Exploring the Effectiveness of Attention Manipulations on Operator Performance in C2 Tasks: Empirical Investigations

Abstract

The research objective of this project is to explore ways of covertly delivering interventions into the adversary decision cycles so as to effectively shape adversary decision-making and performance without inducing much suspicion. The technical approach is to design a set of interventional schemes, and evaluate, both empirically and computationally, their effectiveness and robustness on escaping detection and disrupting performance. Recognizing that completely covert interventions, while most effective, are difficult to implement, in the current phase of the project, we focus on a more general mode of covertness. That is, instead of delivering completely hidden interventions, we deliver interventions that may be noticeable but whose true meanings are hidden or distorted (e.g., the operators do not easily attribute the interventions to malicious attacks). This approach, based on insights from human abductive reasoning rather than straightforward attentional manipulations, is easier to implement and potentially more powerful. In the past years, we have taken steps to evaluate the approach in simple empirical settings and have obtained promising results. See our renewal proposal for more information.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 05, 2010
Accession Number
ADA563621

Entities

People

  • Hongbin Wang

Organizations

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Computers
  • Detection
  • Electroencephalography
  • Experimental Design
  • Eye
  • Eye Movements
  • High Resolution
  • Integrated Systems
  • Intervention
  • Psychological Phenomena And Processes
  • Psychology
  • Reasoning
  • Sequences
  • Taxonomy
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Tracking Cameras

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Theoretical Analysis.