The Effect of Visual Location on Cognitive Tunneling with Superimposed Hud Symbology

Abstract

Cognitive tunneling occurs when the pilot's attention becomes locked on non-conformal, superimposed head-up display (HUD) symbology, while neglecting to scan the out-the-window scene, as a result of locating the HUD symbology near (in visual angle) the outside scene information (Foyle, McCann, Sanford & Schwirzke, 1993). Previous studies have shown that cognitive tunneling could be eliminated by placing the HUD symbology at least 8 deg from the out-the-window path being tracked. Limitations to previous research have included experimental designs that tested participants in multiple HUD information locations without fostering an efficient eyescan strategy for any one HUD location. Experiment 1 dedicates a participant to a single HUD location with blocked presentation. The results indicate that cognitive tunneling is not only eliminated by placing HUD symbology greater than 8 deg, but path tracking performance improves with symbology placed in an upper location on the HUD. Experiment 2 shows that the resulting performance decrement when information is overlaying the path (0 deg) may be associated with symbology compellingness, regardless of symbology relevance to the task.

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