Graphical Displays: Implications for Divided Attention, Focused Attention, and Problem Solving

Abstract

When completing tasks in complex, dynamic domains observers must consider the relationships among many variables (e.g., integrated tasks) as well as the values of individual variables (e.g., focused tasks). A critical issue in display design is whether or not a single display format can achieve the dual design goals of supporting performance at both types of tasks. We consider this issue from a variety of perspectives. One relevant perspective is the basic research on attention and object perception, which concentrates on the interaction between visual features and processing capabilities. The principles of configurality are discussed, with the conclusion that they support the possibility of achieving the dual design goals. These considerations are necessary but not sufficient for effective display design. Graphic displays map information from a domain into visual features; the tasks to be completed are defined in terms of the domain, not in terms of the visual features alone. The implications of this subtle but extremely important difference are discussed. The laboratory research investigating alternative display formats is reviewed. Much like the attention literature, the results do not rule out the possibility that the dual design goals can be achieved.

1997 Summer Research Program (SRP), Graduate Student Research Program (GSRP), Final Reports, Volume 7A, Armstrong Laboratory

“…Iconic and object oriented graphic displays appear to be a especially useful in tasks requiring information integration, particularly when the indicators of a system are intercorrelated (Goldsmith and Schvanevedlt, 1981;Bennet and Flach, 1992;Wickens and Carswell, 1995). In 9-14 contrast to correlated system dimension, systems that can be decomposed into orthogonal information dimension are thought to be better served by representations that maintain the uniqueness of the information sources through separable data displays (Goldsmith and Schvanevedlt, 1981;Coury, Boulette, and Smith, 1989;Wickens, 1986).…”

D3-2 Ergonomic Review of the Processes of High-alert Medications for Hospital Inpatients

“…Current user interfaces of CPOE systems were text-based. Since double-check the physician order is a standard procedure, it was suggested to apply the design concept of configural display (Bennett and Flach, 1992) so that the visual double-check can be more efficient with graphical information displays.…”

User Interface Design Recommendations for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)

“…Systems that only considering data availability usually force the operator to maintain the data in their memory, while simultaneously forcing them to retrieve information from their long-term memory, causing an exhaustion of limited cognitive resources. Thus, displays that replace memory with perception are considered to improve performance because they do not use the cognitive resources involved in information processing (Bennett & Flach, 1992). Regarding sUAS design, the controller should present data relevant to operation in a way that does not force operators to rely on long-term memory (to the extent possible).…”