1	Developing your X-Ray Vision A Promotion Theory for Forensic Observation of Residential Construction Levels of Fear, and how to use them to find and report significant, hidden problems. Other Concepts. Limitations of Vision: physical, neurological, psychological. Inattentional Blindness. Coping strategies to improve defect detection Case Studies: Detection of significant, nearly-hidden defects by attention to clues, context, and general construction Case Studies: Termites, Moisture Measurement, Sinkholes, Other Defects, 1997-2005 (also see Previous material: “The Psychology of Errors”) ASHI Seminar Minneapolis/Saint Paul, MN 29 January 2005 Daniel Friedman, Pougkeepsie, NY InspectAPedia.com/ashi/x-ray.html
2	Introduction - Sherlock Holmes “Learn to ‘see’ what others merely observe. It’s a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Never trust to general impressions, our boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”
3	Purpose of Course Improve Detection of visible and “invisible” defects Reduced Risk for Consumers Reduced Risk for Inspectors Added Value for Fee Improve Communication with clients understand handling/reporting risk of hidden damage understand priorities of action
4	Agenda - Limits of Vision - inattentional blindness, attention sets Levels of fear – clue promotion, reporting Case Studies of Missed Defects (Not-so) hidden Termites [skip?] Moisture Meter Study & other short cases [skip?] FPE Stab-Lok update Aluminum Wiring update Conclusions, Strategies -- STOP – see case studies – -- RESUME – terms, theory, conclusions
5	Theory: Hidden Defects Hidden From You: only subtle clues Hidden By You: lack of knowledge, Eye, brain, inattentional blindness, Attention set limitation Truly Hidden: no visual evidence & no contextual evidence w/o invasive methods Hard to find does not mean hidden
6	The Nature of Vision (Pertaining inspection of buildings other complex systems) Eye and Brain are limited physical systems Illusions can fool they eye or brain Inattentional Blindness is normal Attention Sets limit what you see Coping Strategies can improve performance See InspectAPedia.com/vision/Visual_Perception_Errors.php
7	Vision & Attention Vision + Attention = to “see” Vision involves physical + psychological Physical world of objects Light (intensity, color, angle) Eye (lens, retina, neurons) Brain (mapping to representation) Attention involves mind and practice See what we’re looking for The Attention Set = A.S. Resist or ignore things not in A.S.
8	Vision-Attention Set (A.S.) Training & experience expand A.S. Know systems operation Learn construction sequence & components & errors See clues, share recognition tips keep expanding the A.S. but... A.S. is never sufficient cannot anticipate all defects Need other strategies (Tao of Home Inspection - paying attention, open mind, look for surprise)
9	Eye/Brain is not Film Eye is not a video recorder. Eye and brain choose what to “see” and filter out or ignore other data. Not all external data in the field of view is imaged on the retina Not every retinal image is encoded in the brain Not all brain-encoded data reaches our consciousness This is an economical design but requires some fabrication by the nervous system to fill-in the gaps. (See Fineman p. 26-27)
10	Inattentional Blindness inability to register & use information present in the visual field if attention is not properly focused IB is Affected by conspicuity mental workload expectation (attention set) capacity
11	Vision & IB lessons Conscious mental effort You see what you look for or You see what is big You don’t it all even ctr of FOV Unlikely to see the unexpected even if it is visually distinct Attention set filters out important data for inspectors
12	Reducing IB Manage distraction, control the inspection Use but limit object fixation Expand the A.S. Recognize that A.S. limits focus Watch out for “experts” (nothing new is ever seen though present) Vary inspection routine
13	Vision- coping strategies Use of light brightness & color temperature variations angle of illumination Direction of gaze use both micro and macro views scan for discotinuity scan by method or system scan by random - break habits look for ways to expand the A.S.
14	Theory:Nature of Insp. Clues Randomness in space & time -- helps avoid routinization Subtlety little clues -> hidden problems anomalies bad practices Contextual Inspection Volume & Detail – avoid distraction
15	Theory: Responding to Clues Priorities of Attention Dan’s 3-D’s Dangerous Damage (costly, rapid) Don’t work (and are needed, like Heat) These are top priority for Action Don’t confuse minor and major Identify “who’s in control of our money?” - house vs. client
16	Proper Inspection Focus Avoid unimportant defects (but not little clues of big defects) Avoid selection errors Avoid capture errors Avoid assumption errors Focus on Return on Investment Educate the client – common expectations from the inspection. The quantity and quality of your attention are limited.
17	Promotion Theory of Observations Observe Consider implications Evaluate interactions Weigh risks & probabilities collect more data continue across thresholds of reporting make recommendations
18	Theory: Promoting/Demoting Concerns-Process Observe conditions - siding at ground, note concern Consider implications - bug and rot risk Condition interactions? - house not maintained, concern up System Interactions? - gutters not maintained - concern up Risks, Probabilities - pretty high risk Form Opinion - better look at sills carefully Promote/Demote Concerns - found rot, big item, or recommend insist on destructive inspecting prior to purchase
19	Theory:Promote/Demote Concerns Across Action Thresholds Maintain running “level of concern” Look for reasons to promote or demote each Promote or demote as gather and analyze more data Cross Action Thresholds as per action level …
20	Theory: Define Action Thresholds Lowest: consider, don’t talk Medium: report possible concern, look more High: report defect probably exists Extreme: a virtually certain “3-D” item Aren’t you already doing this?
21	NO MORE THEORY Lots of Case Studies Get out your pencils Make Notes Ask Questions Argue No Violence, Please
22	Improving Defect Recognition Study your successes defect found first clue how followed to conclusion how glad to have found it
23	Study your failures How was defect missed how discovered later how sorry were you what might you have seen/thought to offer a guess/warning
24	Conclusions Study hits and misses - improve skill Use Attention Priorities for proper focus Use Promotion Theory to Manage Clues Keep asking: what, why, how Look for the Surprise Practice Eagle Vision, not Ostrich Hiding
25	Where to get more information: Internet InspectAPedia.com/ashi/x-ray.html InspectAPedia.com/vision/Visual_Perception_Errors.php InspectAPedia.com/aluminum.htm InspectAPedia.com/fpe/FPE_Stab_Lok_Hazards.php InspectAPedia.com – main page