User Performance with a Natural Language Query System for Command Control.

Abstract : Natural language query systems have been developed as potential aids to command control data retrieval processes involving large data bases. One such system, LADDER (for Language Access to Distributed Data with Error Recovery), was studied in order to identify significant performance characteristics associated with its use in a Navy command control environment. Ten officers received moderate training in LADDER and subsequently employed it in a search and rescue scenario. Both system and user performance were examined. Basic patterns of usage were established, and troublesome syntactic expressions were identified. Design recommendations for the man-computer interface in command control query systems are discussed. (Author)