Human performance model support for a human-centric design process

For years, systems designers following a traditional design process have made use of models of hardware and software. A human-centric design process imposes additional requirements and analyses on the designer, and we believe that additional types of models -- models of human performance -- are necessary to support this approach to design. Fortunately, there have been recent technological advances in our ability to model all aspects of human performance. This paper will describe three specific applications of human performance modeling that we are exploring to support the design of human- centric systems, such as future Navy ships. Specifically, this technology can be used to generate team design concepts, to provide human-centric decision support for systems engineers, and to allow simulation-based evaluation of human performance. We believe that human performance modeling technology has matured to the point where it can play a significant role in the human-centric design process, reducing both cost and risk.