EFFECTS OF SIMULATED TASK LOADING ON SIDE-LOOKING RADAR TARGET RECOGNITION.
Abstract
The study was conducted to determine the effects of simulated task loads that prevented observers from devoting all of their time to searching a radar display for targets of opportunity. Task loads taking up 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% of an observers' screen viewing time during 30-minute trials were simulated by turning display on and off in a programmed random pattern. Forty SAC radar navigator-bombardiers were randomly assigned to the four viewing conditions. They viewed a 5-inch wide strip of high resolution, coherent SLR film projected on a 14-inch-square display screen. The radar picture, displayed at an image scale of 1:130,000, depicted a strip of terrain 25-nautical-miles wide and traveled from the top to the bottom of the screen at a simulated aircraft speed of 1300 knots, or 12.3 inches/minute. The number of correct responses and the number of false responses were approximately linear functions of accumulated viewing time. Mean distance traveled down the screen by targets and nontargets prior to responses was also significantly affected by viewing time, with the greatest increase in travel occurring when total viewing time was reduced from 75% to 50%. Since the numbers of correct and false responses decreased in approximately the same proportion with each decrease in viewing time, overall accuracy of responses was nearly constant for all viewing times. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0673873
Entities
People
- Almon J. Bate
- Herschel C. Self
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory