Reconfigurable Human-Agent Collaboration: Human Performance in Network-Centric Operations

Michael Lewis, Eduardo Salas, Nancy Cooke, and Alex Kirlik

May 2006-April 2011

Office of Naval Research

The research program which is managed from the University of Central Florida studies macrocognition in teams so as to understand how teams might best process information and work together to make operational decisions. Other team members are the Cognitive Engineering Research Institute in Mesa Arizona, University of Pittsburgh and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The researchers will develop ways to increase understanding of team cognition and collaboration in network-centric warfare environments. These environments rely on extensive networking of sensors, warfighting hardware and information technology. Command teams must process and use all these data to direct operations. How might do this in the most efficient way possible is a subject of this research. An ultimate outcome of the multi-year effort would be better ways to choose, train and equip teams for rapid and accurate decision making in high stress, information-loaded situations.