Feasibility Verification of Ergonomic Design Based on Alert Indicators

The designers usually expect to ensure the best alertness level of operators through ergonomic design, to ensure that operators obtain better performance. But it is unclear whether ergonomic design can be based on alertness and which dimensions of ergonomic design can be guided by alertness. As a result, cognitive indicators according to cognitive needs cannot be used to guide ergonomic design practice. This research explore the sensitivity index of alertness for ergonomics design through experiment. The results showed that the normalized PVT reaction time was significantly positively correlated with the normalized visual fatigue score, negative emotion score, and task completion time. The normalized KSS score is significantly positively correlated with the normalized visual fatigue score and positive emotional score, but not significantly correlated with task completion time and accuracy. If it is necessary to focus on improving the performance level of operators or avoiding negative emotions in ergonomic design, it is recommended to choose objective vigilance evaluation indicators. If the focus of ergonomic design is to reduce visual fatigue and improve positive emotional levels, subjective evaluation indicators of alertness can be used. If only reducing visual fatigue is considered, both subjective and objective alertness indicators can be used. If ergonomic design comprehensively consider improving performance and positive emotions, and reducing negative emotions, it is recommended to use both subjective and objective vigilance evaluation indicators.