Human Performance Assessments when Using Augmented Reality for Navigation

Abstract

Human performance executing search and rescue type of navigation is one area that can benefit from augmented reality technology when the proper computer generated information is added to a real scene. Search and rescue is characterized by the need to completely inspect a space, find an objective, and exit the space. Time is of the essence in completing this type of task and the environment is normally not familiar to the user, and lacks known landmarks. We briefly report on an experiment that demonstrated the benefits of augmented reality in a search and rescue task. Specifically, 120 participants, equally divided by gender, were tested in speed and accuracy using augmented reality in a search and rescue task. Accuracy performance was improved using augmented reality as compared to the control conditions. Additionally, a user controlled On-Demand display resulted in better performance than a Continuously On display. We report on additional analysis performed on data gathered during the augmented reality experiment. Specifically the data involves whether the sense of presence occurred during the task, how one can measure presence in augmented reality environments, and the extent to which individual differences were factors in performance. While presence was not found in the experiments, new insights and measurement approaches emerged. Individual differences also exhibited some interesting results. Spatial recall and ingress-egress time were the independent variables measured against various factors obtained from demographics. Briefly, when individual treatments are aggregated, individuals between 25-35 years of age took longer to traverse the maze when compared to both older and younger groups. Likewise, females and persons with spatially oriented academic majors took longer to traverse the maze. We conjecture that these increases in times are due to well known gender differences, maturity or existing training in spatially oriented tasks.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA473301

Entities

People

  • Brian F. Goldiez
  • Nabin Saptoka
  • Prashanth Aedunuthula

Organizations

  • University of Central Florida

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Age Groups
  • Augmented Reality
  • Computer Graphics
  • Computers
  • Data Analysis
  • Demography
  • Graphics
  • Human-Computer Interfaces
  • Human-Machine Interaction
  • Military Research
  • Motor Skills
  • Navigation
  • Reliability
  • United States Military Academy
  • Virtual Reality
  • Wearable Computers

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Educational Psychology

Technology Areas

  • Space