Proximity Compatibility and Information Display: Effects of Color, Space, and Objectness on Information Integration

Abstract

We report two experiments in which different features of the display of multiple channels of information are varied in their proximity to one another. The display presents three indicators of aircraft stall danger (airspeed, flaps, and bank). On some trials the stall danger is estimated, requiring information integration. On other trials the value of individual indicators is estimated, requiring focused attention. In Experiment 1 the spatial proximity between indicators and their distinctiveness in color were manipulated. Spatial proximity had little effect on either focused attention or integration, whereas a distinct color code improved focused attention and disrupted integration. In Experiment 2 the three indicators were presented as a bar graph or were combined as features of an object display, either with or without color coding of the separate dimension. Relative to the bar graph display, the object display improved information integration but disrupted focused attention. The presence of color borders restored the focused attention accuracy, with a slight cost to response time.

Designing product listing pages on e-commerce websites: an examination of presentation mode and information format

“…The dual coding theory (Paivio, 1990) and the proximity compatibility principle (Wickens and Andre, 1990) from the cognitive psychology literature were adopted to investigate the effects of presentation mode and information format respectively. An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of image-text versus text-only presentation mode, and the list versus array information format on users' online shopping performance and attitudes.…”

On the history and prospects of three-dimensional human–computer interfaces for the provision of air traffic control services

“…On the whole, as the 'Proximity Compatibility Principle' by Wickens and Carswell asserts [87], whether or not a 3D interface suits a certain task depends on whether the task itself is integrative or not in space and time [88]. If the task requires the integration of multiple sources of information, performance will be best supported when those sources are displayed in close 'proximity' (e.g.…”

How are graphs read? An indication of sequence

“…Sanderson, Flach, Buttigieg, and Casey (1989) also compared the relative superiority of bar graphs and object displays. They have reported two studies in which, in contrast to the findings of Wickens and Andre (1990), they found bar graphs to be superior to object displays if the bar graph had a strong emergent feature that mapped directly onto the task. It is likely that such a "strong emergent feature" caused greater cognitive attention to be paid to the variable encoded within the feature, thereby enhancing the reader's ability to cognitively process the variable.…”

“…However, some valuable studies have been published. Wickens and Andre (1990) have reported the results of an experiment in which they compared three indicators of aircraft stall danger either as a bar graph or as combined features in an object display. These researchers found that, relative to the bar graph, the object display disrupted focused attention but improved information integration.…”