title: A study of computer-based task performance under thermal stress.
abstract: A visual-visual dual computer task was designed to test the effect of the thermal environment on dual task performance. The temperatures selected for testing were 20 and 35 degrees C Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). 34 volunteers were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 temperature conditions. Individual differences in single task performance were controlled by equating the baselines of single task performance. Once individual differences in single task capacity were controlled, statistically significant differences in performance were demonstrated. Mean accuracy was computed over a 1-hr testing period in each temperature condition. Participants' mean accuracy in the 35 degrees condition (38.18%) was substantially lower than in the 20 degrees condition (50.88%).
authors.affiliation: Industrial Systems Engineering, University of San Diego, CA 92110-2492, USA. bchase@sandiego.edu
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chase
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Karwowski
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Benedict
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Quesada
authors.forename: Holly M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Irwin-Chase
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012984:Software; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013696:Temperature