The Accuracy of Non-Visual Aiming

Abstract

A visual feedback theory of movement control developed earlier predicted that the accuracy of movements performed in darkness would be unaffected by movement speed, but be linearly related to distance. We found that for variable errors this is partly true; a linear relationship to distance was demonstrated, but an optimum speed was found. Constant errors showed interesting trends, showing the usual range effect but also being affected by movement time. Finally, a small irreducible component in these errors was found, which was considered to be caused by physiological tremor. These results are easily encompassed in our feedback theory, but would be difficult for an information theory based model of movement control.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Begbie

C. H.

(1959). Accuracy of aiming in linear hand-movements. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 11, 65–75.

Beggs

W. D. A.

(1971). Movement Control University of Nottingham Unpublished Ph.D. thesis.

Beggs

W. D. A.

Howarth

C. I.

(1970). Movement control in a repetitive motor task. Nature 225, 752–3.

Beggs

W. D. A.

Howarth

C. I.

(1972). The accuracy of aiming at a target—some further evidence for a theory of intermittent control. Acta Psychologica. (In press.).

Brown

J. S.

Knauft

E. B.

Rosenbaum

(1948). The accuracy of positioning reactions as a function of their direction and extent. American Journal of Psychology 61, 167–82.

Craik

K. J. W.

(1947a). Theory of the human operator in control systems: I. The operator as an engineering system. British Journal of Psychology 38, 56–61.

Craik

K. J. W.

(1947b). Theory of the human operator in control systems: II. Man as an element in a control system. British Journal of Psychology 38, 142–8.

Crossman

E. R. F. W.

Goodeve

P. J.

(1963). Feedback control of hand-movement and Fitts' Law Oxford Unpublished. Communication to Experimental Psychology Society.

Fitts

P. M.

(1951). Engineering psychology and equipment design. Handbook of Experimental Psychology Stevens

S. S.

New York: Wiley.

10.

Fitts

P. M.

(1954). The information capacity of the human motor system in controlling the amplitude of movement. Journal of Experimental Psychology 47, 381–91.

11.

Gibbs

C. B.

(1954). The continuous regulation of skilled response by kinaesthetic feedback. British Journal of Psychology 45, 24–39.

12.

Howarth

C. I.

Beggs

W. D. A.

Bowden

(1971). The relationship between speed and accuracy of movement aimed at a target. Acta Psychologica 35, 207–18.

13.

Johnson

D. M.

(1952). The central tendency of judgement as a regression phenomenon. American Psychologist 7, 281.

14.

Keele

S. W.

Posner

M. I.

(1968). Processing of visual feedback in rapid movements. Journal of Experimental Psychology 77, 155–8.

15.

Pepper

R. L.

Herman

L. M.

(1970). Decay and interference effects in the short-term retention of a discrete motor act. Journal of Experimental Psychology 83, Monograph Supplement.

16.

Slack

C. W.

(1953). Perception and past experience: a mathematical model for Taylor's “range effect”. American Psychologist 8, 437.

17.

Stetson

R. H.

(1905). A motor theory of rhythm and discrete succession. Psychological Review 12, 250–70.

18.

Vince

M. A.

(1948). Corrective movements in a pursuit task. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 1, 85–106.

19.

Welford

A. T.

(1968). Fundamentals of Skill London: Methuen.

20.

Welford

A. T.

Norris

A. H.

Shock

N. W.

(1963). Movement, time and range; a preliminary report (abstract). Ergonomics 6, 310.

21.

Winer

B. J.

(1962). Statistical Principles in Experimental Design London: McGraw Hill.

22.

Woodworth

R. S.

(1899). The accuracy of voluntary movement. Psychological Review, Monograph Supplement Vol. III, No. 2 (Whole No. 13).