Perceptual control and feedback control in the analysis of complex tasks

Abstract

Despite its extensive and successful use in the human factors specialist's work, there remain challenges for the development of task analysis. One such challenge is posed by the need to capture the features of the dynamic, complex tasks that take place in modern socio-technical systems. In this paper, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of using perceptual control theory (PCT) as a theoretical grounding for task analysis. In particular, we describe the ability of PCT to combine the notion of perceptual control (which is similar to the assumptions underlying ecological design) with that of feedback control (which is fundamental to some traditional task analysis approaches). We describe some of the current PCT-based task analysis methods before introducing a new method that aims to integrate PCT concepts into hierarchical task analysis. Finally, we demonstrate how this method might be applied to a real-world dynamic control task.

Keywords:

• task analysis
• ecological psychology
• perceptual control theory
• ecological interface design
• cybernetics

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank William Powers, Dr Philip Farrell, Dr Andy Bass, Professor John Annett and an anonymous reviewer for their insightful comments on an earlier version of this paper.

Notes

1. Currently at the Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom.