A Co-operative Simulation Approach to the Design and Evaluation of Visual Interfaces in a Train Driving Cab. Peggy ZWOLINSKI UTBM Sévenans - L’ERCO 90010 Belfort Cedex, France peggy.zwolinski@utbm.fr Valérie GOUIN UTBM Sévenans - L’ERCO 90010 Belfort Cedex, France valerie.gouin@utbm.fr Jean-Claude SAGOT UTBM Sévenans - L’ERCO 90010 Belfort Cedex, France jean-claude.sagot@utbm.fr Abstract This paper presents a co-operative approach used to design visual interfaces in a train driving cab. This method was elaborated with the help of engineers, ergonomists, and volunteer train drivers. During this design project, ergonomists studied the usefulness and the usability of visual information, in relation to future driving cab control devices. The use of virtual rapid prototyping, necessary for the user interface evalua- tion, was a real support to increase co-operation be- tween engineers and ergonomists for the design of the future driving cab. It appeared that the virtual display designed with rapid prototyping was a real support for the Collaborative Design and Concurrent Engineering. 1. INTRODUCTION The extension of the European train network and the evolution of technologies have led ALSTOM Transport to think about the introduction of displays on train board. Indeed, the differences between the technical require- ments of the different networks and the differences between railway cultures require more adaptable driving desks. So, ALSTOM Transport decided to realise a project based on a Concurrent Engineering process, to standardise their locomotive driving desks by using adaptable visual interfaces on displays. To realise this project, the customer ALSTOM TRANSPORT (engineer, computer engineer,...) met train drivers, responsible from the French national railway and members of the ERCO (ergonomists, psychologist, ...). The aim of this paper is to illustrate the pragmatic methodology used to create a more efficient visual system for train driving cab which lead the project group to a real co-operative work concerning the design of the future driving cabs. It presents a user-centred approach using simulation with rapid prototyping, to create visual interfaces. ? The first section of this paper concentrates on data concerning existing visual interfaces in driving cabs. This first stage of the simulation approach enables us to build an accurate model of the present situation. ? In the second section we will show how to design the future activity in a co-operative approach using sce- narios and by analysing the functions of the interface. We will explain why the use of rapid prototyping was necessary to evaluate the interface with eight train drivers and was also very useful for designers in the Preliminary Study of this concurrent engineering project. 2. ANALYSIS OF EXISTING VISUAL INFORMATION The first step in this study was to collect data concerning visual information and to its use influence during the driving activity. Indeed, this analysis of the driving activity is very important to point out factors which would help us to improve or transform existing working conditions and thus design a man-machine interface. So, the project group : ? listed the existing solutions concerning trains, met- ros,...in European countries. We examined the dif- ferent components in the driving cabs, their physical characteristics, the reason of their existence and er- gonomic aspects of each component, ? examined the driving task (driving rules, driving devices, technical evolution of control devices,...) to realise analysis concerning visual interfaces, ? interviewed and observed drivers at work during trips with French train drivers. We have observed the driving activity with a diesel and with an electric lo- comotive, in passengers and freight service, by day or by night (Fig 1, Fig 2). According to Zwolinski and Sagot (1998), we have taken into account objective measures (eye directions, blinking frequency, ....). So we have consulted existing results concerning high speed trains studies used on classical railways.