Human Performance Engineering Research

Aimed to Experiment on a Player’s Ability to Create a Sequence of Success – “zoning” – as well as the Player’s Experience and Learning Gained in Real Time

In a tennis game, decisions are being made in order to maximize a player’s outcome given a set of conditions. Once a decision is made the game is played, the player gains experience in time. The outcome of that experience is processed and updates the player logic for making their next decision. The player logic is organized in a way that allows them to approach any situation in the game with a decision-making style. This research pilot study examines the methodology of decision making in the game and focuses on the players ability to create a sequence of success – zoning – as well as learning in an interactive game of target shooting. Currently in the data collection phase while still making final adjustments to our experiment design.

Experiment Goals

  • Assess the differences in brain activity when players are “in the zone” vs when they are not
  • Understand the decision-making process of the player given performance feedback
  • Evaluate risk taking in the player profile

Required Equipment

  • Emotive Insight brain wave monitor
  • Heart rate monitor
  • Tennis court
  • Ball machine
  • Tarps (for targets)
  • Cameras
  • Laptop computer

Coby Jeffcoat

Sophomore Microbiology student from Orangeburg, SC with various special interests and hobbies including Clemson ROTC

Haley Meier

Sophomore Industrial Engineering student from Houston, TX with a special interest in human factors

Robert Miller

Junior Industrial Engineering student from Lumberton, NJ with a special interest in renewable energies and innovative technologies.

Colleen Martin

Sophomore Bioengineering student from Summerville, SC with special interest in tissue engineering

Justin Horne

Junior Industrial Engineering student from Rock Hill, SC who enjoys piña colada’s and getting caught in the rain as much as the next guy.