Alenka Brown-VanHoozer, Ph.D., CHFP

Dr. S. Alenka Brown-VanHoozer is Director for the Center for Cognitive Processing Technology at Oak Ridge Y12. She holds a Ph.D. focused in human engineering and psychology, a M.S. in Electrical Engineering, and a B.S. in Computer Science (Systems Architect Design). Dr. Brown has eight years experience in design and implementation of instrumentation and controls, and nine years experience in research and application involving human engineering and cognition. Her expertise in cognitive research involves neuro-linguistics, minimal behavioral cues, modeling decision-making, and learning strategies, behavioral profile, and adaptive user interfaces for human-system interaction. Over the course of the past nine years, she has conducted several projects funded by: NASA, DOE, DoD, and private industry. She has experience in conventional human factors guidelines and ergonomics, and a published author of journal and conference papers, and the book, Say it Right.

How We Design Inherent Errors Into Our Systems

Conscious awareness of our environment is based on a feedback loop comprised of sensory input paired with what are known as our representation systems (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic), and results in the construction of our "model of the reality." Assimilation of this neurological built model takes place at the unconscious level from which we extract information considered useful for constituting the structural parameters of human knowledge and behavior. However, because we differ in our models, we create inherent errors in our design of systems, communications, and behavioral responses. In understanding how our model of reality, and those of others, are constructed and organized, these potential errors can be avoided or greatly diminished. The results are better-engineered systems, the flexibility to gather precise and reliable information from users, and minimize mismatches in communications that lead to potential system and human errors, and costly redesigns. This presentation will address how these inherent errors are created, introduced into systems, and solutions to the problem.