Voice Interactive Electronic Warning System (VIEWS) - An Applied Approach to Voice Technology in the Helicopter Cockpit

Current helicopter cockpit design is no longer optimal for the high workload environment of Nap-of-the-Earth helicopter missions. A high degree of information processing is required to obtain a total picture of the flight environment. Under conditions of high workload and battle stress, the extra time and effort required for this cognitive processing may be too costly. Advances in technology have allowed for qualitative changes in information display - visual symbols can be displayed on CRT screens and voice messages can be used for an auditory display. Both sources of information can be encorporated into an integrated warning system. The Helicopter/VTOL Human Factors Office at NASA-Ames Research Center has begun to study the requirements for an integrated warning system in the helicopter cockpit. The VIEWS project investigated the use of visual symbols and speech warning messages with a radar threat warning system as a first step in developing an integrated warning system for rotorcraft.