Comparing Cognitive Workload Across Different Modalities of Instruction

This project at Human System Labs explored cognitive workload in assembly manufacturing by comparing laser, pictorial, and video-based instructional modalities. I created a virtual reality (VR) environment to simulate assembly tasks, using eye-tracking and physiological data (e.g., heart rate) to assess cognitive demands and performance outcomes. My findings, published in Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, highlight how different instructional formats impact worker efficiency, guiding the design of effective training systems for industrial applications.

The virtual reality setup was created using Unreal Engine 4. Eye tracking was integrated into the VR Headset and was extracted using SRanipal SDK, that was integrated into the C script. Assembly task required participants to place specific coded objects at its right place and right orientation. Cognitive workload and task performance was used to assess the difference amongst the three.

Key Contributions:

-Designed a VR-based assembly simulation to study cognitive workload under varying instructional conditions.

-Employed eye-tracking and physiological data to measure mental effort and task performance.

-Analyzed comparative impacts of laser, pictorial, and video guidance on worker efficiency.

-Contributed to a peer-reviewed publication advancing ergonomic training methodologies.