Function key and shortcut key use in airway facilities.

961545PDFTech ReportDOT/FAA/CT-TN03/07Air traffic controllersAviationComputer aided instructionData collectionManualsSoftware maintenanceUnited StatesWilliam J. Hughes Technical Center (U.S.)Ahlstrom, VickiMuldoon, RobertNorthrop Grumman Corporation. Information Systems SectorWilliam J. Hughes Technical Center (U.S.)United States. Federal Aviation Administration. Human Factors Research and Engineering DivisionNTL-AVIATION-Air Traffic ControlNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Human FactorsUS Transportation CollectionThis document provides information on the function keys and shortcut keys used by systems in the Federal Aviation AdministrationAirway Facilities (AF) work environment. It includes a catalog of the function keys and shortcut keys used by each system and theassociated functionality. Researchers collected these data through analysis of software specifications, computer-based instructionmanuals, and field site visits. They extracted human factor guidelines relevant to function key and shortcut key use from human factorsguidelines and the research literature. Researchers also collected information on function key and shortcut key use by commercialapplications to extract what amounts to de facto industry standards for function key and shortcut key use. The researchers comparedcurrent function key and shortcut key use across systems in the AF operational environment. They also compared current AF use offunction keys and shortcut keys against human factors guidelines and de facto industry standards. Based on this evaluation, theresearchers found little consistency in the assignment of functions to function keys and shortcut keys among different AF systems. Theresearchers make recommendations toward improving consistency and usability of function keys and shortcut keys in the AFenvironment