Human troubleshooting in electronics: Implications for intelligent maintenance aids

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the literature on human troubleshooting in electronics and derive implications for designing human interfaces for intelligent maintenance aids. After a background and overview, the nature of human troubleshooting performance is examined; particular attention is devoted to the research that delinates the limitations of human troubleshooting abilities. The implications of this research for the development and application of intellligent aids are discussed. Specific considerations for human-systems interfacing that best addresses the nature and needs of human troubleshooting are presented.