A Case Study of A Navigator’s Sea Aptitude Using Body Response to Visual Simulation

1 Koji Murai, Kobe University, [email protected] 2 Yuji Hayashi, Kobe University, [email protected] 3 Laurie C. Stone, Maine Maritime Academy, [email protected] Abstract We describe the relationship between a navigator’s aptitude and the body’s center of gravity and/or heart rate variability while using a ship’s bridge simulator. Navigator aptitude relates directly to kansei (the sense for ship handling/common sense) because his understanding of what is right or wrong for the ship affects his decisions. Common sense is usually employed by professional mariners; however, mistakes sometimes occur on training or merchant ships with multinational crews. Japanese maritime colleges have made entrance examinations and sea aptitude training easier. But professors need to pinpoint student aptitude by developing an evaluation method of kansei measuring the center of gravity and/or heart rate variability utilizing the effects of “Human Computer Interaction” on a simulator with a visual system.