Modelling Attentional Effects with Head-up Displays

Abstract

Previous research (McCann, Foyle, & Johnston, 1993) has shown that in a simulated approach to a runway, performance of a choice reaction time task is faster when all relevant information is available on the HUD or in the world, compared to when information has to be acquired from both domains. The present experiment tested two attentional models of these results: attention switching and attention sharing. Removing differential motion cues from the display, so that both the HUD and the world were motionless, attenuated the domain effect. The attenuated difference reflected both slower responses on within-domain trials and faster responses on between-domain trials. We conclude that performance with Head-Up Displays is affected by both attention switching and the degree to which attention is shared between domains.