Verification and Validation of Complex Systems: Human Factors Issues

Despite its increasing importance, the verification and
validation of the human-machine interface is perhaps the
most overlooked aspect of system development. Although much
has been written about the design and developmentprocess,
very little organized information is available on how to
verifyand validate highly complex and highly coupled
dynamic systems. Inability toevaluate such systems
adequately may become the limiting factor in our ability to
employ systems that our technology and knowledge allow us to
design.
This volume, based on a NATO Advanced Science Institute held
in 1992, is designed to provide guidance for the
verification and validation of all highly complex and
coupled systems. Air traffic control isused an an example
to ensure that the theory is described in terms that will
allow its implementation, but the results can be applied to
all complex and coupled systems.
The volume presents the knowledge and theory ina format
that will allow readers from a wide variety of backgrounds
to apply it to the systems for which they are responsible.
The emphasis is on domains where significant advances have
been made in the methods of identifying potential problems
and in new testing methods and tools. Also emphasized are
techniques to identify the assumptions on which a system is
built and to spot their weaknesses.