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Usability > Assessment Tools - 6 of 7
 
 


Task Analysis Tools Used Throughout Development (continued)

  • Operational Sequence Diagrams (OSDs) - OSDs are similar in format to Flow Process Charts (FPCs) in that "top-down" sequential operator and equipment task flows are depicted.  However, OSDs contain much more information and are particularly suited to the analysis of complex systems with many time critical information-decision-action interactions between several operators and equipment items.  OSDs indicate actions, decisions, inspections, data transmitted, received, or stored and the timing of these events.  While OSDs are more difficult to develop, they are very powerful analysis tools, enabling clear visualization of the operator and equipment interrelationships, human-machine interfaces, information interchange, task flow, frequency, and work load.  Because of their completeness in documenting operator and equipment interactions, OSDs frequently form the basis of Human Error Analysis (HEA) and are very useful in training development.  Below is an OSD prepared by the Department of Transportation for the design of a computer-aided driver (commercial) dispatch system.

OSD for Driver Computer Aided Dispatch System

OSD for Driver Computer Aided Dispatch System

  
 

 

 
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