Improved performance research integration tool (IMPRINT) model analyses in support of the situational understanding as an enabler for unit of action maneuver team soldiers science and technology objective (STO) in support of future combat systems

Identifying human factors issues before systems are built and demonstrating the importance of those issues to decision makers outside the human factors community is difficult. Modeling and simulation (M&S) has become a critical part of tackling this challenge, but the true impact of M&S is made when the results can be translated into predictions that are important to the decision makers such as future system performance. Through the use of the Improved Performance Research Integration Tool (IMPRINT), analysts are able to quantify the effect of human operator performance on system performance. IMPRINT is a task network modeling tool designed to help assess the influence of the human operator on system performance throughout the system lifecycle. This demonstration will provide a brief overview of IMPRINT and its capabilities and highlight new features that provide enhanced modeling capabilities and better results visualization. It will also feature a look at the new Multimodal Interface Design Support (MIDS) tool plug-in that provides users with analysis specific multimodal design guidelines they could be implemented into the system design to minimize mental overload and improve system performance. SUMMARY The effects of issues associated with human error, mental workload and other HF concerns are difficult to demonstrate especially when attempting to persuade those outside of the HF community early in the system design process. Modeling and simulation (M&S) can be an extremely effective tool for conducting analyses and producing quantitative results necessary to more effectively support HF design recommendations. Properly conducted M&S analyses can add the quantitative results necessary to effectively support those recommendations and influence system desig