Abstract

This paper summarizes the findings from two human factors evaluations conducted as part of the Immersive Display Evaluation and Assessment Study (IDEAS) program. For both evaluations experienced USAF F-16 pilots discriminated and positively identified distant fighter-sized aircraft. On each trial the ownship rapidly approached a pair of aircraft, one "friend" and one "foe", and the observers designated the foe as quickly and accurately as they could.

The first evaluation focused on variables expected to be primary determinants of motion-induced blurring (e.g., hold time and angular velocity) for modern display systems. The second evaluation filled out the data set required to validate a more complete model of the design variables expected to mediate task performance for very high resolution display systems. Across the two evaluations, task performance was measured as a function of 420 combinations of five practical display system design variables including: pixel hold time, angular velocity of the image, pixel pitch (resolution), display contrast, and display luminance.

Prior to conducting the evaluations a computational model was prepared and used to make quantitative predictions of the effects of these design variables.  The correlation between the model predictions and the results of the first evaluation was high (e.g., R² > 0.75, p < 0.001, 109 df).  After tuning three parameters in the model to the data the correlation increased significantly (R² = 0.973, p < 0.001, 106 df).

A significant benefit provided by the model is the quantification of the interactions among the design variables.  Thus, the model is useful for examining the impact of design trades among the variables that affect task performance.

In a companion paper presented at this conference, we describe the design and initial validation of the model and provide examples of its use as a decision support tool by acquisitions professionals who must prepare requirements and make source selection decisions, and by suppliers who wish to maximize the utility of their product offerings.