Vanessa Bowden

The goal of human factors research is to better understand how humans interact with technological systems – from simple tools through to complex technology such as power plants and transportation systems. My research uses basic psychological principles of cognition and perception to better understand how we interact with these technological systems, and to help design systems that are safe, productive, and error-free. In the transportation domain, this includes research which applies basic memory, attention, and perception principles to reducing unsafe driving behaviours, such as speeding and distraction. In air traffic control, it includes research aimed at improving our understanding of automation design and developing solutions for high degree automated support in this and other similar complex work settings. Other research looks at how best to design technological systems to optimize human operator situation awareness and workload across a range of contemporary settings where humans interact with technology.