Comparing Parameter Manipulation with Mouse, Pen, and Slider User Interfaces

Visual fixation on one's tool(s) takes much attention away from one's primary task. Following the belief that the best tools 'disappear' and become invisible to the user, we present a study comparing visual fixations (eye gaze within locations on a graphical display) and performance for mouse, pen, and physical slider user interfaces. Participants conducted a controlled, yet representative, color matching task that required user interaction representative of many data exploration tasks such as parameter exploration of medical or fuel cell data. We demonstrate that users may spend up to 95% fewer visual fixations on physical sliders versus standard mouse and pen tools without any loss in performance for a generalized visual performance task.     

Cognitive effects of passive smoking

The cognitive performance of 32 non-smoking subjects was tested on two separate occasions. In one condition subjects performed on a modified Wilkinson auditory detection task and attempted a modified Raven's progressive matrices test whilst sitting in a room with a confederate who was smoking cigarettes. In the second, non-smoky, condition the subjects undertook parallel forms of the two tests but were in a clean environment with the same confederate who did not smoke. The results indicated a significant reduction in performance on both tests in the smoky over the non-smoky condition. Furthermore, the data from the detection task indicated that the confederate had a significant influence on the level of this reduction. Implications of these results are discussed, particularly with respect to the roles of carbon monoxide and of social variables in mediating the performance reduction.     

Media multitasking between two conversational tasks

Communication multitasking was examined in three conditions: IM conversation with one partner, two IM conversations at the same time, and IM and phone conversation at the same time. Participants in the multitasking conditions reported higher task demand and a small loss in task performance was evident. Single-task partners assigned to a task the required discussion and deliberation preferred to interact with the multitasking participant via phone, rather than IM. But interactions via phone with one partner led to poorer assessment by a second partner who was shortchanged during the interaction. Multitasking participants who were focused on helping both partners seemed blind to these perceived differences by their single-task partners. The results suggest a strategic model of multitasking, with IM being the preferred choice for tasks that require fewer, shorter exchanges and voice being the preferred choice for tasks that required more discussion and deliberation.     

Calibration-free and model-independent method for high-DOF image-based visual servoing

This paper presents a novel method to improve the performance of high-DOF image base visual servoing (IBVS) with an uncalibrated camera. Firstly, analysis and comparison between point-based and moment-based features are carried out with respect to a 4-DOF positioning task. Then, an extended interaction matrix (IM) related to the digital image, and a Kalman filter (KF)-based estimation algorithm of the extended IM without calibration and IM model are proposed. Finally, the KF-based algorithm is extended to realize an approximation to decoupled control scheme. Experimental results conducted on an industrial robot show that our proposed methods can provide accurate estimation of IM, and achieve similar performance compared with traditional calibration-based method. Therefore, the proposed methods can be applied to any robot control system in variational environments, and can realize instant operation to planar object with complex and unknown shape at large displacement.     

Evaluating the human ongoing visual search performance by eye tracking application and sequencing tests

Human visual search is an everyday activity that enables humans to explore the real world. Given the visual input, during a visual search, it is necessary to select some aspects of input to shift the gaze to next target. The aim of the study is to develop a mathematical method able to evaluate the visual selection process during the execution of a high cognitively demanding task such as the trial making test part B (TMT). The TMT is a neuro-psychological instrument where numbers and letters should be connected to each other in numeric and alphabetic order. We adapted the TMT to an eye-tracking version, and we used a vector model, the "eight pointed star" (8PS), to discover how selection (fixations) guides next exploration (saccades) and how human top-down factors interact with bottom-up saliency. The results reported a trend to move away from the last fixations correlated to the number of distracters and the execution performance.     

Eye movements of younger and older drivers.

This 2-part study focuses on eye movements to explain driving-related visual performance in younger and older persons. In the first task, participants' eye movements were monitored as they viewed a traffic scene image with a numeric overlay and visually located the numbers in their sequential order. The results showed that older participants had significantly longer search episodes than younger participants, and that the visual search of older adults was characterized by more fixations and shorter saccades, although the average fixation durations remained the same. In the second task, participants viewed pictures of traffic scenes photographed from the driver's perspective. Their task was to assume the role of the driver and regard the image accordingly. Results in the second task showed that older participants allocated a larger percentage of their visual scan time to a small subset of areas in the image, whereas younger participants scanned the images more evenly. Also, older participants revisited the same areas and younger participants did not. The results suggest how aging might affect the efficacy of visual information processing. Potential applications of this research include training older drivers for a more effective visual search, and providing older drivers with redundant information in case some information is missed.     

Influence of social presence on eye movements in visual search tasks

Abstract

This study employed an eye-tracking technique to investigate the influence of social presence on eye movements in visual search tasks. A total of 20 male subjects performed visual search tasks in a 2 (target presence: present vs. absent) × 2 (task complexity: complex vs. simple) × 2 (social presence: alone vs. a human audience) within-subject experiment. Results indicated that the presence of an audience could evoke a social facilitation effect on response time in visual search tasks. Compared with working alone, the participants made fewer and shorter fixations, larger saccades and shorter scan path in simple search tasks and more and longer fixations, smaller saccades and longer scan path in complex search tasks when working with an audience. The saccade velocity and pupil diameter in the audience-present condition were larger than those in the working-alone condition. No significant change in target fixation number was observed between two social presence conditions.

Practitioner Summary: This study employed an eye-tracking technique to examine the influence of social presence on eye movements in visual search tasks. Results clarified the variation mechanism and characteristics of oculomotor scanning induced by social presence in visual search.     

The effects of three blue light filter conditions for smartphones on visual fatigue and visual performance

Although blue light filters have been developed to decrease visual fatigue, the decreased screen brightness and contrast ratios inherent in current filtering techniques should be resolved. To address these issues, we developed a blue light filter, named the Eye Care blue light filter. This study investigated the effects of three blue light filtering techniques (the Eye Care blue light filter, an 80% blue light filter application [app], and a 60% blue light filter app) on visual fatigue and task performance. Thirty‐six healthy adults were recruited. Critical fusion frequency, task performance, and subjective visual fatigue scale were used to assess visual perception and task performance. All subjects played a smartphone game for 40 min in each experimental condition. Task performance was better with the Eye Care blue light filter than with the two filter apps. The value of the Eye Care blue light filter is that it immerses the user in a good task performance environment while reducing blue light exposure per unit of time more than is possible with filter apps.     

基于16位单片机语音识别技术的应用与研究

以语音识别模式匹配原理为研究基础,分析语音识别技术在16位单片机SPCE061A中的应用流程,并针对手机通讯录的语音拨号、语音识别的机器人、音控小车的设计,剖析语音识别在16位单片机中的实际应用,为基于单片机的语音识别技术的进一步研究提供理论参考依据。     

Effectiveness of auditory and tactile crossmodal cues in a dual-task visual and auditory scenario

Abstract

In this study, we examined how spatially informative auditory and tactile cues affected participants’ performance on a visual search task while they simultaneously performed a secondary auditory task. Visual search task performance was assessed via reaction time and accuracy. Tactile and auditory cues provided the approximate location of the visual target within the search display. The inclusion of tactile and auditory cues improved performance in comparison to the no-cue baseline conditions. In comparison to the no-cue conditions, both tactile and auditory cues resulted in faster response times in the visual search only (single task) and visual–auditory (dual-task) conditions. However, the effectiveness of auditory and tactile cueing for visual task accuracy was shown to be dependent on task-type condition. Crossmodal cueing remains a viable strategy for improving task performance without increasing attentional load within a singular sensory modality.

Practitioner Summary: Crossmodal cueing with dual-task performance has not been widely explored, yet has practical applications. We examined the effects of auditory and tactile crossmodal cues on visual search performance, with and without a secondary auditory task. Tactile cues aided visual search accuracy when also engaged in a secondary auditory task, whereas auditory cues did not.     

The influence of combined visual and tactile information on finger and eye movements during shape tracing.

Adaptation experiments in shape tracing were conducted to investigate finger and eye movements in various conditions of visual and tactile information. Maximum velocity, mean velocity, maximum acceleration and reacceleration point were calculated from finger movements. Number of eye fixations and lead time of eye fixation to finger position were calculated from eye movements. The results showed that for the finger movement the values of the indices studied were higher in the combined visual and tactile condition than in the visual only condition. The number of eye fixations decreased when subjects repeated the tracing and was more marked in the combined visual and tactile condition than in the visual only condition. The results suggest that finger movements become faster and use of vision is reduced when both visual and tactile information are given.     

Age differences in visual search for traffic signs during a simulated conversation

The effects of divided attention were examined in younger adults (M = 23 years) and older adults (M = 64 years) who searched for traffic signs in digitized images of traffic scenes. Sign search was executed under single-task and dual-task conditions in scenes containing either small or large amounts of visual clutter. For both age groups, clutter and the secondary task had additive effects on search accuracy, speed, and oculomotor involvement. Compared with the younger adults, older adults were less accurate, especially with high-clutter scenes, were slower to decide that a target sign was not present, and exhibited a marginally greater divided-attention effect on reaction times. They exhibited longer fixations in the divided-attention condition, in which they also showed a disproportionate reduction in recognition memory for the content of the secondary task. Actual or potential applications of this research include methods for evaluating the distraction of conversations and safety implications of conversation on visual search behavior.     

The influence of combined visual and tactile information on finger and eye movements during shape tracing

Abstract

Adaptation experiments in shape tracing were conducted to investigate finger and eye movements in various conditions of visual and tactile information. Maximum velocity, mean velocity, maximum acceleration and reacceleration point were calculated from finger movements. Number of eye fixations and lead time of eye fixation to finger position were calculated from eye movements. The results showed that for the finger movement the values of the indices studied were higher in the combined visual and tactile condition than in the visual only condition. The number of eye fixations decreased when subjects repeated the tracing and was more marked in the combined visual and tactile condition than in the visual only condition. The results suggest that finger movements become faster and use of vision is reduced when both visual and tactile information are given.     

Can students really multitask? An experimental study of instant messaging while reading

Students often “multitask” with electronic media while doing schoolwork. We examined the effects of one form of media often used in such multitasking, instant messaging (IM). We predicted that students who engaged in IMing while reading a typical academic psychology passage online would take longer to read the passage and would perform more poorly on a test of comprehension of the passage. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (IM before reading, IM during reading, or no IM). We found that students took significantly longer to read the passage when they IMed during reading (not including time taken to IM) than in other conditions. However, test performance did not differ by condition. Students who are managing busy lives may think they are accomplishing more by multitasking, but our findings suggest they will actually need more time to achieve the same level of performance on an academic task.     

Display Movement Velocity and Dynamic Visual Search Performance

In practice, many visual search tasks are performed under dynamic conditions. An experiment was conducted here to test visual search strategy adopted by a person in a dynamic visual search and to investigate the effects of display movement velocity on search time and detection accuracy in it. Thirty‐five participants were randomly tested with all 10 angular velocities of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 32 deg/s. The data obtained fitted the random search model well. The results revealed that observers utilized a random search strategy during the dynamic visual search process and that display movement velocity influenced search performance. In comparison with static visual search, an angular velocity faster than 4 deg/s resulted in a significant decrement in search performance. The variations of duration of individual fixations, the probability of target detection in a single fixation and visual lobe area were discussed. The obtained relationships between display movement velocity, search time and detection accuracy can serve as a useful guide for designing a dynamic search task, thus helping to maximize the cost‐effectiveness of dynamic search tasks while minimizing errors and misses during the search process.     

Industrial inspection performance depends on both viewing distance and oculomotor characteristics.

The influence of viewing distance and individual differences in the oculomotor resting states (dark vergence and dark focus) on both inspection performance and visual fatigue was investigated by asking 24 college students to perform a visual inspection task for 40 min twice, once with a 20 cm viewing distance and once with a 60 cm viewing distance. During the task participants visually searched enlarged images of contact lenses for six different types of defects. Lens images were presented at a constant visual angle (17.5 degrees) on a CRT. Inspection performance varied significantly across the two viewing distances: participants spent on average more than twice as much time inspecting individual lenses in the near condition (mean = 18.32 s lens(-1)) than in the far condition (mean = 7.25 s lens(-1)). Participants also reported greater visual fatigue in the near condition than in the far condition. At both viewing distances, participants who experienced relatively large inward shifts in dark vergence also tended to be slow inspectors. Neither inspection performance nor measures of fatigue were related to dark focus. These results support existing evidence against the use of near viewing distances and suggest that an oculomotor mechanism links inspection performance and visual fatigue to viewing distance.     

The role of spatial abilities and age in performance in an auditory computer navigation task

Age-related differences in spatial ability have been suggested as a mediator of age-related differences in computer-based task performance. However, the vast majority of tasks studied have primarily used a visual display (e.g., graphical user interfaces). In the current study, the relationship between spatial ability and performance in a non-visual computer-based navigation task was examined in a sample of 196 participants ranging in age from 18 to 91. Participants called into a simulated interactive voice response system and carried out a variety of transactions. They also completed measures of attention, working memory, and spatial abilities. The results showed that age-related differences in spatial ability predicted a significant amount of variance in performance in the non-visual computer task, even after controlling for other abilities. Understanding the abilities that influence performance with technology may provide insight into the source of age-related performance differences in the successful use of technology.     

The role of spatial abilities and age in performance in an auditory computer navigation task

Age-related differences in spatial ability have been suggested as a mediator of age-related differences in computer-based task performance. However, the vast majority of tasks studied have primarily used a visual display (e.g., graphical user interfaces). In the current study, the relationship between spatial ability and performance in a non-visual computer-based navigation task was examined in a sample of 196 participants ranging in age from 18 to 91. Participants called into a simulated interactive voice response system and carried out a variety of transactions. They also completed measures of attention, working memory, and spatial abilities. The results showed that age-related differences in spatial ability predicted a significant amount of variance in performance in the non-visual computer task, even after controlling for other abilities. Understanding the abilities that influence performance with technology may provide insight into the source of age-related performance differences in the successful use of technology.     

The effect of using voice generation and recognition systems on the performance of dual tasks

Abstract

This paper presents the results of two experiments examining the effect of voice generation and recognition systems on dual-task performance. In the first experiment subjects performed a task combination consisting of a spatial short-term memory task and a verbal short-term memory task. In the second experiment the subjects performed a combination consisting of a one-dimensional compensatory tracking task and the verbal short-term memory task used in experiment I. In both experiments, stimuli for the verbal short-term memory task were presented either visually on a CRT or auditorily using a voice generation system. Subjects responded either by using a keypad or by using a voice recognition system. A strictly between-subjects design was used in both experiments to avoid problems associated with asymmetric transfer. In both experiments the use of a voice generation system benefited dual-task performance. Experiment I showed no significant difference between speech responses and manual responses on any dependent measure. Experiment II showed significantly faster correct reaction times (RTs) for speech responses to the verbal short-term memory task only when the responses were adjusted for the delay inherent in the speech recognition system. The implications of these studies for the application of voice generation and recognition systems is discussed.     

Improving information recognition and performance of recycling chimneys

The aim of this study was to assess and improve how recyclers (individuals carrying out the task of recycling) make use of visual cues to carryout recycling tasks in relation to ‘recycling chimneys’ (repositories for recycled waste). An initial task analysis was conducted through an activity sampling study and an eye tracking experiment using a mobile eye tracker to capture fixations of recyclers during recycling tasks. Following data collection using the eye tracker, a set of recommendations for improving information representation were then identified using the widely researched skills, rules, knowledge framework, and for a comparative study to assess the performance of improved interfaces for recycling chimneys based on Ecological Interface Design principles.

Practitioner Summary: Information representation on recycling chimneys determines how we recycle waste. This study describes an eco-ergonomics-based approach to improve the design of interfaces for recycling chimneys. The results are valuable for improving the performance of waste collection processes in terms of minimising contamination and increasing the quantity of recyclables.