The Integration of Information from an Analog-Visual Display: The Role of Dimensional Integrality.

Abstract : The integration of information from several sources often proves to be an overwhelming task for the human decision-maker. It is proposed, however, that in such an information-integration task, the demand on the human's limited information processing resources will be lessened to the extent that the relevant information is displayed in proximity. In this report, proximity is defined by the degree to which the analog-visual dimensions representing the information are integral. Twenty-four subjects each monitored two dynamic systems over the course of three 2-hr sessions. Each system consisted of a single output, the value of which was determined jointly by two inputs. Two analog-visual displays--a bar graph and a triangular object display--were used to present the system input/output information to subjects. Use of the triangular display resulted in more rapid detection of system failures at three levels of task difficulty. Additional keywords: Multivariate analysis, Computer graphics, Data displays, Statistical analysis. (Author)