Recap & Ready: Reflecting on 2024 Student Research Conference and Preparing for 2025

Friday, April 19th, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

(220 Binney St., Cambridge, MA 02142)

2024 NEC HFES Student Research Conference

The NEC HFES is hosting a one-day conference that focuses on bringing together human factors and ergonomics professionals and students in the New England area. The conference is designed to provide time for people to share ideas in a variety of formats and to socialize with other professionals in the region. The agenda will include student research presentations, professional speakers including a keynote speaker, networking and recruiting opportunities, catered lunch, and more.

Sponsors

Agenda

8:00am - 9:00am

  • Check-in and Mingle

9:00am - 9:30am

  • Take seats and Opening Remarks from Dr. Steve Popkin (Director for Research and Innovative Technology at Volpe Center)

9:30am - 10:30am

  • Student Research Presentation Section 1

  • Investigating Physiological Impacts of Wearing AGNES Suits

    • Kedi Wu, Laura Warren, and Tiantian Zhang (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Factors Influencing Travel Mode Choices in the Stockholm Area: Analysis and Policy Implications

    • Siyuan Meng (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

  • Spontaneous short-term recovery of fatigued aviators with naturalistic motivation introduction

    • Robert O’Donnell (Tufts University, US Coast Guard)

10:30am - 11:00am

  • Break and Networking

11:00am - 12:00pm

  • Student Research Presentation Section 2

  • COMPASS App: A Patient-centered Physiological based Pain Assessment System

    • Wenchao Zhu (Northeastern University)

  • The Relationship between Media Multitasking and Executive Function within a Military Population

    • Scott Marriner, Julie A. Cantelon, Nathan Ward (Tufts University)

  • Understanding impact of ADAS training as a function of drivers’ experience levels: A driving simulator study

    • Radhika Jayant Deshmukh, Apoorva Hungund, Niraj Hosadurga (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

12:00pm - 1:00pm

  • Lunch and Networking 

1:00pm - 2:00pm

  • Student Research Presentation Section 3

  • Enhancing Indoor Navigation for the Visually Impaired with Sensor-Based Assistive Technology

    • Ava Iannuccillo, Ege Cogulu, Yousef Abdo, Ashley Wu (Tufts University)

  • A mechanical device for precise self-administration of ocular drugs

    • Benjamin Lahner, Seung Hyeon Shim, Carly Smith (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

2:00pm - 2:30pm

  • Break and Networking

2:30pm - 3:30pm

  • HF Career Paths Panel. Panelists include:

    • Anuj Pradhan (Assistant Professor at University of Massachusetts Amherst)

    • Maura Lohrenz (Director of Safety Management and Human Factors Technical Center at the U.S. DOT’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center)

    • Paul Boudreau (Staff Human Factors Engineer at Smith + Nephew)

    • Heidi Mehrzad (Founder and CEO at HFUX Research, LLC)

3:30pm - 4:00pm

  • Closing Remarks

4:00pm

  • Volpe Human Factors Lab Tour

Important Conference Information

Parking

Please consider public transportation. If you decide to drive, here are some options you can park near the venue:

  • One Kendall Square Garage (389 Binney St Cambridge MA 02142)

  • Kendall Center Green Garage (90 Broadway Cambridge MA 02142)

  • 33 Broadway Parking (33 Broadway Parking Cambridge MA 02142)

Security Process and ID Requirement

All visitors to the U.S. DOT Volpe Center must present a valid government-issued photo identification (i.e., driver’s license, passport) and are subject to screening by Federal Protective Services (FPS). Please arrive early as screening will take time for each person.

Acceptable forms of ID include:

•    Current/Valid State Issued Driver's License
•    U.S. passport
•    Foreign government-issued passport (excluding Afghanistan, China, Iraq, Russia, Syria, Yemen)
•    U.S. passport card
•    Personal Identification Verification (PIV) cards
•    Driver’s license issued by the U.S. Department of State
•    Border crossing card
•    DHS trusted traveler cards (e.g. Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
•    U.S. military ID (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DoD civilians)
•    U.S. permanent resident card
•    U.S. certificate of naturalization or certificate of citizenship
•    Employment authorization document issued by DHS with photo
•    U.S. refugee travel document or other travel document or evidence of immigration status issued by DHS containing a photo
•    Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
•    Merchant mariner credential issued by DHS
•    Native American tribal photo ID
•    Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
•    Personal Identification Verification – Interoperable (PIV-I)
•    Identification cards issued by state, county or city government containing name, photo, and expiration date

Please let us know as soon as possible if you have any concerns regarding the ID requirement by emailing nechfes@gmail.com.

Volpe Center Floorplan

Abstract

Investigating Physiological Impacts of Wearing AGNES Suits

  • Kedi Wu, Laura Warren, and Tiantian Zhang (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Global demographic shifts demand solutions supporting dignified aging. The MIT AgeLab’s Age Gain Now Empathy System (AGNES) suit simulates aging effects to build understanding. Past studies confirm that AGNES replicates mobility constraints but lacks physiological impact data. This pilot study explored impacts on cardiovascular outcomes and task duration in 8 healthy adults aged 18-45 performing mobility and daily household activities with/without AGNES. A Garmin watch captured heart rate while stopwatches recorded task times. Dependent t-tests evaluated differences between conditions in average heart rate, peak heart rate, and task duration. Participants in this small sample demonstrated no statistically significant heart rate differences wearing AGNES. However, AGNES profoundly extended task duration (p<0.05), suggesting mobility restrictions confer physical duress. Participants anecdotally conveyed sentiments around frustration, insight into aging challenges, and inspiration for empathetic design. Additional research with expanded sampling, additional physiological metrics, and formalized qualitative measures would provide a better understanding of AGNES’ impacts. For this pilot, AGNES delivered immersive aging effects without indicating cardiovascular overload. AGNES shows promise as an embodiment tool helping stakeholders identify assisted interventions enabling accessible, sustainable, dignified aging. The solution space must resonate with older adults’ voices and honor their resilience, wisdom, and humanity. This research lays the foundation for more robust investigations of AGNES’ physiological impacts.

Factors Influencing Travel Mode Choices in the Stockholm Area: Analysis and Policy Implications

  • Siyuan Meng (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Traffic congestion in urban areas is a growing challenge, impacting city dwellers globally. This research focuses on the critical role of transportation mode choice in Stockholm, aiming to understand how it shapes urban traffic efficiency and structure. Recognizing the importance of analyzing these choices, the study delves into the factors influencing travelers' preferences, thereby guiding urban policymakers in fostering more efficient and sustainable transportation options. The research utilized a dataset from a pre-congestion charging travel survey in Stockholm. It involved the development of four predictive models: two multinomial logit (MNL) models and two mixed logit models. These models were constructed using transformed independent variables, estimated through Biogeme and Python. The best-performing model was selected based on several criteria, including the t-test, informal-test, log-likelihood, and adjusted Rho-Square. The ultimate choice was an MNL model, notable for its log likelihood of -8602.17 and an adjusted Rho-Square of 0.454. A key application of the selected model was in the estimation of the Value of Time (VOT) and conducting policy analysis. The findings revealed nuanced impacts of various policy measures. For instance, lowering public transport charges increased its preference but also strained the system. Conversely, raising parking fees had a minimal effect. The introduction of congestion charging notably decreased car usage and promoted a balance in the use of alternative modes. Overall, this study provides critical insights for enhancing efficiency and sustainability in Stockholm's transportation system. The findings are poised to influence transportation decision-making in the region, addressing the pressing issue of traffic congestion.

Spontaneous short-term recovery of fatigued aviators with naturalistic motivation introduction

  • Robert O’Donnell (Tufts University)

This study focuses on spontaneous fatigue recovery of Coast Guard aviators by utilizing intrinsic/naturalist motivation. Operator fatigue is a historical and current problem throughout nearly every modality of transportation – maritime, aviation, and long-haul trucking/rail environments (Bailey, 2007). Employers have utilized a variety of methods to manage fatigue in their workforce including with training, scheduling, and policy – which has been largely ineffective in eliminating fatigue (Arnold, 2001). Similarly, the military (DOD/DHS) has sought ways to reduce fatigue impacts with increased training, sleep/activity tracking, and the use of dietary supplements such as caffeine (Vital-Lopez, 2018). Even with the addition of mitigation strategies, fatigue is still a real problem that is only exasperated with high-paced, complacency inducing operations. By understanding that an operator has a higher fatigue tendency toward the end of their shift, a fatigue mitigation strategy can be implemented increasing operator awareness for safe task completion. This study utilizes a three-pronged approach: 1) ground-based testing utilizing a complacency (and mentally fatiguing) task employing sudoku puzzles; 2) the introduction of a motivator during the task which may encompass spoken word, comedy, and music; and 3) fatiguing Coast Guard aviators in actual flight profiles, followed by data collection in the MH-65E flight simulator located at Aviation Training Center, Mobile, AL. During data collection, aviators will be monitored on the altitude, airspeed, and heading control, along with audio analysis and eye tracking. The expected outcome after motivator introduction is approximately 15-20 minutes of a heightened alert state – enough time to safely land the aircraft.

COMPASS App: A Patient-centered Physiological based Pain Assessment System

  • Wenchao Zhu (Northeastern University)

Chronic pain patients lack at-home pain assessment and management tools. The existing chronic-pain mobile applications are either solely relying on self-report pain levels or restricted to formal clinical settings. Our app, abbreviated from an NSF-funded project entitled Novel Computational Methods for Continuous Objective Multimodal Pain Assessment Sensing System (COMPASS), is a multi-dimensional pain app that collects physiological signals to predict objective pain levels and trace daily at-home activities by incorporating a daily check-in section. We conducted a usability test with 33 healthy participants under pain conditions. The results provided initial support for the validity of the signals in predicting internalizing pain levels among the participants. With further development and testing, we believe the COMPASS app system has the potential to be used by both patients and clinicians as an additional tool to better assess and manage pain, especially for mobile healthcare applications.

The Relationship between Media Multitasking and Executive Function within a Military Population

  • Scott Marriner, Julie A. Cantelon, Nathan Ward (Tufts University)

The pervasive nature of media multitasking in the last fifteen years has sparked extensive research, revealing a nuanced but predominantly negative association with executive function. While existing literature suggests this relationship, there are gaps in understanding moderating variables and examining the behavior in certain populations, notably military members. Given the cognitive demands and technological landscape of the modern battlefield, I investigated the hypothesis that self-reported media multitasking behaviors would be negatively associated with performance-based measurements of executive function in a novel population of American service members. I did not find a significant relationship between overall media multitasking and any of the executive function measures within this sample. However, average media multitaskers performed significantly better than heavy media multitaskers in a task switch paradigm. Furthermore, I examined self-regulation as a potential moderating variable in this relationship. I hypothesized that the negative impact of media multitasking on executive function will be more pronounced among military members with lower self-regulation. I based this on previous evidence that adults with higher self-regulation can modify media multitasking behavior differently than those adults with low self-regulation. Similar to previous findings, I did not observe a significant, moderating relationship from self-regulation scores. By uncovering the nuanced interplay between these variables, my research contributes to a more thorough understanding of the cognitive implications of media multitasking both in general and within the military context.

Understanding impact of ADAS training as a function of drivers’ experience levels: A driving simulator study

  • Radhika Jayant Deshmukh, Apoorva Hungund, Niraj Hosadurga (University of Massachusetts Amherst)

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) promise to offer significant benefits in driving safety. However, if not used correctly, they can also introduce potential risks. ADAS training may be necessary to maximize the promised benefits of these systems. Previous research has shown that training improves drivers’ knowledge of ADAS; however, the actual benefit may depend on individual driver characteristics, including their baseline knowledge about ADAS and the confidence they have in that knowledge. To better understand the influence of drivers’ experience levels on ADAS training efficacy, we are conducting a driving-simulator study. For the experiment, 64 participants are being recruited based on self-reported experience with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). They will undergo ACC-specific training or sham training, followed by evaluation of their driving performance on a simulator. The study aims to determine whether training enhances comprehension of ACC functionality and usage. Changes in ACC knowledge will be assessed using a mental model assessment before and after training. The findings will help better understand the efficacy of such training programs in augmenting ACC comprehension and usage, providing valuable insights into how these effects may differ based on drivers' previous ACC experience. Ultimately, this research aims to inform the development of better training strategies for the safe and efficient adoption of ACC. The study is ongoing, with data collection at over 50%. There are no results to report yet from the study. There may be preliminary results that can be presented at the time of this conference.

Enhancing Indoor Navigation for the Visually Impaired with Sensor-Based Assistive Technology

  • Ava Iannuccillo, Ege Cogulu, Yousef Abdo, Ashley Wu (Tufts University)

Existing assistive technology for individuals with low vision or blindness primarily focuses on outdoor navigation using tools like service animals, white canes, or sensory perception. Recent research integrates motion sensors (i.e. IMUs) and distance sensors (i.e. LiDARs) into digital assistive devices. The purpose of our research is to develop a novel sensor-based assistive device grounded in user integration and intuitive function with the goal of easy adaptation to the user’s daily life. We aim to improve independence and safety for individuals with visual impairments during indoor navigation, addressing a gap in existing outdoor-focused solutions. Preliminary interviews with individuals from the Perkins & Carroll School for the Blind identified indoor use cases and user pain points. In developing a physical prototype, we propose creating 3D distance data. In Phase 1, spatial data from 2D LiDAR, ultrasonic, and 9-degree-of-freedom IMU sensors are fused to create an adaptive 3D map. Phase 2 involves translating this spatial data into a signal output for the user. Our current work focuses on spatialized audio and/or haptic feedback for users to interpret the distance data effectively. We developed three prototypes focused on different sensor placement methods: attached to hand gloves, controlled by paddles, and pinned onto clothing. Initial LiDAR range sensor tests indicate the device's ability to detect irregular objects and provide real-time feedback to users. Despite being in the prototype phase, our work lays the foundation for a user-centric, adaptable assistive device that would significantly improve the lives of individuals with visual impairments.

A mechanical device for precise self-administration of ocular drugs

  • Benjamin Lahner, Seung Hyeon Shim, Carly Smith (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

While eye drop self-administration is cumbersome for nearly everyone, it is especially difficult for the 80 million elderly individuals with glaucoma worldwide. In addition to severe visual impairments, this population often lacks fine motor skills, adequate range of motion in joints, and steady hands. These physical limitations make adherence to their prescribed daily eye drop regimen extremely difficult, and unsuccessful eye drop administration can lead to disease progression, prescription waste, ocular trauma, and infection. Here we present a prototyped eye drop assist device that enables elderly glaucoma patients to safely and reliably self-administer their medications. We first mathematically model the position of the eye drop bottle tip and user neck extension to determine when successful eye drop delivery is most probable. We then design our device to hold an eye drop bottle at the desired position and notify the user when to expel a drop. Specifically, our design adopts an ergonomic monocular design to anchor the eye drop bottle around the eye socket while ensuring no contact is made between the bottle and the user. The device incorporates a double pinhole sight mechanism to precisely center the device with respect to the eye and a haptic ball-in-tube feedback mechanism to notify the user when their neck extension reaches the predetermined angle for a successful eye drop application. We experimentally verify that the device improves hand steadiness, provides accurate head tilt feedback, precisely positions the bottle tip, and predictably delivers eye drops into the eye in line with our mathematical model.