CODING DESIGNS CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THE EFFECTIVENESS

OF USING CONTROL AND DISPLAY PANEL: AN INSIGHT FROM RTM

KUCHING, SARAWAK.

CAROLINE GASAH

This project is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

Bachelor of Cognitive Sciences with Honours

Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development

UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

2005

The project entitled ‘CODING DESIGNS CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THE

EFFECTIVENESS OF USING CONTROL DISPLAY PANEL: AN INSIGHT

FROM RTM KUCHING, SARAWAK’ was prepared by CAROLINE GASAH and

submitted to the Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development in partial

fulfillment on the requirements for a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Cognitive

Sciences.

Received for examination by:

---------------------------------------

(Mdm. Wan Norizan Wan Hashim)

Date:

--------------------------------------

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to dedicate my deepest gratitude to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

(UNIMAS) and Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) Kuching branch for giving me an

opportunity to complete my final year project in broadcasting department RTM.

A special appreciation goes to my final year project supervisor, Mdm. Wan

Norizan for being such a dedicated supervisor and lecturer to me. I really be thankful

for her patients, precious times, comments, and the stimulating ideas that she

presented to me. Great thanks go for Cognitive Sciences lecturers in UNIMAS for

their comments, corrections, and suggestions which allow me to complete my study.

I would like to use this opportunity to give thanks to my supervisors in RTM

Mr. Sa’aif Hj. Amit and Mdm. Caroline, in the Secretariat and Human Resource

Development Department for their guidance and help, that much contribute to the

successful of this study. Besides, thank you to all the technicians in MCR and also

Mr. Francis Lenggi Nyaran and Miss Rolana Gilbert, announcers in Rangkaian Iban,

for being committed respondents during my data collection. Without their

cooperation, I will never finish my final year project.

Praise the Lord for guiding me all my way of completing my study and also

for the strength that he gave to me. I would also like to express my thanks and

appreciations to all my friends, especially for the members of UCF that been prayed

for my successful. Finally, thank you to my family for always be with me.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

VERIFICATION ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS iv

LIST OF FIGURES vii

LIST OF TABLES viii

ABSTRACT ix

ABSTRAK x

1. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Research background 5

1.3 Company’s profile 17

1.4 Problem statement 18

1.5 Objectives

1.5.1 General objectives 19

1.5.2 Specific objectives 19

1.6 Assumption 20

1.7 Significance of the study 20

1.8 Research scope 21

1.9 Limitation of the study 21

1.10 Terms and keywords’ definition 22

1.10.1 Ergonomic 22

1.10.2 User-centered design 23

1.10.3 Usability 23

1.10.4 Usability Testing 24

1.10.5 Display 24

1.11 Conclusion 25

2. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction 26

2.1 Usability testing 27

2.2 Heuristic evaluation 29

2.3 Related research

2.3.1 Ergonomic design and usability engineering 29

2.3.2 Control-display compatibility 30

2.3.3 Display designs 31

2.3.4 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) 33

2.3.5 Control error 34

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3. CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction 36

3.1 Design of research 37

3.1.1 Primer data 37

3.1.2 Secondary data 38

3.2 Population and sample 38

3.2.1 Population 38

3.2.2 Sample 39

3.3 Research instruments 39

3.4 Pilot test 40

3.5 Data collection 40

3.6 Data analysis 41

4. CHAPTER 4 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.0 Introduction 42

4.1 Result of survey questionnaires 43

4.1.1 Respondent demographic factor 43

4.1.1.1 Race 43

4.1.1.2 Sex 44

4.1.1.3 Job position 44

4.1.1.4 Duration of service 45

4.1.1.5 Work shift 46

4.1.2 Result of the survey on the system 46

Part 1: Job satisfaction 47

Part 2: Job safety & error prevention 48

Part 3: Discussions on the survey 49

4.2 Result of the observation 49

4.2.0 Introduction 49

4.2.1 Colour 50

4.2.2 Labelling 53

4.2.3 Location 56

4.2.4 Mode of operation 58

4.2.5 Size 59

4.2.6 Shape 61

4.2.7 Texture 63

4.3 Report on interview 64

4.3.1 Introduction 64

4.3.2 Result of the interview 64

4.4 Discussion 65

4.5 Conclusion 66

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5. CHAPTER 5 SUMMARIES, CONCLUSIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS

5.0 Introduction 67

5.1 Summaries 68

5.2 Conclusions 70

5.3 Suggestions 71

5.4 Future research 78

6. APPENDIXES

Appendix A: Questionnaires 79

Appendix B: CD 82

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY 83

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Examples of situations in control room. 2

Figure 2 Pushbutton 9

Figure 3 Push-pull switches 10

Figure 4 Toggle switches 10

Figure 5 Rocker switches 11

Figure 6 Cranks 12

Figure 7 Slide switch 12

Figure 8 Lever switches 13

Figure 9 Continuous thumbwheel 13

Figure 10 A summary of participants’ choices 31

Figure 11 Relations between process operations, modules, display

content, operator activities and graphical items

32

Figure 12 Summary of statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05) 34

Figure 13 Data from the second example of vehicle lane keeping

where rightward errors are negative and leftward errors

are positive.

35

Figure 14 Respondents populations according to race 46

Figure 15 Respondents populations according to job position 47

Figure 16 Respondents populations according duration of service 48

Figure 17 Sample pictures on colour coding design 52

Figure 18 Sample pictures on the use of labeling 54

Figure 19 Variations of volume symbols 55

Figure 20 Variations on Power Buttons 55

Figure 21 Sample pictures on the location coding design 56

Figure 22 Sample pictures on mode of operation 58

Figure 23 Sample pictures on size coding 59

Figure 24 Types of shapes used in MCR and Conty 61

Figure 25 Sample pictures on texture coding design 63

Figure 26 Analogue audio mixers 72

Figure 27 Dramatic Control Panel 73

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Technicians’ job satisfaction on the system in MCR 47

Table 2 Technicians’ opinion on the system’s job safety and error

prevention

48

Table 3 Types of colors used in MCR and Conty 51

Table 4 Types of colour functions 51

Table 5 Types of labeling used in MCR and Conty 53

ix

ABSTRACT

CODING DESIGNS CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF

USING CONTROL AND DISPLAY PANEL: AN INSIGHT FROM RTM

KUCHING, SARAWAK

Caroline Gasah

This study is expected to determine whether the seven controls’ coding

designs contributing towards the effectiveness of using control and display panel in

broadcasting area. Besides, the study also aimed to propose suggestions to improve

the effectiveness towards using control and display panel in broadcasting area. The

research scope covers the technicians in Main Control Room (MCR), and also the

announcers in the Conty Room, in broadcasting department, RTM Kuching. The

study is used qualitative research methodology, where covers 30 respondents, with 28

technicians, and 2 announcers. There are three main methods to conduct the study,

including observation, survey questionnaires, and semi-structured interview. Form

the observation, we found that each of the seven coding designs has its own

responsibility in contributing towards the effectiveness of using controls. The survey

shows that the employees gain their expertise from the job experiences. On the other

part, the interview results that announcers in the Conty Room also gained their

expertise and automatist from the experiences. As a conclusion, we found that all the

seven coding designs contributing towards the effectiveness of using control and

display panel, and in the same time, all the respondents agreed that the controls

coding design much contributed towards the usability of control and display panel.

1

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

The title of the research is “Coding Designs Contributing towards

Effectiveness of Using Control & Display Panel: An Insight from RTM Kuching,

Sarawak.” The purpose research is to determine how the coding designs

contributing towards effectiveness of using control and display panels. The

research will cover up the components of designing the controls at the Control

Room. The effectiveness of using control & display panel will be studied in seven

major terms of coding designs: color, texture, size, shape location, labeling and

also operational designs. The Control Room used a relay switching system to

enable the complete chain of transmission between any studio and any outgoing

line to be set up in the least possible time.

2

One man could sit at a control position here and control all the studios in the

building. The examples of situations in the Control Rooms are as in Figure 1

follows:

Figure 1: Examples of situations in control room.

1.1 Control designs

According to Kroemer, K. H. E. (1994), there are seven coding principles of

control designs. They are:

i. Location

ii. Color

iii. Texture

iv. Size

v. Shape

vi. Labeling

vii. Mode of operation

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i. Location

Controls associated with similar functions shall be in the same relative

location from panel to panel. Controls work better when they are located

vertically rather than horizontally.

ii. Color

This is useful for visual identification of the control works. It works best

when combined with the other types of coding because individuals may

have problems with color vision or there may be conditions of low light.

Most controls are either black or gray. For other colors, the following

may be selected: red, white, orange-yellow and blue. The use of color

requires sufficient luminance of the surface.

iii. Texture

Surface texture of the control can also ease identification. With rough

textures this also allows smaller controls to be used by gloved hands.

iv. Size

Size coding aids visual discrimination but isn't as good for tactile

discrimination. The two forms of coding work together when vision is

limited (e.g. using a microscope).

Up to three different sizes of controls can be used for discrimination by

size. Controls that have the same function on different items or

equipments shall have the same size (and shape).

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v. Shape

Shaping controls to distinguish them can appeal to both the visual and

tactation senses. Sharp edges shall be avoided. Various shapes and

surface textures have been investigated for diverse uses.

Involves tactile sensitivity and impacts on grip strength. Shape

strengthens symbolic associations between control and function.

vi. Labeling

Proper labeling is a secure means to identify controls, this works only if

the labels are in fact read and understood by the operator. The label must

be placed so that it can be read easily, is well illuminated, and is not

covered.

Minimum coding requirement of any control, but labels take time to read

and if there are many controls discrimination is slow. Trans-illuminated

(“back-lighted”) labels possibly incorporated into the control, are often

advantageous.

vii. Mode of operation

Each control is activated by a unique movement.

One can distinguish controls by different manners of operation, such as

push, turn and slide. If the operator is not familiar with the control, a

false manner of operation may be tried first, which is likely to increase

operation time.

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Eventually, the research will determine the usability aspects that much

contribute towards the effectiveness of using control panels. According to Carol

M. B. (2001), usability components are as following:

Learnability

Efficiency

Memorability

Low errors

Satisfaction

The use of panels in controlling, require human to interact with the control

system itself. In terms of study the interaction between human and the system, this

study will including the usability testing, in order to examine the level of

effectiveness as well as to check whether the system is usable or not.

1.2 Research background

1.2.1 Introduction

This chapter will broadly introduce about the background of the research.

Since the research is about control and display panel in broadcasting control room,

this chapter will discuss more about the terms of controls and displays, and also

mention about its’ designs. Apart from it, this chapter will explain about the use of

control room in broadcasting area.

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1.2.2 Controls

Controls called “activators” in ISO standard transmit inputs to a piece of

equipment. They are usually operated by hand or foot. The results of the control

inputs are shown to the operator either in terms of ‘displays’ or ‘indicators’ or by

the ensuing actions of the machine.

1.2.3 Control designs

Control designs can increase speed and accuracy of performance.

Identification of controls is a coding problem that depends on various factors.

According to Jacob Nielsen (1997), there are five important design principles of

control:

i. Coding of controls

Coding of controls refers to the way of coding the controls in order to

differentiate controls. To be able to find or distinguish controls easily, they can be

coded by location, color, size, shape, labeling, texture and mode of operation.

ii. Control movement stereotypes

Control movement stereotypes are a movement of a control device that

follows and controls the movement of a display, and also produces a specific

system response.

iii. Control-display relationship

Refers to the degree to which relationships of control-display are consistent

with human expectations.

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iv. Control-response compatibility

In continuous control tasks, a specified movement of the control will result

in a system response. The system response may be represented on a display or it

may not.

v. Control-display compatibility

The degree to which relationships between controls and displays are

consistent with user expectations For example, a person may have expectations

concerning the movement of a control and its expected effect on a display based

on a previously formed stereotype of that movement.

1.2.4 Control selection

In the book of Ergonomic: How to Design for Ease and Efficiency

(Kroemer, K.H. E, 1994), Sanders and McCormick (1987) stated that controls

shall be selected for their functional usefulness. There are five ‘natural rules’ for

selection of controls:

1. Compatibility of control-machine movement

2. Control actuation force or torque

3. Control-effects relationship

4. Continuous versus detent controls

5. Standard practices

1.2.5 Arrangement and grouping of controls

According to K.H.E, Kroemer (1994), there are several “operational rules”

govern the arrangement and grouping of controls:

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1. Locate for the ease of operation.

2. Primary controls first.

3. Group related controls together.

4. Arrange for sequential operation.

5. Be consistent.

6. Guard against accidental activation.

7. Pack tightly but do not crowd.

1.2.6 Types of control

Controls can be distinguished by their control actions:

1. Activate or shut down equipment.

For example: ON-OFF key lock.

2. Discrete control.

Controls use to make a discrete setting. For example: making a separate or

distinct adjustment like selecting a television channel.

3. Continuous controls.

Continuous controls refer to the controls that are use to operate the

continuous setting. For example: controlling an automobile steering.

4. “Enter data” controls.

For example: computer keyboard.

1.2.7 Classes of control

1.2.7.1 Discrete controls

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Key lock

Also called key-operated switches are use to prevent unauthorized machine

operation. Key locks usually set into ON and OFF positions; they are always

distinct.

Bar knob

Detent bar knobs that also called rotary selectors are used for discrete

functions when two or more detected positions are required. Knobs shall be bar-

shaped with parallel sides, and the index end shall be tapered to a point.

Detent thumbwheel

Detent or discrete thumbwheel used for the function that requires a compact

input device for discrete steps.

Pushbutton

Pushbuttons used for single switching between two conditions, for entry of a

discrete control order, or for release of a locking system. Pushbuttons also can be

used for momentary contact or sustained contact. Figure 2 below is the example of

pushbutton:

Figure 2: Pushbutton

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Push-pull switch

Push-pull controls usually used for discrete settings, commonly ON and

OFF; intermediate positions have been occasionally employed. Push-pull controls

generally have a round flange under which to ‘hook’ the fingers. Example is as in

Figure 3 follows:

Figure 3: Push-pull switches.

Toggle switch

Detent toggle switches used if two discrete positions are required. The

example of toggle switch is showed in following Figure 4:

Figure 4: Toggle switches.

Legend switch

Detent legend switches are particularly suited to display qualitative

information on equipment status that requires the operator’s attention and action.

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Rocker switch

Rocker switches also used for two discrete positions. Rocker switches

protrude less from the panel than do toggle switches. Figure 5 is the examples of

rocker switches designs.

Figure 5: Rocker switches

Alphanumeric keyboards

Alphanumeric keyboards are usually used for entering data to the computers.

1.2.7.2 Continuous controls

Knob

Continuous knobs (also called round knobs or rotary controls) are used

when little force is required and when precise adjustments of a continuous

variable are required. If positions must be distinguished, an index line on the knob

should point to markers on the panel.

Crank

Cranks used primarily if the controls must be rotated many times. For tasks

involving large slewing movements or small, fine adjustments, a crank handle

may be mounted on a knob or hand wheel. The examples of crank controls are

shown in Figure 6:

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Figure 6: Cranks

Slide switch

Slide switches are used to make continuous settings, for example in music

mix-and-control stations. For example, as shown in following Figure 7:

Figure 7: Slide switch

Hand wheel

Hand wheels that are designed for nominal two-handed operation should be

used when the breakout or rotation forces are too large to be overcome with a one-

hand control.

Lever

Continuous levers are used when large force or displacement is required at

the control and/or when multidimensional movements are required. There are two

types of levers: force joystick, and displacement joystick, as shown in Figure 8:

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Figure 8: Lever switches

Continuous thumbwheel

Continuous thumbwheels are used as an alternative to round knobs if a

compact thumbwheel is beneficial. The example of the design is in Figure 9:

Figure 9: Continuous thumbwheel

1.2.7 Types of display

In a control-display, displays provide the operator with necessary

information about the status of the equipment. Displays are whether visual (for

example: lights, scales, or flat panels) or auditory (for example: bells, horns, or

recorded voice). Selecting either an auditory or visual display depends on

conditions and purpose. The objective maybe to provide:

Status information—the current state of the system, such as from where

the signal received in the television main control room.

Historical—information about the past state of the system.

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Predictive—such as the future range of sound wave, given certain rotary

sound settings.

Instructional—telling the operator what to do, and how to do something.

Commanding—giving directions or orders for a required actions.

1.2.7.1 Auditory displays

An auditory display is appropriate if the environment must be kept dark; the

operator moves around; the message is short, is simple, and requires immediate

attention, deals with events in time.

1.2.7.2 Visual displays

According to K.H.E. Kroemer (1994), there are three basic types of visual

displays:

‘Check’ displays

Check display indicates whether or not a given condition exists. For

example: a green light to indicate normal functioning.

‘Qualitative’ displays

The qualitative display indicates the status of a changing variable or the

approximate value, or its trend of change. For example: a pointer within a normal

range.

‘Quantitative’ displays

Quantitative display shows the exact information that must be ascertained or

indicates an exact numerical value that must be read. For example: a clock.

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1.2.8 Functions of display

Displays provide the Displays convey various types of information such as:

Status

Warnings

Representations

Identification

Symbolic

Time-phased

Safety designs

1.2.9 Usability testing

In order to test the usability, there are several types of usability testing that

can be applied, to study the effectiveness of using a product:

For quick answers to terminology questions, simple tests like the

matching test, card-sorting test and paper-and-pencil test are fine.

For new interface designs, low fidelity prototyping can help to identify

the right conceptual model.

For projects that betting to entire business, use heuristic evaluations,

cognitive walkthrough and full-blown usability tests.

According to Carrol M.B (2001), usability testing generally has the

following characteristics (Dumas and Redish 22):

i. The primary goal is to improve the usability of a product. For each test,

there must be a specific goals and concerns that you articulate when

planning the test.

ii. The participants represent real users.

iii. The participants do real tasks.