FAQs

What is Human Factors?

Human Factors (also known as Ergonomics) is about people, products, systems and environments, and how they impact on each other. Human Factors takes knowledge generated in fields such as psychology, biological sciences and engineering and focuses on identifying human abilities and limitations within their environment. It then applies that knowledge to improve people's interaction with their surroundings in order to optimise human well being and overall system performance.

 

What are the aims of Human Factors?

Human Factors can be thought of as having two separate (but not mutually exclusive) aims:

• To improve performance. This includes increased efficiency (e.g. increased human machine integration or increased effectiveness of team working), quality of performance (including fewer errors) and fewer accidents/ near misses.
• To improve people's health and wellbeing. For example, fewer occupational injuries, less stress, increased usability of products and increased work motivation.

Underlying the subject is the overriding idea that using human factors' data, principles and methods will lead to better designed jobs, tasks, products or systems.

What are the main topic areas within Human Factors?

The main topic areas within Human Factors are:

• Cognitive: Concerned with individual mental processes, such as perception, decision making, actions and memory. Topics here include human error, situation awareness, work stress, mental workload and training.
• Environmental: All of our daily activities are performed in a physical environment. Through the study of basic Human Factors principles with respect to key variables such as sound, temperature and lighting we can identify and interpret how such physical environmental variables are relevant to the design and implementation of systems, tasks and equipment.
• Organizational/Social: Generally we do not operate in isolation of other people, so organisational ergonomics is concerned with optimising the ‘sociotechnical' system in which we function. This includes traffic environments, organisational structures, communication, working hours, organisational culture and teamwork.
• Physical: Concerned with human anthropometric (the science of body sizes), physiological (the science of normal body functions) and biomechanical (the mechanical properties of a moving body) activities, and how they relate to physical activities such as manual handling, vehicle/ workplace layout, working postures and work related disorders.

When should Human Factors be considered?

Human Factors should ideally be considered at all stages of a project that involves human operators; for example, this may begin with task analyses and user requirement capture and may end with a user trial and product or system evaluations.

What are TRL's Human Factors capabilities?

Some of the areas in which our ergonomists make a vital contribution include:

• Product assessments, including software systems and in-vehicle technologies 
• Developing human factors standards and guidelines
• Human-machine interface assessments and re-designs
• Task analysis
• Human error analysis
• Optimising the design of the transport environment
• Research and analysis of driver and passenger behaviour including visual behaviour
• Physical ergonomics assessments
• Training needs analysis
• Pedestrian environment review audits
• Reviews of organisational factors
• Developing methods

What Human Factors tools does TRL use?

In addition to the experienced ergonomists at TRL, we have access to a range of sophisticated specialist equipment. This includes:

• The UK's most advanced full-mission car and truck driving simulators
• A suite of sophisticated experimental laboratories where user trials can be undertaken
• State-of-the-art eye-tracking technologies
• Occlusion goggles to assess driver distraction
• Sophisticated systems to measure dynamic muscle activity
• A large vehicle test track and private road network
• Development of human factors checklists, including for In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVIS)
• Instrumented vehicles, video recording and analysis equipment, and stand-alone impairment tests
• A wide range of questionnaires and databases in a comprehensive transport research library
• Direct access to other professionals within TRL, including safety engineers, vehicle designers, statisticians, psychologists and traffic engineers
• Contacts and access to other human factors professionals around the world
• Advanced safety, quality and reporting procedures, together with an established track record in successfully completing work on time and to budget.

Where are the driving simulators located?

The car driving simulator and truck driving simulator are located at our Berkshire office: Crowthorne House, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, Berkshire, UK, RG40 3GA.

Do you sell driving simulators?

No. TRL do not sell driving simulators but we are able to provide a consultancy service to help specify and procure a system that suits your needs.

Where can I buy a driving simulator?

We can provide you with contacts who make and supply driving simulators.

Where do you get participants from?

TRL depends on volunteers from the local community to participate in studies. If you are interested in becoming a participant, please visit our Participants Wanted page  or contact the simulator team on 01344 770612.

Are there age restrictions for participants?

TRL is looking for people of all ages with a current UK driving licence to participate as our studies aim to reflect the national driving population. So whether you are 17 or 90, get in contact!

Do participants get paid for their time?

All participants will be reimbursed for their time and travel expenses at a standard rate.

A friend told me that they got motion sick when driving a simulator. Is this likely to happen to me?

While it can occur, the rate of simulator sickness is very low with less than 5% of participants experiencing any symptoms at all. Of course, in the unlikely event that you experience discomfort you are free to stop at any time.

When will I receive payment for a study I have been in?

You can expect to receive payment for a study that you have been in within 30 days of your visit. If you are concerned that you have not received payment for a study, please contact the simulator team on 01344 770612.

How can I sign up to participate in a study?

You can sign up to a study by submitting a Participant Form or by contacting our simulator team on 01344 770612.

I signed up as a participant but have not been contacted yet. Why?

Different studies have different recruitment criteria, and this will affect who we contact for each trial. However, there are many studies each year so you never know when you may get a call.

What if I don't enjoy the study?

You are free to stop at any time if you feel at all uncomfortable when participating in a study. Just let the trials manager know that you don't wish to continue.

What can I expect to happen whilst at TRL?

Arrive at TRL 5-10 minutes before your time slot, let the receptionist know that you are here for a trial and the trials manager will come to meet you.

You will then sign a written consent form and do a short familiarisation drive in the car simulator to get used to the vehicle controls.

The study will then start and will usually involve a series of drives in the simulator - driving it as you would a normal vehicle. You may experience motorway, urban or rural roads. You can also expect to complete some questionnaires while enjoying a cup of tea and some biscuits before going home.

What is TRL's car driving simulator?

TRL's car driving simulator is based around a small family car. Controls such as the steering wheel and pedals work as they would in a real car. Images of a virtual reality environment are projected onto screens around the car to give the impression of being on real roads.

What is it that you are looking for during trials?

That will depend on the type of trial, but generally we're interested in how different groups of people drive on the road and in traffic.

What kinds of trials do you do?

They vary a lot; some of them will look at changes to the road environment such as new signs or junction layouts. Others will look at changes to the vehicle. We also do research that looks at driver-related issues such as fatigue and nutrition.

What do you do with the information you collect?

Information we collect in the car driving simulator or through questionnaires is not linked to your name. Once the trial is over we tend to look at differences between groups of drivers rather than individual people. Your personal details will always be kept confidential.

What if I fail?

It's not possible to fail! We expect you to drive as you normally would and, if you are self-conscious about your driving, remember that the information we collect will not be linked to your name.

 

If your question has not been answered, please contact Andi Flint, Head of Human Factors and Simulation, on +44 (0)1344 770871 or aflint@trl.co.uk for more information.