Visual search asymmetries in complex geophysical displays

Electronic displays such as geophysical maps can become heavily cluttered (e.g. Lohrenz, Trafton, Beck, & Gendron, 2009), hindering operators’ accurate detection of task-critical information. The use of visual search asymmetries (Treisman & Souther, 1985) in the design of display iconography might be an effective technique for prioritizing important information in such displays, but only if the asymmetry persists in the presence of clutter. The present experiments demonstrate that search asymmetries based on an additional feature (Treisman & Souther, 1985) and on stimulus familiarity (Malinowski & Hübner, 2001) persisted across varying levels of visual clutter. Results imply that iconography exploiting visual search asymmetries can support efficient search even in heavily cluttered displays.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Factors

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Yamani, Yusuke

Contributors dc:contributor

• McCarley, Jason S.

• Visual search
• Attention
• Complex display

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Yusuke Yamani

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16793

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16793