Abstract: Situation awareness (SA) is a constantly evolving picture of the state of the ongoing environment. In complex and dynamic environments, it is the key factor for operatior’s decision making and performance. The article mainly reviewed and analyzed the four approaches used to define and explain SA, the four major SA measurement techniques, and applications of SA in system design and evaluation, personel selection, and training. Finally the author proposed some aspects that need to further research.

Key words: situation awareness, mental workload, interface design