Architecture, features and evaluation of effective, multi-purpose human computer interfaces

The task of human computer interfaces (HCI) is to pursue high-level, operator-driven, control of robotics devices, through a reusable, efficient, general-purpose and reliable architecture. Several issues are addressed: the need to deal with information distributed over different machines, the correct definition of tasks, the use of a fully modular architecture and of a reliable and effective data-structure, and the need to use some data-fusion techniques. Often multi-modal feedback is necessary in order to help the operator understand what is going on in the remote environment. The HCI systems must be able to understand human requests, expressed via different input devices, and translate them into commands for the controlled objects; they must also be able to operate in different critical environments. An ergonomic, configurable and flexible human computer interface has been devised, following some very precise specifications by the end-user scientists. The overall HCI system and possible applications and ideas about future developments, are discussed. Following the scientists' needs, the HCI has been implemented on a personal computer, which has a great number of advantages. Human computer interfaces have to obey some evaluation criteria in order to be considered effective and useful: the devised HCI is examined, and a discussion of some evaluation criteria and how the HCI fits with them are given in the paper.