to keep abreast of what is going on, not only in the Chapter, but also more generally among the very active community of applied behavioral science organizations in the greater DC area. It brings you into contact with a wide variety of colleagues, and gets you into the Chapter’s Executive Committee meetings (where you are encouraged to actually express your opinions).
In terms of the time commitment, I probably spend approximately 8 hours in putting together a typical newsletter. I usually get some secretarial help from our staff at UserWorks. Without that, I would say add another 2-4 hours. Most Chapter members have opted to receive the newsletter electronically, but there are 20-30 who still prefer a hardcopy version. So the copying and stamp-licking burden (OK, just kidding, we don’t do that anymore) is greatly reduced and decreasing annually. You are reimbursed by the chapter for such incidental expenses. We have been doing 3-6 newsletters per year, although this year, I’m sorry to say, has been a light one, more due to my other commitments than lack of material or interest. The content would be largely up to you. As you can tell, my approach has involved mostly editing, with very little original writing. I mostly monitor a number of listservs, which I would be doing anyway, and lift announcements of relevant upcoming events and job opportunities in the DC area. For whatever it is worth, I will gladly pass on my accumulated knowledge and tips (won’t take long) and the URLs of the listservs that I have found useful.
Please do consider taking on this role. It needs to be done and it has many more benefits than liabilities. Please contact me to express interest or get more information.
Dick Horst
dhorst@userworks.com
301-431-0500
Once again, Divisions 19 and 21 of the American Psychological Association, in conjunction with the Potomac Chapter of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, will be hosting the Annual Mid-year Symposium March 4th and 5th , 2004 at the Fort Belvoir Officer’s Club, in picturesque Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The theme for this year’s symposium is Engineering and Military Psychology: Improving Lives and Enhancing National Security. Historically, the annual mid-year symposium has covered a range of topics from medical error, to training and simulation. It has provided an outstanding forum for presenters and attendees. This year the emphasis will be on how engineering and military psychology improve lives while also enhancing national security. Thus it covers a wide range of topics in both engineering and military psychology.
We are currently in the process of soliciting papers and encourage scientists and those interested in the field to develop a presentation or panel session for the upcoming 2004 mid-year symposium. Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students are actively encouraged to participate in either the paper or poster sessions, and will be automatically eligible for awards given by Division 19 for best graduate and undergraduate student papers/posters. The deadline for submissions is December 1, 2003.
If you have any questions or would like to propose a presentation or panel, please contact Dr. John Ruffner (703) 683 8430 x243, DCS Corp. 1330 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314, jruffner@dcscorp.com; or Dr. Mike Matthews (845) 938-3696, U.S. Military Academy, Dept. of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, West Point, NY 10996, mike.matthews@usma.edu.
The Washington, DC Chapter of the Performance Development and Management Association presents:
"Listening and Leading in User-Focused Design:
How IBM Does It In the Development of Its ThinkPad Notebooks"
KEVIN CLARK, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, IBM THINKPAD AND THINKCENTRE BRANDS
How best in class products are designed to fit the needs of users? Join us to learn how IBM does it consistently to produce one of the world's most respected brands, the ThinkPad line of notebooks and accessories. You will learn this directly from Kevin Clark, one of the key people on the ThinkPad world-class development and marketing team.
Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2003
Fees: $25 members and non-members, $15 students
For registration, directions, and additional information, visit our Web site at http://www.pdma.org/dc
NIST to Host Symposium on Building Trust and Confidence in Voting Systems
"The First Symposium on Building Trust and Confidence in Voting Systems"
December 10-11, 2003
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD
http://vote.nist.gov
SUMMARY:
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 ("HAVA") tasks the National Institute of Standards and Technology with assisting the Election Assistance Commission in the development of voluntary voting system guidelines. The First Symposium on Building Trust and Confidence in Systems offers the election community an opportunity to initiate collaboration prior to the implementation of HAVA. Four panel discussions will focus on the following key issues for improving voting systems: Specification, testability and qualification; security and openness; usability and accessibility; next steps/ consensus issues. A draft agenda and invited panelists for the Symposium will be available at the NIST Web site at: http://vote.nist.gov by November 15, 2003.
DATES:
The Symposium will be held on December 10 and 11, 2003, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES:
The Symposium will be held in the Red Auditorium, Building 101 at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Additional information and electronic registration is available at the NIST Web site http://vote.nist.gov or by contacting Kimberly Snouffer on 301-975-2776. Because of NIST security regulations, advance registration is required. There will be no same day, on-site registration.
Learning Architect (5 year project)
Base One Technologies
Virginia
Position Responsibilities:
Develops, revises, and uses performance improvement and information solicitation vehicles to build training programs. Designs surveys, develops questionnaires, and prepares observation checklists. Assists in organizing data and performing GAP Analysis. Researches, organizes, and builds content for training products. Maps topics and develops information architecture. Applies standard instructional design principles to training content. Analyzes content for inclusion in content plans. Helps prepare technical documents.
Required Education and Skills:
Masters in instructional design, educational technology, human performance, or curriculum development plus two years of experience - or - five years of directly related experience with ISD coursework or certification. Secret Clearance.
Ability to demonstrate the following:
Additional - Desirable Education and Skills:
Additional Comments
This position reports to the Director of Training and requires the ability to initiate and implement project with moderate to light supervision.
Cognitive Engineer
CHI Systems, Inc.
Philadelphia, PA
CHI Systems, Inc. is a recognized authority in conducting research and development in artificial intelligence and applying the results in areas such as cognitive modeling, training and decision-aiding for complex systems, human behavior simulation, intelligent-agent technologies, and eye-voice interfaces. Our primary business concentrations include applied research and development and custom systems development. Applied Research & Development focuses on the creation of intelligent training technologies, advanced human-computer interaction technologies, and human behavioral models. Custom Systems Development encompasses the development of intelligent agent applications; training and decision support systems; simulators and simulations; design and implementation of customized user interfaces We need your leadership in building the intelligent systems of tomorrow, and are currently seeking candidates for the position of Cognitive Engineer. You will have the opportunity to apply leading-edge cognitive engineering technologies in various domains, ranging from military modeling and simulation to intelligent web-based commercial applications. We seek futurists, who welcome the challenge of solving difficult problems, and thrive on collaboration and can perform a leading technical and/or managing role on cognitive engineering projects and business development. At CHI Systems, we work not as individuals but as a team dedicated to matching technology solutions to human performance problems. We have the common focus of making things better for people who use technology. We are always interested in talking with bright, eager individuals who strive for personal excellence while contributing to and leading our collaborative teams. What CHI Systems, Inc. Has To Offer You: We offer a competitive compensation program, excellent health, life, and disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, 401K plan, flexible work schedules, casual dress, and a friendly, relaxed, cooperative work environment. At CHI, you will have the opportunity to develop technical work in your area of interest and may also have the opportunity to commercialize your innovative ideas.
Responsibilities of the Position Include: Conducting cognitive task analyses, developing executable human behavioral models using CHI System's commercial cognitive modeling toolkit (iGEN), documenting and demonstrating project deliverables for clients, identifying novel applications of iGEN technology, leading the development of proposals to solicit cognitive engineering projects, and managing and/or providing technical leadership for cognitive engineering projects.
Skills, Education and Experience: Good analytic skills; an ability to produce clear and effective technical presentations; and an eagerness to learn and use new methods, techniques, and computer-based tools quickly, are required. Fourth-generation language programming experience strongly preferred but not required. Advanced knowledge of cognitive task analysis, cognitive simulation, or cognitive modeling is required. Experience in artificial intelligence (AI), blackboard systems, knowledge engineering, human behavioral representation, synthetic agent technology, or computer generated forces is also required. MS/MA or higher in artificial intelligence, computer science, psychology, cognitive science, information systems or related field is required with two years relevant experience. Experience in applied human engineering, cognitive engineering, or training research or design applications in military environments preferred. U.S. Citizenship required for this position.
The current positions are in our suburban Philadelphia office. Interested candidates, please submit your resumes to CHI Systems, Inc. via e-mail to hr.pa@chisystems.com. Please include "COGPA1" in the subject line of your email.
What CHI Systems, Inc. Has To Offer You: We offer a competitive compensation program, excellent health, life, and disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, 401K plan, flexible work schedules, casual dress, and a friendly, relaxed, cooperative work environment. At CHI, you will have the opportunity to develop technical work in your area of interest and may also have the opportunity to commercialize your innovative ideas.
Improving the relationship between people and technology...
by providing innovative solutions focused on how people think.
Multiple positions
A.C. Coy
Pittsburgh, PA
Software Engineer
Seeking software engineer to produce architecturally sound web-site designs and prototypes.
Position requirements
Starting salary - 60K to 80K (based on experience) with full benefits
Prototyping Engineer
Seeking software engineer and programmer to implement product prototypes.
Position requirements
Starting salary - 60K to 80K (based on experience) with full benefits
Senior Software Engineer: Research Project Lead
Seeking software engineer to lead interdisciplinary design teams on pervasive-computing research projects.
Position requirements
Starting salary - 60K to 80K (based on experience) with full benefits
Director of Visual Design
Seeking an individual to lead a diverse group of visual, information and interaction designers as well as work with software engineers, human scientists, and other geeks. Ability to communicate ideas through oral and written communications, sketching, role- playing, or arm-twisting. Management experience with a touch of mentoring, a pinch of stern parent, and a bit of magician required. BA, BFA, or BS in relevant field required.
Required skills for visual designers
Starting salary - 60K to 80K (based on experience) with full benefits
Visual Interaction Designer
Seeking a versatile visual designer with strong aesthetic sensibilities to design information architectures and user interfaces for a variety of technology products.
Desired qualifications
Required skills for visual designers
Starting salary - 60K to 80K (based on experience) with full benefits
Senior Industrial Designer
Seeking a Senior Industrial Designer who can provide innovative design solutions to complex problems. You must have a bachelor's degree in industrial design and 4-8 years of experience designing with and for technology. You will manage projects through the design process and lead interdisciplinary design teams.
Required skills for visual designers
Starting salary - 60K to 80K (based on experience) with full benefits
Interaction Designer
Seeking an Interaction Designer who is able to make feature-rich products accessible to and usable by a variety of users. You will research and explore users' needs, design solutions to meet those needs, and evaluate those solutions. Your tasks will include carrying out user and requirements analysis, defining a conceptual framework for interfaces, building prototypes and analyzing designs.
Required skills for human scientists
Starting salary - 60K to 80K (based on experience) with full benefits
About A.C.Coy:
A.C.Coy provides Technical Consulting Solutions to various concerns throughout the United States. Our service offerings include: contracting, contract to hire and full time placements. For further information on A.C. Coy, please visit our website at: www.accoy.com.
Human Factors Engineers (CODE POTHQ-HFE3)
Crown Consulting, Inc.
Washington, DC
Crown Consulting, Inc. a dynamic rapidly growing information technology firm is seeking several highly qualified Human Factors professionals to work in Washington, DC. Applicants must have a degree in one of the following areas: Applied or Experimental Psychology, Human Factors, Ergonomics, Industrial Psychology, or Industrial Engineering. We are looking for people for two positions, each with its own experience requirements: 1) B.S. and a minimum of 5 years of experience (or M.S. plus 4 years experience and 2) B.S. and a minimum of 10 years of experience (or M.S. plus 9 years experience). Additionally, applicants must possess the following:
All candidates must demonstrate expertise in the field of human factors, experimental psychology, industrial psychology, or ergonomics applied to systems acquisition or development. Applicants specifying that they have a certification in the field of human factors or ergonomics should identify the certifying organization. Must have Government customer support experience with good people and communications skills.
For more information about Crown Consulting, Inc. see our web site at www.crownci.com. Competitive salary & excellent benefits. Please send resume and include salary requirements, salary history and position code to: 202-785-2626, attn: Code POT-HQ-HFE3, or email in MS format to hr@crownci.com or mail to Crown Consulting, Attn: Code POT-HQ-HFE, 501 School St., SW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20024. Principals only. EOE M/F/D/V.
Jennifer Garrett
HR Administrator
Crown Consulting, Inc
501 School St. SW Suite 400
Washington, DC 20024
202-785-2600 Ext. 3017
Fax: 202-785-2626
Cognitive and Systems Engineers
Micro Analysis and Design
Multiple Locations
Micro Analysis and Design is looking for several individuals with expertise in cognitive and systems engineering in Boulder, Colorado, Washington, DC, and Orlando, Florida. We are in the midst of a growth spurt and looking for people with a variety of different levels of experience and training, so if the type of work we discuss below interests you, please send us a resume.
Much of our work at Micro Analysis and Design (www.maad.com) is in support of U.S. Government research, development, and engineering in the areas of human-systems integration and computer modeling and simulation. We are a 20-year old firm with roughly 90 people located in Boulder, Washington, and Orlando. During our company's history, we have developed tools for analyzing the human component of systems such as our commercial modeling tools Micro Saint and IPME and some other tools used extensively by the Government such as IMPRINT, CART, and SMART. We are now supporting a variety of military and non-military projects where we are not just building human factors tools, but applying them to real systems such as military and commercial ships, ground-based combat systems, future space systems, nuclear power plants, and air traffic control, to name but a few. Additionally, we are leading an esteemed team conducting research for the Army in Advanced Decision Architectures where we are exploring the fusion of computer and cognitive engineering technologies to enhance human decision making in complex environments. We also provide commercial organizations with usability engineering and ergonomics consulting services. In sum, we are working the spectrum of different human factors and ergonomics problems and our work spans the spectrum from basic research to detailed engineering and design.
And, as a place to work, Micro Analysis and Design is tough to beat. In addition to an outstanding benefits package, in 2002 we were voted as the second best small-business in Colorado to work for by Colorado Parent's Magazine (this year we are really trying hard for first place!). It's an atmosphere that people come to and stay with, as only our employees can tell you.
If this sounds appealing, please send a resume (in confidence) to jobs@maad.com. MA&D is an EEO Employer
Human Factors Specialist
Mitretek Systems
Washington, D.C
Mitretek Systems is looking for an experienced Human Factors Specialist, preferably with an automotive or transportation background, to support our Intelligent Transportation Systems Program in Washington, D.C. This candidate will help us meet the growing demand for Human Factors support in both vehicle systems and public safety programs. Knowledge of Intelligent Vehicle Systems and technology is desired. Familiarity with automotive safety and regulations and/or public safety issues is a plus.
The candidate selected will be responsible for providing technical support on a variety of issues: intelligent vehicle and crash avoidance subsystems; transit and heavy truck Intelligent Vehicle Initiative programs and field operational tests; and the effectiveness of traveler information systems for traffic management and public safety. Perform human factors analyses and assessments as they relate to operational field tests and planning. Identify and analyze technological problems or risks in design. Document results in reports and presentations. Support other systems engineering studies and tasks as assigned. Establish, develop, and maintain an effective working interface and coordination of technical information with the federal customer and other industry and academia partners.
The successful candidate will have at least a Master's degree in Human Factors or a closely allied field, experience in product development, and/or experience in transportation policy and program management. The candidate must have sufficient breath and flexibility to be able to support multiple programs including planning and evaluation. Knowledge of statistical procedures and experimental design are desired. Candidate must have excellent communications skills and general PC skills.
Applicants selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified or other regulated information.
User Interaction Designer
Q Know
Reston, VA
Q.Know is looking for a UI Designer to take major responsibility for designing a new class of software. This Designer will work closely with Product management and users to analyze user task requirements and will work with Engineering to implement the user interface designs.
Responsibilities: Design Windows application user interfaces based on sound HCI principles; work with the UI Manager to plan and conduct user research; contribute to the definition of Q.Know's user interface architecture and interaction guidelines; travel to customer sites may be required.
Qualifications: BS/MS in human factors, cognitive psychology or other social science; at least three years of commercial Windows application design experience; in-depth knowledge of HCI principles, user-centered design methodologies, storyboarding, prototyping, usability testing, analysis and design tools (e.g., Visio, PhotoShop), industry and platform standards/trends and the application development process; the ability to envision new a user experience paradigm that is supported by sound HCI principles; team player with strong communication skills; knowledge of productivity application UI; knowledge of database application UI; knowledge of or work experience with UML is a plus but not required; graphic design skills a plus but not required
This UI Designer must be a serious HCI professional who can contribute significantly to the evolution of Q.Know's product line. Experience in website information architecture is not a qualification for this position.
Human Factors & Warfighter-Machine Interface Engineer
SAIC
Sterling Heights, MI
SAIC, teamed with The Boeing Company, was selected as the Lead System Integrator (LSI) for the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS). The initial DARPA contract award (with an estimated total of $4-$6 billion in funding over the next five years) places Boeing/SAIC in a unique partnership role with government on a program that is key to the Army’s transformation goals. SAIC is beginning now to hire personnel to support the System Development and Demonstration phase of the FCS program. Candidates should be knowledgeable and experienced in the development and integration of large, complex military systems and sub-systems. The ideal candidate will have direct experience in state-of-the-art and advanced Army ground combat vehicles and weapon systems. Candidates also need to be able to obtain a Secret clearance.
Education: B.S. in related engineering field with 10 years minimum experience
Required Skills: The Human Factors & Warfighter Machine Interface (WMI) Development & Integration Engineer should a Subject Matter Expert with particular expertise in any of the areas of human factors and ergonomics, WMI screen content design, safety, MANPRINT, are sought. In addition to management and oversight of the development of WMI systems, these positions will also interface and coordinate with the Objective Force Warrior (OFW) Program to ensure compatibility/commonality of Family of Vehicles (FoV) WMI and OFW objectives and to leverage common elements and functionality. The successful candidate for this position will require relevant experience in the leading and direction of teams, the employment of state of the art human factors & man machine interface development and systems engineering tools and processes, modeling and simulation tools and processes and simulation based acquisition approaches and processes in the development of human factors requirements, interfaces and designs for advanced, large, complex and highly automated systems of systems, systems and sub-systems. They should also be familiar with the state of the art and advance technologies applicable to the man machine interface. These candidates will also have direct experience in complete development cycle beginning with requirements development, preliminary and detailed design development, fabrication, integration and test using iterative and spiral development processes.
Desired Skills: Relevant program experience includes experience on programs such as Crusader, M1A2, FSCS, FCS, and AAAV. Experience on other current military programs will be considered where the candidate can show applicable relevance.
Contact: Andy Stass at (586)978-8110 ext. 216
Or Todd Kreger
Student Engineer
Transportation Research Center, Inc.
East Liberty, OH
The Transportation Research Center Inc. is seeking a Student Engineer to support Human Factors projects conducted for the U.S. Department of Transportation starting as early as December of 2003 or as late as January of 2004. This position may support human factors experiments conducted on test tracks, public roads, and on a high-fidelity driving simulator through data collection, reduction, analysis, and written summary of work performed. Research areas may include driver distraction (due to in-vehicle devices) and USDOT Intelligent Vehicle Initiative work.
Employment length may be flexible and depends on applicant qualifications as well as project needs. Options include up to 40 hrs/wk for 3 to 6 months, or up to a one-year term on a part-time basis.
Qualified candidates should be students currently pursuing a BS or MS in an engineering program such as Electrical or Human Factors Engineering. Good PC, writing, and communication skills are required. Knowledge of data analysis, programming, and signal processing is preferred.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
M/F/H/V
For additional information about TRC Inc., visit our web site: www.trcpg.com
The work for this job is under contract to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). For information on NHTSA, visit their web site: www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Faculty Research Assistant
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Baltimore, MD
The Information Systems Department invites applications for a Faculty Research Assistant. This is a non-tenure track research position with no teaching responsibilities. The Department has a strong human-computer interaction research group, houses the Interactive Systems Research Center, and recently moved into a new building.
This position requires an ability to:
Applicants must have a MS in a relevant field and must show strong potential to conduct research in the field of human-computer interaction. Experience writing proposals for external funding is desirable, but is not required.
Interested applicants should send a cover letter and a curriculum vitae and have three letters of recommendation sent to:
For inquiries, please call (410) 455-3883 or e-mail: asears@umbc.edu. Electronic submission of cover letter and curriculum vita as PDF documents (sent to the preceding e-mail address) are preferred. Women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. UMBC is an AA/EOE.
Senior level faculty position, Human-Computer Interactions
Department of Computer Science
Virginia Tech
The Department of Computer Science invites applications for a senior-level faculty position in the area of human-computer interaction starting in August 2004. The successful candidate should have a PhD degree in Computer Science or an allied discipline, demonstrated ability to secure research funding, and ability to lead the established HCI group in the Department. The candidate should have the ability to teach HCI-related courses and would be expected to assume the directorship of the University's Center for Human-Computer Interaction.
Review of candidates will begin January 5, 2004, and continue until the position is filled. Virginia Tech is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For the full job announcement and instructions how to apply visit the Computer Science Department web page at http://www.cs.vt.edu. Information about the Center for Human-Computer Interaction can be found at http://www.hci.vt.edu.
Research Associate/Scientist
Windwalker CorporationJob Responsibilities
Windwalker specializes in the analysis, design, development, delivery, and evaluation of training; e-learning and educational programs and products. Its core competencies include instructional systems design, distance learning, training and program measurement and evaluation, and multimedia production.
Windwalker Corporation is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. Its products and services are available across the U.S. and worldwide through Government agencies and major U.S. corporations, Federal learning organizations, and corporate university clients.
Windwalker's Evaluation and Research Division specializes in human resources, training-related measurement, program evaluation, and behavioral research. We design and implement Kirkpatrick Level 1 through 4 evaluations, training needs assessments, curriculum planning studies, competency models, pre-course and job/task analyses, gap analyses, performance evaluations, test development and validation, web-based and optical mark reader surveys, benchmarking studies, 360-degree assessments, management and employee satisfaction studies. We employ a wide range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies when conducting applied research, from facilitating focus groups and interviews to conducting surveys and performing archival data analyses.
Contact Information:
Please send resume to Janice.Laurence@windwalker.com
(703) 970-3505
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Information Architect/Usability Specialist
Metro Washington DC Area
Description:
This analytic problem solver will need to transform business requirements into informational, navigational, and web page designs and interface specifications. The Information Architect must be flexible and able to work in a dynamic, fast paced environment to meet the client's accelerated deployment schedule.
Key areas of responsibility include:
Usability analysis, wireframe construction/evaluation, portal evaluation (usability and effectiveness), user profiling, detailed interface specifications, and UI design/best practices. The specific skills that are needed are as follows:
Qualifications
Consulting:
You will be responsible for serving as a competent, effective member of client delivery and assignment teams for a large government-consulting firm. You will complete client work while leading a multidisciplinary team. You will contribute recognized functional expertise to client projects and use well-developed, oral communications, data gathering, and analytical skills to collect data required for your tasks.
Functional/Industry Knowledge:
Education/Certifications or equivalent required:
BS or BA degree in Human Factors, Interaction Design, Industrial Design, or Human-Computer Interaction; MS or MA degree preferred.
Clearance:
Applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and may need to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
Contact:
Interested individuals should submit resumes via e-mail to Jason Rendel at jrendel@mindspring.com.
A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Broni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the shepherd, "If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?"
The shepherd looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answers, "Sure. Why not?"
The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his AT&T cell phone, surfs to a NASA page on the internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo. The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with hundreds of complex formulas. He uploads all of this data via an email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response. Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the shepherd and says, "You have exactly 1586 sheep."
"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my sheep." says the shepherd. He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.
Then the shepherd says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my sheep?" The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"
"You're a consultant," says the shepherd.
"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"
""No guessing required." answered the shepherd. "You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew; to a question I never asked; and you don't know anything about my business."
" ... Now give me back my dog."
Current President
Jerry Krueger
Wexford Group International
Phone: (703) 749-9134, ext 204; (703) 768-3421
E-mail: jerrykrueg@aol.com; gkrueger@thewexfordgroup.com
Past President
John Ruffner
DCS Corporation
Phone: (703) 683-8430 x243
E-mail: jruffner@dcscorp.com
President Elect
Dick Horst
UserWorks, Inc.
Phone: (301) 431-0500
E-mail: dhorst@userworks.com
Current Secretary
Tom Mayfield
Susan Evans & Associates, Inc.
Phone: 703-281-1445
E-mail: tmayfield@evansincorporated.com
Past Secretary
Colleen Donovan
Federal Aviation Administration
Phone: 202-267-3313
E-mail: colleen.donovan@faa.gov
Secretary Elect
Donna Smith-Lopez
Sverdrup CESS
Phone: (703) 445-1616 x117<
E-mail: smithdl@svtcsle.com
Current Treasurer
Michael Eidelkind
Northrop Grumman
Phone: 703-575-0782
E-mail: meidelkind@netscape.net
Past Treasurer
Ben Somberg (now located in Minneapolis)
Guidant Corporation
Phone:
E-mail: benjamin.somberg@guidant.com
Treasurer Elect
Michael Eidelkind
Northrop Grumman
Phone: (703) 575-0782
email: meidelkind@netscape.net
Directors-at-Large
Sue Evans
Evans Incorporated
Phone: (703) 281-1446<
E-mail: sevans@evansincorporated.com
Doug Griffith
Veridan
Phone: (703) 803-0100, x4120
E-mail: dkgriffith@erols.com
Awards
Tyson Rose
IBM
Phone: (301) 240-3237
email: ctrose@us.ibm.com
Membership/Directory
Michael Eidelkind
Northrop Grumman
Phone: 703-575-0782
email: meidelkind@netscape.net
Newsletter
Dick Horst
UserWorks, Inc.
Phone: (301) 431-0500
email: dhorst@userworks.com
Chapter Liasion to Students
Vacant
Phone:
email:
Chapter Meeting Program Director
Donna Smith-Lopez
Sverdrup CESS
Phone: (703) 445-1616 x117
email: smithdl@svtcsle.com
WebMaster
Jack Laveson
Integrated Systems Research
Phone: (703) 642-3677
email: j.l.laveson@ieee.org
Recent
Meetings:
March, 2000
Joe Moyer: "Mission & Research Initiatives of the Federal Highway Administration in the Department of Transportation."
April, 2002
Whitney Quesenbery: "Designing Usable Search Interfaces: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"
July, 2002
Tour of UserWorks, Inc.
September, 2002
Jared Spool: "User Interface Engineering"
October, 2002
Ben Shneiderman: "Leonardo’s Laptop"
January, 2003
Tour of the Applied Research in Cognition and Human Factors (ARCH) Lab, George Mason University
March, 2003
LTC Mike Russo: "Visual Neglect by Pilots in a Simulated Overnight C-141 Flight"
May, 2003
Various speakers
June, 2003
Jerry Krueger: "Chemical-Biological Protective Clothing Effects on Soldiers and First Responders"
September, 2003
Tour of the Human Factors and Applied Experimental Psychology Program, the Catholic University of America
