Virtual Simulation Evaluation of the Human-Computer Interface of a Display and Control Device

The electronic information display console is an important device displaying integrated information on some type of large-scale ship. The human-computer interface (HCI) design that is not good enough will cause inefficiency or injury to the operators. If the deficiency is discovered while working, it will cost much labor, money and time. The virtual simulation method is tried to use evaluating the HCI design. Set the evaluation criteria on the basis of ergonomics theories such as the characteristic of human motion. Establish the models on CATIA platform, set the parameters in the Human Model Module and run the simulation. Analyze the results of the simulation according to the ergonomics theories such as the dynamic body measurement, the standards of the workspace design, and bring out the suggestions such as reducing the height by approximately 230mm of the screen. This method could be well used to evaluate the HCI design of other similar type of devices in the control room.