[ACT-R-users] Position studying Human Error Modeling with ACT-R

[Mike Fotta]

Software Engineer/Research Associate for Human Error Modeling for Error
Tolerant Systems (HEMETS) Small Business Innovative Research project.
Innovative Management & Technology Services (IMTS).

IMTS has an opening for a software engineer who can apply ACT-R and LISP
experience to modeling human error. The specific project and job
description follows. IMTS will consider full time, part time or intern
level employment for this position.

HEMETS 
The interaction of humans with computers in environments which are
increasingly information rich and demand fast decision time yields
errors when human capabilities and limitations are not designed into a
system. These "human errors" can lead to serious and even deadly
consequences, such as friendly-fire incidents during combat. If
knowledge of the cause of human errors resulting from a particular
design were available to the system designers before implementing a
system, then the design could be modified or an alternative design
chosen to reduce or remove these errors, or at least enable recovery
from the errors. One method to provide such knowledge is the development
of software which can both simulate human performance given a system
design and predict the errors likely to occur from this design. 

In order to develop such a tool, IMTS is undertaking the development of
a computational Human Error Modeling tool for Error Tolerant Systems
(HEMETS). This is an extension of previous work in which we successfully
designed the Human Error Modeling Architecture (HEMA) which provides the
core component of HEMETS. HEMA is built upon ACT-R and, utilizing an
analysis of research in human errors, proposed a cognitive architecture
for human error modeling. 

There are a number of challenges to develop a functional HEMETS. Some of
these are:
1.	Extending ACT-R to incorporate the error modeling aspects needed
to implement HEMA.
2.	Developing an easily-used, reusable method to interface HEMETS
to a system's user interfaces.
3.	Tracking the activities of HEMA to determine the causes of error
resulting from a user interface design.
4.	Developing an automated output which communicates the likely
operator errors resulting from a system design and offers
recommendations to improving the design.  
			
This work is funded under an Office of Naval Research (ONR) Small
Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant. 

Candidate Capabilities
1.	Experience with LISP programming: either a minimum of 1 year on
the job experience or graduate school experience which used LISP
programming, preferably in modeling some aspect of human cognition or
behavior.
2.	B.S. Computer Science with experience, or M.S. /PhD. Computer or
Cognitive Science.
3.	Experience with ACT-R cognitive architecture; experience with
other cognitive architectures will be considered. 
4.	Self-starter, independent worker capable of creative approaches.
5.	Good communication skills, especially technical writing.

Job Duties:
1.	Develop detailed design of Human Error Modeling Architecture
(HEMA) and HEMETS components.
2.	Implement HEMA as extensions and additions to ACT-R.  
3.	Work with consultants and PI to insure HEMA integrates with
interface to system simulations.
4.	Design an automated subsystem which both explains error cause
due to a proposed system design and offers recommendations to eliminate
or reduce those errors.
5.	Develop technical papers and presentations for customer (ONR)
and cognitive modeling community.

This position gives an individual the opportunity to do post-doctoral
type work with the pay and benefits of a thriving small company. 


Application
Applicants should email a resume to mike.fotta at imts.us and
mike.painter at imts.us 
We will consider full time, part time or intern level employment. 


IMTS is a small but growing business with working relationships to major
corporations, government agencies, academic and research institutions.
For further information visit http://www.imts-wv.com/Welcome.asp 


Michael E. Fotta, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
mike.fotta at imts.us
(304)-363-6757 Office
(304)-363-6767 Fax
www.imts.us 

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