Verification and Validation of Complex Systems: Human Factors Issues

Despite its increasing importance, the verification andvalidation of the human-machine interface is perhaps themost overlooked aspect of system development. Although muchhas been written about the design and developmentprocess,very little organized information is available on how toverifyand validate highly complex and highly coupleddynamic systems. Inability toevaluate such systemsadequately may become the limiting factor in our ability toemploy systems that our technology and knowledge allow us todesign. This volume, based on a NATO Advanced Science Institute heldin 1992, is designed to provide guidance for theverification and validation of all highly complex andcoupled systems. Air traffic control isused an an exampleto ensure that the theory is described in terms that willallow its implementation, but the results can be applied toall complex and coupled systems. The volume presents the knowledge and theory ina formatthat will allow readers from a wide variety of backgroundsto apply it to the systems for which they are responsible. The emphasis is on domains where significant advances havebeen made in the methods of identifying potential problemsand in new testing methods and tools. Also emphasized aretechniques to identify the assumptions on which a system isbuilt and to spot their weaknesses.