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This study sought to determine the learning effects of repeated practice with the traditional linear and the novel differential linear and differential non-linear magnification methods on visual inspection performance. Performance feedback of speed and accuracy and process feedback of scan paths and coverage of search area were given to subjects in order to facilitate the learning process. Objective performance in terms of speed and accuracy and subjective evaluation using the NASA Task Load Index paradigm were captured and analysed. The results showed that there were positive learning effects for the three magnification methods and the learning effects for the two differential magnification methods were greater than that for the traditional linear method. Three exponential learning curves were established for the three search tasks, which showed that search performance with the differential linear and differential non-linear magnifications would surpass the traditional linear method after four and 10 sessions of repeated practice, respectively.

The unfavorable consequence of biased attention to peripheral objects was reported with the use of a newly proposed differential magnification method by the authors. Given the favorable influence of auditory cueing on attention orientation, this study investigated the effectiveness of auditory cues in directing participants' attention from the peripheral to foveal areas of the differential magnifying lens for improving inspection performance. Thirty-nine Chinese undergraduates performed a simulated inspection task using a particular magnification method (between-participant factor). Three withinparticipant factors of auditory cue interval, target difficulty, and magnification power were tested. Objective performance measures of speed and accuracy and subjective evaluation using NASA task load index were collected and analyzed. The results showed that positive effects of auditory cues were found for the differential magnification methods but not for the traditional linear magnification method. Significant effects of target difficulty and magnification power were also found. It was concluded that the aid of auditory cues, which did not share the same attentional resource with the visual inspection task, proved to be an appropriate reminder for the differential magnification methods to improve participants' visual inspection performance. Attention should also be paid to selecting an appropriate auditory cue interval for search tasks of different target difficulties. The findings of this study have implications for the design of video magnifiers in the context of multimodal humanmachine interfaces. C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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