Terminal work in the process industry: Experience in a time perspective. Part 1: The installation phase

User opinion of a computer based system for control and supervision of a complex technical process with a comparatively low level of automation was tested. Interviews and questionnaires collected at 3 times during 15 months show a stable positive attitude towards the system, although this attitude diminishes with the age of the operators. The computer based system confers better availability of information, and more information, and increases operator security. The influence of situation-specific factors and emotional components on the attitude are apparent. The variable process-feeling seems to be related to the possibilities of controlling the process, which is not solely dependent on the system design.