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Task loading
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<h2 id="common-examples-in-scuba-diving">Common examples in scuba diving</h2> <p>Task loading is generally increased by any unplanned demand on the diver's attention, such as an emergency, an adverse change in environmental conditions, or a deviation from the dive plan. If this is added to an already marginally manageable task load, the diver may no longer be able to cope. </p><p>Common examples of activities which can contribute to high task loading are: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Underwater_photography/jSLB8Ce5">underwater photography</a> or <a href="/facts/Underwater_videography/ssdAfJo2">videography</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Underwater_search_and_recovery/gQzoggFs">underwater search and recovery</a></li> <li>underwater mapping</li> <li>diving in environments requiring use <a href="/facts/Dive_light/U0G14FGb">lights</a> or guide reels (such as <a href="/facts/Night_diving/Ksv6RSHq">night diving</a>, <a href="/facts/Wreck_diving/FdfaMeGT">wreck diving</a> and <a href="/facts/Cave_diving/WacIQn2q">cave diving</a>) or other additional equipment</li> <li>use of <a href="/facts/Dry_suit/s5fU9JYf">dry suits</a> when unfamiliar</li> <li>driving a <a href="/facts/Diver_propulsion_vehicle/SLJ0UyFb">diver propulsion vehicle</a> (DPV)</li> <li>diving in cold water has a distraction effect, which may reduce the capacity of the diver to manage complex tasks effectively<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></li> <li>breathing narcotic gas mixture indirectly affects task loading by reducing the capacity to manage the tasks effectively<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Nitrogen narcosis can distract or cause narrowing of attention, both of which can distract from other tasks.</li> <li>low visibility has a distracting effect as does low light levels</li> <li>use of a rebreather, particularly in the event of a malfunction. Manually controlling a rebreather is a higher task load than using an electronically controlled rebreather as long as the electronic control system is working correctly. If it malfunctions, the diver must manually control the unit, which is likely to be less familiar, and a higher task loading than a familiar manual control system.</li> <li>use of unfamiliar equipment, particularly combinations of several items that are unfamiliar.</li> <li>buoyancy problems - inability to establish appropriate buoyancy, particularly excessive buoyancy or severely inadequate buoyancy.</li> <li>trim problems - inability to trim as desired due to poor weight distribution</li></ul> <p>Common examples of routine functions that can be neglected as a result of task loading are: </p> <ul><li>monitoring breathing gas supply properly</li> <li>maintaining <a href="/facts/Buddy_diving/fFH1LebA">buddy contact</a></li> <li>maintaining <a href="/facts/Scuba_diving/BEvQImbN">proper buoyancy</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></li> <li>monitoring depth and time to avoid <a href="/facts/No_Decompression_Limit/eBKHl82s">no-decompression limits</a>, or remain within planned <a href="/facts/Decompression_(diving)/RKrH0NFe">decompression</a> limits</li> <li>monitoring oxygen partial pressure in a <a href="/facts/Rebreather/yGCRxYbx">rebreather</a></li> <li>maintaining contact with the <a href="/facts/Guideline/SGxbgyBP">guideline</a> in a <a href="/facts/Penetration_diving/yhjLjF1H">penetration dive</a></li></ul> <h2 id="management">Management</h2> <p>Task loading is often identified as a key component in <a href="/facts/Diving_safety/dQQjyf55">diving safety</a> and <a href="/facts/Diving_hazards_and_precautions/Sx9lCeak">diving accidents</a>, although statistically it is difficult to monitor because divers with more experience can cope with a more complex array of tasks and equipment.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> Simply controlling buoyancy while using a dry suit can call for great levels of attention in an inexperienced diver, but would be routine for an experienced cold water diver, and could be done safely while carrying a camera during a cave penetration or using a DPV. </p><p>Task loading represents an elevated risk when a new activity is undertaken by a diver. A diver learning how to use a dry suit, or starting underwater photography, or learning to operate a rebreather or manage multiple gas decompression will need to dedicate considerably more attention to the proper functioning of the new and unfamiliar piece of equipment which increases the risk of neglecting other critical responsibilities. Those risks will normally diminish with experience, provided that the experience is sufficiently concentrated and repeated to allow <a href="/facts/Overlearning/MLn4BgHV">overlearning</a> of skills and develop <a href="/facts/Muscle_memory/wyhBa1Cx">muscle memory</a>. </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Cognitive_load/MAAlVLBs">Cognitive load</a> – Effort being used in the working memory</li> <li><a href="/facts/Overlearning/MLn4BgHV">Overlearning</a> – Practicing newly acquired skills beyond the point of initial mastery</li> <li><a href="/facts/Muscle_memory/wyhBa1Cx">Muscle memory</a> – Consolidating a motor task into memory through repetition</li></ul> <h2 id="footnotes">Footnotes</h2> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"NASA TLX: Task Load Index". Humansystems.arc.nasa.gov. NASA Ames. Retrieved July 22, 2023. <a href="https://humansystems.arc.nasa.gov/groups/TLX/" target="_blank">https://humansystems.arc.nasa.gov/groups/TLX/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Human Performance Research Group (January 1986). Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) v. 1.0 (PDF). Moffett Field. California: NASA Ames Research Center. Retrieved 2017-12-30. <a href="https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20000021488.pdf" target="_blank">https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20000021488.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Blumenberg, MA (1996). "Human Factors in Diving". California Univ Berkeley (ADA322423). Archived from the original on July 26, 2012. Retrieved 2008-07-05. <a href="https://archive.today/20120726091559/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/6474" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20120726091559/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/6474</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Lorenz J, Lorenz B, Heineke M (July 1992). "Effect of mental task load on fronto-central theta activity in a deep saturation dive to 450 msw". Undersea Biomedical Research. 19 (4): 243–62. PMID 1353926. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved 2008-07-05. <a href="https://archive.today/20120707042648/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4089" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20120707042648/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4089</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Zimmerman, M.E. (2011). Kreutzer, J.S.; DeLuca, J.; Caplan, B. (eds.). Task Load. New York, NY: Springer. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help) <a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_book" target="_blank">/wiki/Template:Cite_book</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Kagan, Becky (2009-05-16). "Task Loading Tips For Underwater Photographers & Videographers". DivePhotoGuide.com. Retrieved 2009-05-16. <a href="http://www.divephotoguide.com/articles/task_loading_tips_for_underwater_photographers___videographers" target="_blank">http://www.divephotoguide.com/articles/task_loading_tips_for_underwater_photographers___videographers</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Vaughan WS (June 1977). "Distraction effect of cold water on performance of higher-order tasks". Undersea Biomedical Research. 4 (2): 103–16. PMID 878066. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2008-07-05. <a href="https://archive.today/20120715204126/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2798" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20120715204126/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/2798</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Biersner, RJ & Cameron, BJ (1970). "Cognitive Performance during a 1000-Foot Helium Dive". United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit Technical Report (NEDU-RR-10-70). Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved 2008-07-05. <a href="https://archive.today/20120707042648/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4089" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20120707042648/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4089</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>This is identified in most training courses as a common failing of new underwater photographers and underwater videographers[citation needed] <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" target="_blank">/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>O'Connor PE (2007). "The nontechnical causes of diving accidents: can U.S. Navy divers learn from other industries?". Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine. 34 (1): 51–9. PMID 17393939. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved 2008-07-05. <a href="https://archive.today/20120708151356/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/5513" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20120708151356/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/5513</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>