Examining the Effect of Grouping Border Type on Visual Search Performance

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (18) ◽  
pp. 1191-1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiva Naidu
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Search Performance ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
Single Character ◽  
Global Perception ◽  
The Individual

Past research has shown that enclosing a group of items within a border can actually slow the reaction time of individuals during search tasks. Navon (1977) and Mermelstein, Banks, & Prinzmetal (1979) suggested that individual components are “hidden” within a larger group formed by borders because global perception comes before perception of the individual items. This study tried to identify the minimal visual cues needed to effectively produce perception of grouping. Different border types, including solid lines, dashed lines, and simple chevrons were manipulated in order to assess how quickly subjects can detect targets within groups. Results indicated that the single character condition was significantly faster than the double and triple character conditions. In addition, the Full Border condition was also significantly faster than the 1:3 Ratio Border condition.

scholarly journals Stable individual differences in strategies within, but not between, visual search tasks

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alasdair D F Clarke ◽  
Jessica Irons ◽  
Warren James ◽  
Andrew B. Leber ◽  
Amelia R. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Visual Search ◽  
Search Task ◽  
The Other ◽  
Search Performance ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
Over Time

A striking range of individual differences has recently been reported in three different visual search tasks. These differences in performance can be attributed to strategy, that is, the efficiency with which participants control their search to complete the task quickly and accurately. Here we ask if an individual's strategy and performance in one search task is correlated with how they perform in the other two. We tested 64 observers in the three tasks mentioned above over two sessions. Even though the test-retest reliability of the tasks is high, an observer's performance and strategy in one task did not reliably predict their behaviour in the other two. These results suggest search strategies are stable over time, but context-specific. To understand visual search we therefore need to account not only for differences between individuals, but also how individuals interact with the search task and context. These context-specific but stable individual differences in strategy can account for a substantial proportion of variability in search performance.

Auditory Spatial Cueing in Visual Search Tasks: Effects of Amplitude, Contrast and Duration

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Z. Strybel ◽  
Jan M. Boucher ◽  
Greg E. Fujawa ◽  
Craig S. Volp
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Peripheral Visual Field ◽  
Search Performance ◽  
Spatial Cues ◽  
Spatial Cueing ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
Auditory Spatial Cues

The effectiveness of auditory spatial cues in visual search performance was examined in three experiments. Auditory spatial cues are more effective than abrupt visual onsets when the target appears in the peripheral visual field or when the contrast of the target is degraded. The duration of the auditory spatial cue did not affect search performance.

Curved Versus Flat Monitors: Interactive Effects of Display Curvature Radius and Display Size on Visual Search Performance and Visual Fatigue

2020 ◽  
pp. 001872082092271
Author(s):  
Gyouhyung Kyung ◽  
Sungryul Park
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Display Size ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Curvature Radius ◽  
Viewing Distance ◽  
Search Performance ◽  
Visual Fatigue ◽  
Visual Display Terminal ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
Curved Displays

Objective The aim of this study is to examine the interactive effects of display curvature radius and display size on visual search accuracy, visual search speed, and visual fatigue. Background Although the advantages of curved displays have been reported, little is known about the interactive effects of display curvature radius and size. Method Twenty-seven individuals performed visual search tasks at a viewing distance of 50 cm using eight configurations involving four display curvature radii (400R, 600R, 1200R, and flat) and two display sizes (33″ and 50″). To simulate curved screens, five flat display panels were horizontally arranged with their centers concentrically repositioned following each display curvature radius. Results For accuracy, speed, and fatigue, 33″–600R and 50″–600R provided the best or comparable-to-best results, whereas 50″–flat provided the worst results. For accuracy and fatigue, 33″–flat was the second worst. The changes in the horizontal field of view and viewing angle due to display curvature as well as the association between effective display curvature radii and empirical horopter (loci of perceived equidistance) can explain these results. Conclusion The interactive effects of display curvature radius and size were evident for visual search performance and fatigue. Beneficial effects of curved displays were maintained across 33″ and 50″, whereas increasing flat display size from 33″ to 50″ was detrimental. Application For visual search tasks at a viewing distance of 50 cm, 33″–600R and 50″ 600R displays are recommended, as opposed to 33″ and 50″ flat displays. Wide flat displays must be carefully considered for visual display terminal tasks.

The Impact of Age on Visual Search Performance

1993 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Manivannan ◽  
Sara Czaja ◽  
Colin Drury ◽  
Chi Ming Ip
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Selective Attention ◽  
Search Task ◽  
Visual Search Task ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Search Performance ◽  
Performance Effect ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact

Visual search is an important component of many real world tasks such as industrial inspection and driving. Several studies have shown that age has an impact on visual search performance. In general older people demonstrate poorer performance on such tasks as compared to younger people. However, there is controversy regarding the source of the age-performance effect. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between component abilities and visual search performance, in order to identify the locus of age-related performance differences. Six abilities including reaction time, working memory, selective attention and spatial localization were identified as important components of visual search performance. Thirty-two subjects ranging in age from 18 - 84 years, categorized in three different age groups (young, middle, and older) participated in the study. Their component abilities were measured and they performed a visual search task. The visual search task varied in complexity in terms of type of targets detected. Significant relationships were found between some of the component skills and search performance. Significant age effects were also observed. A model was developed using hierarchical multiple linear regression to explain the variance in search performance. Results indicated that reaction time, selective attention, and age were important predictors of search performance with reaction time and selective attention accounting for most of the variance.

scholarly journals The effects of induced optical blur on visual search performance and training

2021 ◽  
pp. 174702182110502
Author(s):  
Azuwan Musa ◽  
Alison R Lane ◽  
Amanda Ellison
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Visual Search ◽  
Visual Field Loss ◽  
Search Performance ◽  
Searching Behaviour ◽  
Feature Search ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
Search Speed ◽  
Search Training ◽  
Optical Blur

Visual search is a task often used in the rehabilitation of patients with cortical and non-cortical visual pathologies such as visual field loss. Reduced visual acuity is often comorbid with these disorders, and it remains poorly defined how low visual acuity may affect a patient’s ability to recover visual function through visual search training. The two experiments reported here investigated whether induced blurring of vision (from 6/15 to 6/60) in a neurotypical population differentially affected various types of feature search tasks, whether there is a minimal acceptable level of visual acuity required for normal search performance, and whether these factors affected the degree to which participants could improve with training. From the results, it can be seen that reducing visual acuity did reduce search speed, but only for tasks where the target was defined by shape or size (not colour), and only when acuity was worse than 6/15. Furthermore, searching behaviour was seen to improve with training in all three feature search tasks, irrespective of the degree of blurring that was induced. The improvement also generalised to a non-trained search task, indicating that an enhanced search strategy had been developed. These findings have important implications for the use of visual search as a rehabilitation aid for partial visual loss, indicating that individuals with even severe comorbid blurring should still be able to benefit from such training.

scholarly journals Seeing Beyond Salience and Guidance: The Role of Bias and Decision in Visual Search

Vision ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Alasdair D. F. Clarke ◽  
Anna Nowakowska ◽  
Amelia R. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Eye Movements ◽  
Signal Detection ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Search Performance ◽  
Guided Search ◽  
Vision Science ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
Field Of Vision

Visual search is a popular tool for studying a range of questions about perception and attention, thanks to the ease with which the basic paradigm can be controlled and manipulated. While often thought of as a sub-field of vision science, search tasks are significantly more complex than most other perceptual tasks, with strategy and decision playing an essential, but neglected, role. In this review, we briefly describe some of the important theoretical advances about perception and attention that have been gained from studying visual search within the signal detection and guided search frameworks. Under most circumstances, search also involves executing a series of eye movements. We argue that understanding the contribution of biases, routines and strategies to visual search performance over multiple fixations will lead to new insights about these decision-related processes and how they interact with perception and attention. We also highlight the neglected potential for variability, both within and between searchers, to contribute to our understanding of visual search. The exciting challenge will be to account for variations in search performance caused by these numerous factors and their interactions. We conclude the review with some recommendations for ways future research can tackle these challenges to move the field forward.

The Influence of Stimulus Dimensions and Training on Visual Search Performance

1994 ◽  
Vol 38 (19) ◽  
pp. 1266-1270
Author(s):  
Mary P. Czerwinski ◽  
Evan M. Feldman ◽  
Edward Cutrell
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
User Interfaces ◽  
Graphical User Interfaces ◽  
Attention Training ◽  
Search Performance ◽  
Visual Displays ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
Large Influence ◽  
Varied Mapping ◽  
And Training

Traditional studies of attention, training and visual search have focused on the use of separable dimensions (usually alphanumeric stimuli), and equating the number of items in consistent versus varied mapping training paradigms. However, the design of visual displays requires a heavy reliance upon configural and integral dimensions (stimuli that group). This set of studies examines the effects of configural dimensions (also using alphanumeric stimuli), as well as equating the number of training trials on specific targets between consistent versus varied mapping conditions. Predictions from extant theories of attention and visual search will be discussed where relevant. Results show that both factors have a large influence on the effects of training in visual search tasks. The influence of these variables needs to be incorporated into current theories of attention and visual search, especially as they are applied to the design of graphical user interfaces and visual displays.

scholarly journals Tracking neural markers of template formation and implementation in attentional inhibition under different distractor consistency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Wen ◽  
Zhibang Huang ◽  
Yin Hou ◽  
Sheng Li
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Retention Interval ◽  
Theta Activity ◽  
Search Performance ◽  
Search Tasks ◽  
Beta Power ◽  
Trial Basis ◽  
Human Participants ◽  
Functional Relevance ◽  
Attentional Inhibition

To perform challenging visual search tasks, attention should be selectively allocated to promote targets and inhibit distractors. Rejection templates based on the distractor's feature can be built to constrain the search process by filtering-out matched stimuli. We measured electroencephalography (EEG) of human participants when they performed a visual search task under conditions in which the distractor cues were constant within a block (fixed-cueing) or changed on a trial-by-trial basis (varied-cueing). Sustained representation of the cued colors could be decoded from the whole-brain EEG signal during the retention interval in the fixed-cueing condition, implying a formed rejection template. By contrast, transient representation of the cued colors was observed in the varied-cueing condition only after cue onset with significant but lower decoding accuracy than the fixed-cueing condition. The differential neural representations of the to-be-ignored color in the two cueing conditions agreed with the visual search performance that the fixed-cueing condition demonstrated a larger inhibition benefit of the distractor cueing than the varied-cueing condition. During the retention interval, we also observed stronger posterior alpha lateralization and mid-frontal theta/beta power in the varied-cueing condition, indicating the cognitive costs in template formation caused by the trialwisely change of distractor colors. The stable template formed in the fixed-cueing condition was utilized to inhibit the matched distractors in the search array and this was accompanied by larger mid-frontal theta activity. Taken together, our findings highlighted the critical roles of distractor consistency in linking template formation to successful distractor inhibition and the functional relevance of frontal theta activity in support of template formation and implementation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document