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Phillip Tretten

Associate Professor, Distinguished University Teacher

Research subject: Human Work Sciences
Division: Humans and Technology
Department of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts

Education

PhD in Industrial Design (2011), Luleå University of Technology (Focus on driving performance in relation to cognitive load)
Technology Licentiate degree in Industrial Design (2008), Luleå University of Technology (Focus on the location and usability of information in relation to in-vehicle locations)
MSc in Psychology (2005), Luleå University of Technology (Focus on Human Factors)
BSc in Psychology (1992), Palm Beach Atlantic University

Research

My present research profile builds upon the expressed need for better understanding of maintenance risks using the maintenance systems, e.g. Human Machine Interaction (HMI) of the systems. More specifically, I’ve focused upon the development of guidelines for maintenance systems, to assist operators and maintenance personnel in their decisions. First, by risk analysis and, secondly, recommending and testing development opportunities. The overall goal has been to assist maintenance technicians with easy to use interfaces supporting their knowledge and need for the right information, in the right context, at the right time. This work has focused upon gaining tacit knowledge from the users of the system, that is, learning from them what they already know about, and can communicate it clearly.

More specifically how tacit knowledge, from maintenance technicians, can be learned and applied in intelligent systems. In Autonomous Maintenance, must technical systems and the physical maintenance actions harmonized so to complement each other. So that both explicit and implicit knowledge can be learned for next generation solutions. I have identified two major opportunities in which human intuitive cognition can collaborate with intelligent systems for maintenance solutions; through implicit situation awareness measurement techniques, using cognitive task, and the integration of collaboration concepts in the design of automated systems.

Teaching and Supervision

Involved in teaching courses and supervising theses at the Bachelor, Master and PhD level. This teaching includes Human Factors, Design, Maintenance Engineering, and Maintenance Strategy. Is also active in professional education.