Actions Speak Louder than Words: How Pilots use Nonverbal Information for Crew Communications

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Abstract
How does the design of an aircraft cockpit affect crew communication? The research described hereunder aimed at identifying aspects of design that play a critical role in task coordination, yet have heretofore been ignored. It is proposed that crewmembers coordinate the performance of tasks using visual, nonverbal, information that emerges from the interactions between individual pilots and the aircraft's systems. 24 airline pilots participated in a high-fidelity simulator experiment which compared the impact of three different types of interface on crew communication and coordination. Measurement included detailed video recording, and quantitative and expert performance evaluations. The data suggest that pilots visually monitor each other's performance of tasks, that visual monitoring is affected by the design of the interface, and that pilots rely on such nonverbal information for communication and coordination. The discussion looks at implications of these data to the design of workstations and cockpits.

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