Beware of physiology: Anthropomorphism as a simplification mechanism for mastering complex human-machine interfaces

Humans’ remarkable technical reasoning skills have led to the development of increasingly sophisticated tools. In particular, society has welcomed the advent and democratization of machines that produce effects through indirect causal chains. Intuitively, perfect mastery of such systems should require a detailed understanding of their underlying processes. This raises the question of the boundaries of human cognitive abilities in the context of tool use. In other words, can the human brain integrate the characteristics of any tool, or are there inherent limitations? The present study investigates the potential limits of human tool-use when faced with a complex human-machine interface. To this end, professional helicopter pilots conducted realistic flights in a high-fidelity helicopter simulator. A comprehensive analysis was then conducted on the flight trajectories, the directions of movement of their primary flight command, and the tilt of their head as a function of the aircraft’s tilt in the roll plane. Our findings suggest that helicopter pilots severely restrict the capabilities of their aircraft. This simplification mechanism confines the operational range of the helicopter to conditions that elicit sensory inputs comparable to those experienced in everyday life. Our results further indicate some level of prediction regarding the sensory consequences of the motor-to-mechanical transformations. In sum, we postulate that control over complex human-machine interfaces is achieved by simplification through anthropomorphism in order to facilitate sensorimotor integration. These considerations have implications for the design of human-machine interfaces and raise safety concerns when interacting with highly sophisticated systems.