24/7 Operational Effectiveness Toolset: Shiftwork Scheduler Interface

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24/7 Operational Effectiveness Toolset: Shiftwork Scheduler Interface


James C. Miller, Douglas R. Eddy, Richard Smith, and Samuel L. Moise


This report describes the Shiftwork Scheduler Interface of the 24/7 Operational Toolset. The toolset was based upon the Sleep, Activity, Fatigue, and Task Effectiveness (SAFTE™; Hursh et al., 2004) model. The SAFTE™ model predicts cognitive performance level based upon sleep, circadian rhythm, and sleep inertia. This specific interface of the toolset was designed to aid in the construction of regular, rotating, 24/7 shiftwork schedules. The interface design approach was iterative, involving several meetings among subject matter experts (SMEs), interface software designers, and evaluators. The first meeting was for the purpose of requirements analysis, in which the designers elicited task information from the SMEs. The second meeting included a walk-through of storyboarded and preliminary software, in which the SMEs provided feedback to the designers and evaluators. The final meeting was for the purpose of an "inspection evaluation" of the interface by the SMEs and evaluators. This interface was based upon task analyses of AF Security Forces shiftwork schedulers and they served as our SMEs. Our requirements analysis indicated that the shiftwork scheduler's interface should meet several criteria to maximize usability. Walk-through and inspection evaluation processes indicated that most of these requirements were met reasonably well and that potential users were able to operate the interface with a minimum of errors.
15. SUBJECT TERMS
Shift work, Fatigue management, Cognitive performance, Task analysis, Sleep times