Cognitive engineering
A multi-scale cognitive interaction model of instrument operations at the Linac Coherent Light Source
A multi-agent, multi-scale computational cognitive model for estimating how interface and workflow changes might affect experimental efficiency at the LCLS x-ray free electron laser.
Jonathan Isaac Segal, Wan-Lin Hu, Paul H. Fuoss, Frank E. Ritter, Jeff Shrager
The research at a glance
How can we explore improvements to scientific workflows before spending scarce beam time?
Approach
A multi-agent computational model represents instrument operators, data analysts, and experiment managers across cognitive timescales ranging from seconds to hours.
Takeaway
Cognitive simulation offers a way to estimate the rough effects of interface and workflow changes where experiments with live teams are expensive or difficult.
A computational model of instrument operations; estimates are intended to inform proposed changes before deployment.
Abstract
The Linac Coherent Light Source is a high-value x-ray free electron laser facility where beam time is scarce and experimental efficiency is critical. This paper presents a multi-agent, multi-scale computational cognitive interaction model of instrument operations, simulating aspects of cognition across seconds-to-hours temporal scales and across the operator, analyst, and experiment-manager roles. The model is intended to estimate the rough impact of proposed interface and workflow changes before they are deployed in live experimental operations.
Contributions
- Frames LCLS experiment operations as a multi-role human-machine decision process spanning micro, meso, and macro cognitive timescales.
- Models functional acuity and functional operability as interaction-level constructs connecting cognition, interface design, and action timing.
- Shows how computational modeling can probe proposed workflow or UI changes where live human-factors experimentation is expensive or infeasible.
Citation
@article{segal2025multiscale,
title={A multi-scale cognitive interaction model of instrument operations at the Linac Coherent Light Source},
author={Segal, Jonathan Isaac and Hu, Wan-Lin and Fuoss, Paul H. and Ritter, Frank E. and Shrager, Jeff},
journal={Review of Scientific Instruments},
volume={96},
pages={013005},
year={2025},
publisher={AIP Publishing},
doi={10.1063/5.0239302}
}