On February 15, NASA Ames’ Human Systems Integration Division published the Official NASA Task Load Index (TLX) tool as a new, free to download iOS application in the Apple app store for use on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches. In support of this release, the TLX tool has undergone a complete overhaul in functionality and usability though the use of modern Human-Computer Interaction methods.
Since the 1980’s, the gold-standard subjective workload assessment tool was pencil and paper questionnaires to conduct assessments of workload scores on Mental Demands, Physical Demands, Temporal Demands, Own Performance, Effort, and Frustration. The legacy version, available only on Windows NT/XP desktop computers, is in the top 5 software downloads for the agency, and the top software download for Ames Research Center with an average of 1-3 download requests per week.
"The Official NASA TLX app addresses a significant backlog of pent up demand from researchers looking for a workload measurement solution that integrates with their modern computer/research environments," said Dr. Brian Gore, Human Factors Portfolio Manager and TLX project lead at Ames. "Now, users will be able to use their mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch) to collect subjective assessments of workload in a given operational context on a very easy-to-use platform."
The app is available at
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nasa-tlx/id1168110608
