Shape Coding Technique Effects on Tactical Point Symbol Perceptibility and Discriminability

Abstract

This report examines the effects of pictorial, abstract, and arbitrary shape coding on symbol perception and discrimination. This investigation also explored effects of varied or double border, regular or reverse screen, and augmentation coding. Perceptibility was assessed by measuring the time to detect a symbol's presence, recognize its coded affiliation, and identify its coded system type. Correct response times were analyzed with separate nested one-factor analyses of variance, and errors were analyzed with both confusion matrices and chi-square test. Discriminability was assessed by recording errors made while determining if sequentially presented symbols were identical. Errors were analyzed with both confusion matrixes and chi-square test. Correct detection and recognition times did not differ significantly; identification times did, however. Matrix analyses of discrimination errors showed that confusions resulted from the same factors that caused both recognition and identification errors. Chi-square tests indicated the scheme coded with varied or double borders and abstract shapes had a significantly greater number of discrimination errors than the one coded with regular or reverse screening and pictorial shapes, which had more than the one coded with augmentations and arbitrary shapes. Exit survey results confirmed earlier findings.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA213256

Entities

People

  • John K. Schmidt
  • Mary E. Dominessy
  • Teresa A. Branscome

Organizations

  • Human Engineering Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Chi Square Test
  • Computer Programming
  • Data Analysis
  • Detection
  • Engineering
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Identification
  • Information Processing
  • Information Science
  • Mainframe Computers
  • Perception
  • Recognition
  • Social Sciences
  • Software Development
  • Statistics
  • Surveys

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Regression Analysis.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.