A Simulation Approach to the Design and Evaluation of Auditory Interfaces in a High Speed Train Driving Cab.

As operators are spending more and more of their time monitoring and using control systems, auditory displays are becoming increasingly useful along with other control devices and control panels. This paper presents a method, elaborated with the help of engineers, ergonomists and train drivers, for designing and evaluating auditory interfaces for use in high speed train driving cabs. During this design project, ergonomists studied the usefulness and the usability of auditory signals, in relation to visual displays and future driving cab control devices. To take into account every aspect of auditory signals, members of the project have chosen to use a simulation approach benefiting from co-operation between ergonomists, engineers and volunteer train drivers who took part in the entire project for the design of the future driving cab.