The Processing Demands of Higher Order Manual Control: Application of Additive Factors Methodology.
Abstract
This investigation examines the locus of processing demands of 2nd order manual control, and of tracking a high bandwidth signal, within the framework of multiple resource theory. It is hypothesized that 2nd order tracking may impose greater demands upon perceptual encoding (processing higher error derivatives), central processing (updating a more complex internal model) or response (executing impulse response functions). To assess the locus of demands, in experiment 1, eight subjects performed a Sterberg Memory Search task by itself, and concurrently with a first and a second order compensatory tracking task. Following the procedures outlined by Micalizzi & Wickens (1980, Tech. Report EPL-80-2/ONR-80-2), Sternberg variables of perceptual load, central processing load and response load were each systematically manipulated. All three variables were found to produce underradiative effects with the presence or absence of 1st order tracking. That is, their effect was attenuated in the presence of the tracking task. However, the manipulations of perceptual and central processing load were enhanced by 2nd order, as opposed to 1st order tracking, while the manipulation of response load was not. Thus our analyses indicated that the effects of higher order manual control were localized in the perceptual and central processing stages.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA098077
Entities
People
- Christopher Dow Wickens
- William Derrick
Organizations
- University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign