Downsizing the number of operators controlling complex systems can increase the decision-making demands on remaining operators, particularly in crisis situations. An answer to this problem is to offload decision-making tasks from people to computational processes, and to use these processes to focus and expedite human decision making. In this paper, we describe a system comprised of multiple computational agents that has demonstrated an ability to help operators prioritize their tasks better, process their tasks faster, and enlist the aid of other operators more transparently. In developing this system, we have of course encountered challenges, particularly in devising content languages that adequately convey the right information (to be interpreted correctly) across the heterogeneous agents. We here summarize our work that addresses this challenge, and illustrate how our system improves performance for operators in naval situations.
Edmund H. Durfee, Marcus J. Huber, Michael Kurnow,