Cognition and control in human-machine interaction, auditory communication, and orchestral conducting

Speaker
Gunnar Johannsen
Professor of Systems Engineering and Human-Machine Systems, Universität Kassel

When
-

Where
Gates and Hillman Centers 4405

Description

Human interactions with machines (including computers) as well as with humans (including organizations) require appropriate control activities (sensorimotor and supervisory control) and dedicated cognitive processes. This lecture outlines the characteristics of such control activities and cognitive processes as well as their interrelationships. Similarities and dissimilarities of cognition as well as of control are exemplified within and between the application domains of human-machine interaction, auditory communication, and orchestral conducting. Specific examples in the domain of human-machine interaction deal with industrial and vehicular applications, emphasizing visual displays, decision support, and the impact of automation. The domain of auditory communication is characterized by the two broad areas of speech and non-speech communication. Particularly the second area of non-speech communication is discussed. The design of auditory displays and their application in a mobile robot scenario is described. Human supervision and control with the related cognitive processes are compared between engineering and music applications. This comparison highlights the similarities and differences of industrial and vehicular guidance with orchestral conducting. The importance of cognition and of gestural control with their mutual interplay in orchestral conducting is explained.

Speaker's Bio

Gunnar Johannsen studied communication and information engineering at the Technical University of Berlin as well as music within the sound engineering curriculum at the University College of Music Berlin. He received his doctoral degree in 1971 from the TU Berlin, and habilitated (Dr. habil.) in 1980 for the area of “Human-machine systems of aeronautics and astronautics” at the RWTH Aachen University, Germany. For several years, he studied conducting in Hamburg, Vienna, and Kassel. After eleven years as a department head at the Research Institute for Human Engineering near Bonn, he worked as a University Professor of Systems Engineering and Human-Machine Systems in the University of Kassel from 1982 to 2006. He spent longer research stays in the USA (Urbana-Champaign), Japan (Kyoto), Austria (Vienna), and Canada (Vancouver). In 1995, he was recipient of a Japanese-German Research Award of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Since 2001, he is Fellow of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) “for contributions to human-machine systems engineering, cognitive ergonomics, human-computer interface design, and human-centered automation”. He received the title of Docteur Honoris Causa (Dr. h.c.) in 2005 from the Université de Valenciennes et du Hainaut-Cambrésis, France. Since he retired from his duties in teaching and administration in 2006, he concentrates more on scientific writing in human-machine/computer systems and musicology. Further, he is orchestra conductor of Vienna classical music and of contemporary music since 1999. His research interests are in human-machine-systems science, human-centered computing, supervision and control in engineering and music, and auditory and gestural communication.

For more information see:

Host
Dan Siewiorek