On information transmission in human-machine systems: channel capacity and optimal filtering

The mathematical relationships developed in a companion paper (ibid., vol.20, no.6, p.1125-35, Sept./Oct. 1990) are put to use to determine the channel capacity of the human-machine system. The channel capacity is an important determinant of the human-machine system performance, and has significance in the field of manual control. Results are presented on information transmission rates in human pursuit tracking using position control systems. The results include: an optimum input tracking signal that enables subjects to achieve maximum information transmission rate; an optimum filter that transforms a signal into an optimum tracking signal; a digital version of the optimum filter; information transmission rates for tracking the optimum signal; and channel capacity for pursuit tracking tasks involving one degree of freedom