Turing Machine as an ecological model for Task Analysis

Thierry Morineau (1) , Emmanuel Frenod (2, 3, 4) , Caroline Blanche (1) , Laurence Tobin (1)

1 CRPCC EA 1285 - Centre de Recherches en Psychologie Cognition et Communication
2 Lab-STICC - Laboratoire des sciences et techniques de l'information, de la communication et de la connaissance (UMR 3192)
3 LEMEL - Laboratoire d'Etude et Modélisation des Environnements littoraux
4 CALVI - Scientific computation and visualization

We present a new model for task analysis based on the ecological approach initiated by Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA). This model aims to improve the implementation of the theoretical principles involved in the ecological approach of a work system. More precisely, under current CWA, task analysis uses Rasmussen's ladder. However, this approach fails to highlight the contextual constraints on the task. Our model is based on the Turing Machine formalism and takes into account the variety of situations that can be experienced by an agent, and especially degraded situations of work. Moreover, it can model the concept of affordance specifying information. We show that this formalism can be applied to a prototypical task like opening a door.

Mots clés: Cognitive work analysis; task analysis; Turing machine; affordance

Domaines: Psychologie; Modélisation et simulation

Thierry Morineau, Emmanuel Frenod, Caroline Blanche, Laurence Tobin. Turing Machine as an ecological model for Task Analysis. Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, 2009, 10 (6), pp.511--529. ⟨10.1080/14639220802368849⟩. ⟨hal-00334142⟩