Knowledge Desk Limited Objective Experiment (LOE)

Abstract : Multiple monitor workstations are becoming more and more common in the military command and control environment due to the requirement to monitor and access large quantities of information while performing complex tasks and making complex decisions. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) sponsored Command 21 project addressed this requirement by developing a six-monitor display designed to facilitate information production and consumption by an individual user. Known as a Knowledge Desk (K-Desk), these displays were employed during several wargames as well as aboard ships to support command-level decision-making in operational command centers. Although the value of having additional monitors has been widely acknowledged, the question of how many monitors the warfighter really needs to support his/her various tasks (cognitive and otherwise) remains unanswered. To address that question, a Limited Objective Experiment (LOE) was conducted that assessed the relative costs and benefits of different display configurations from a performance standpoint. The results of the LOE provided recommendations that relate to requirements for future Fleet procurements and installations.

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