Author(s)

SATISH BOREGOWDA, ROD HANDY, DARRAH SLEETH & ANDREW MERRYWEATHER

Abstract

The Constructal law provides novel modeling tools to better understand the complexity in physical and biological processes. The law begins with the design and optimization of engineered systems and discovers a deterministic principle for the generation of geometric form in natural systems. The intricate design of all human–machine interfaces can benefit from the Constructal law. In this paper, the Constructal law is used to predict minimum time (optimal) of travel using experimental data obtained from a large-scale human–machine interface study along with the use of Fitts’s law. The results demonstrate a great potential to utilize Constructal law as complementary to Fitts’s law in the design of human–machine systems. Future efforts will include the application of the integrated Constructal–Fitts’s law concept to assist in the prediction of effective outcomes for various ergonomic and human factor-related conditions that exist in the work environment.

Keywords

adaptive, Constructal law, Fitts’s law, human–machine interface, minimum travel time