Target Identification Performance: The Effects of Display Resolution and Target Range
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of display resolution and target range on the ability of soldiers to identify tanks presented on a display monitor. Subjects learned to identify 24 images consisting of four tanks at three orientations and at two ranges. Subjects then identified targets using five levels of resolution produced by low-pass spatially filtering the images. The modulation transfer function area (MTFA) metric was calculated to be 9.1, 4.8, 3.6, 2.4, and 1.3 for the five levels of resolution. Subjects' visual capabilities were tested using the Contrast Sensitivity Function (CSF) Test; however, individual differences in the CSF did not correlate with target identification performance. Results indicated that target identification performance depended on the interaction of display resolution and target range. With near targets, loss of resolution had little effect on the percentage of targets identified or the response times until MTFA fell below 2.4, whereas with distant targets, loss of resolution always degraded performance. These results indicate that operators of indirect viewing devices do not require high resolution images as long as the targets are large and high contrast.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA250524
Entities
People
- Jeffrey H. Lukas
- Lynn C. Oatman
Organizations
- United States Army Materiel Command