Visual Search with Embedded Targets

Abstract

Visual search may be necessary where nontarget objects in the search area compete for attention with the target object (competition situation) or where a target blends with its background (embedded situation). This research is the first direct investigation of parameters of embedded target search situations. The research sought (a) to determine the relationships between measures of visual search performance, peripheral visual acuity, and ratings of discriminability obtained with embedded targets, and (b) to compare competition and embedded search tasks. This report shows that, using complex texture backgrounds, simple relationships exist between visual search time, peripheral visual acuity, and rated discriminability. The technological base research, of interest primarily to research specialists, suggests that further study may lead to the development of predictive procedures for search performance in complex real world tasks (such as air-to-ground target acquisition), and could give us the ability to select and train effective observers for these search tasks.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1978
Accession Number
ADA069666

Entities

People

  • B. Ebo Tei
  • Harvey H. Marmurek
  • Jerry Emerick
  • John R. Bloomfield
  • William E. Bechwith

Organizations

  • Ohio State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Adhesive Tapes
  • Boundaries
  • Color Displays
  • Competition
  • Detection
  • Diameters
  • Elements
  • Equations
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Observers
  • Social Sciences
  • Square Roots
  • Target Acquisition
  • Target Detection
  • Visual Acuity

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.