Workload Assessment and Management for the Multimodal Watchstation

The workload assessment system for the prototype multimodal command and control watchstation (MMWS) contains five modules that examine operator state, operator activity, and environmental variables to derive an integrated workload measure in near real time. The task workload estimation module obtains estimated workload data from tasks appearing on a task manager list, modified by tactical complexity and other factors (e.g., system failures). Two operator activity modules, a verbal activity module and a keypress/function usage module, measure operator speaking variables (rate and pitch changes) and console interaction variables, respectively. Finally, information regarding operator state is obtained from separate eye activity modules dedicated to the assessment of drowsiness and high workload. These modules derive real-time moving mean estimates of pupil diameter, blink rate and duration, and fixation dwell times and frequencies. Experimental data and issues concerning the development of the modules are di...