When we talk about checks and board have to keep in mind that we are discussing communication.

Mainly we know that man has several ways of communicating with each other, such as visual, written, spoken. But what happens when man tries to communicate with anything other than another person, in this case a machine? This is achieved by the help of the controls that will be in the next subtopic. But when the machine is to be communicated with the man, we should intervene when the boards. The boards are the only means by which the machine operator can communicate information about their internal state. Rolfe and Allnutt (1967) claim that "The board was first translated what imperceptible perceptible terms for us." As boards convey information to humans, as mentioned above, then you will want these can transmit using one of the 5 sensory senses of people: visual, auditory, touch, taste or smell. Although sometimes used only the first visual (lights, counters, flat screens), auditory (bells, recorded voices, timbres), but sometimes touch are also used (knobs of different shapes, engraved braille). However, it also highlights the labels and instructions / warnings, as a special type of boards. There are certain types of rules that are known as "the four cardinal rules of the boards," which are: Show only the essential information for proper job performance. Show as accurately as requiring the operator to take decisions and to implement control measures. Present information in simple, understandable and usable as possible. Present information so that the failure or malfunction of the board will be evident.

It will be more convenient when the board will provide: Current status information - information about the current state of the system, the input text to a word processor, etc.. Career information - information about past conditions of the system, as the miles it has traveled a boat for example. Predictive information - like the future position of a ship, given certain address settings for example. Information instructive-that tell the operator what to do, and how to use it. Information control - giving orders or directions to a requested action.

In general, the visual boards are most appropriate when: Information is presented in a noisy environment. Under these conditions, the hearing board may not be perceived. The message is long and complicated, for example, if a written statement of a player and the same visual information presented in a recorder is compared. Since eyes can review over and over written material, the ability of short-term memory is not overloaded. Unless the recorded material was transcribed to written material, the reports are decoded should be stored in memory while the other words are decoded message.

 The message must be re- consult. Visual information can produce a permanent record , unless audio recording equipment is used, the acoustic information is stored only in memory. The auditory system is overloaded . Maybe because there are too many boards or hearing is a very noisy environment. The message does not require an immediate response. Furthermore, the ear panels are more appropriate under the following conditions: The message requires an immediate response. Therefore, warning or danger usually in the form of horn or bell, as well attract more attention. The visual system is overloaded. Maybe because there are too visual, or in conditions with a high level of ambient light boards. You need to present the information regardless of the position of the head of the operator. The visual thalers inconvenience lies in the fact that the operator must observe before they can communicate information, but the ear panels not have these restrictions. Therefore, they are as good as alarm indicators. The vision is limited. For example, in the dark, at night or when the operator does not have the time to adapt to light or dark conditions. Types of visual boards Visual boards are perhaps best used to communicate information in the machine man. But also, they are often poorly designed and this makes providing disastrous results. In essence the visual boards can be of two types: digital or analog. Digital direct information presented in numbers. On the other hand, with the analog board, the operator must interpret the information on the position of a pointer or needle to scale, of the shape, position and inclination of a figure on a screen, or other similar indications to the actual state machine. Therefore, in recent years the use of digital boards is considered more convenient, since the operator does not take that long to decipher what you are trying to say the machine. Plus it is less complicated to learn the use and interpretation of the board. Classification of boards QUALITATIVE SCALES : those in which an approximate value reflects a trend or is in frequent change. For example, an oil gauge on the dashboard , or gasoline . QUANTITATIVE SCALE : those boards on which a quantitative value is reflected. For example, the temperature. INDICES OF STATE : This type of display as the word says it reflects the state or condition in which it is a machine. Example: On a stop - motion machine X or on or off. ALARM INDICATORS : display used to indicate certain conditions which we are in danger or insecurity or as an emergency. For example, navigation lights , fire alarms . FIGURATIVE REPRESENTATIONS : some images are representations of objects , graphs , which we intend to send a message. For example : tv movie , spectacular photographs. ALPHANUMERIC REPRESENTATION : display used verbally , numerically they are the most commonly we find . For example, labels, instructions.

The use of the boards The boards can be used as follows: To make quantitative readings. That is, to read the status of the machine in terms of numbers. The temperature in degrees Celsius, the height in meters, speed in kilometers per hour, etc.. To make qualitative readings. That is, to infer the "quality" of the state of the machine, for example, whether the machine is warm, cold or hot, but its precise temperature, whether the aircraft descends slowly into a tailspin, right or to the left rather than the right angle, etc. This section is also included the use of verification boards, in other words, to compare the state indicated by a board with that shown in the other. In combination with controls. To turn the machine or to keep (maintain) a stable state of the machine. To warn of danger or the operator of a specific machine state has been reached.