Small Fields of view Interfere with Perception of Heading during Active Control But not Passive Viewing

Abstract

Dyre, Warren, and Garness (1996) found that heading performance during active control differed qualitatively from heading performance during passive viewing, though it was unclear exactly why. Our study examined the relationships between field of view, mental workload, and heading perception. We assessed heading performance during active control and passive viewing with a 30° field of view (Dyre et al. used 90°). Subjective mental workload ratings were collected to assess its relationship to active and passive perception of heading. We found results contrary to those of Dyre et al. (1996): heading perception was less accurate during active control than passive viewing and the relationship between simulated velocity and heading performance was reversed. Further, subjective mental workload was higher during active control than during passive viewing. These results suggest that field of view is an important optical variable mediating heading perception during active control.

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