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Operator's activities at CRT terminals: a behavioural approach

1983; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 26; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/00140138308963349

1366-5847

Nicole Delvolvé, Yvon Quéinnec,

Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Abstract A study was carried put to analyse the consequences on clerical operator's activities of the inclusion of VDUs. A behavioural research approach was taken during the whole working period. The results show a very strong reorganization of visual focusing and of visual exploratory patterns as a result of internal modifications induced both by the task and by the duration of the worktime. On the other hand, while production indicators were quite consistent, variations of working strategies and of accessory activities such as postural readjustments, automanipulative gestures, verbal and non-verbal behaviour were observed during the workday. It can be assumed that, in response to the working strain, the human operator makes some adjustments to work patterns in order to prevent deterioration of performance. The variations of behavioural strategies affect not only the primary activities but also the secondary ones because the operator cannot control the production rate or the processes of execution in systems involving a computer. Studying behavioural changes in real working situations therefore gives a better indication of the interaction between man and the technical system and, perhaps, of mental workload since, as stressed by many ethologists, automanipulation and other behavioural items occur in ambivalent situations and may be termed ‘displacement activities’.