scholarly journals Visual Search Performance and Strategy for Three-Dimensional Visualization Systems: Impact of Radiologist Experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (22) ◽  
pp. 4929
Author(s):  
Tatjana Pladere ◽  
Mara Delesa-Velina ◽  
Viktorija Andriksone ◽  
Reinis Pitura ◽  
Karola Panke ◽  
...  

The visual search performance of radiologists is systematically challenged due to the use of flat-panel displays when viewing multi-slice images. Three-dimensional visualization of information is expected to facilitate visual search for radiologists. However, as the differences in user performance, depending on radiologist experience, have not yet been assessed for real three-dimensional images, it is difficult to estimate the usability of new visualization systems for radiologists with different amounts of professional search experience. In this study, we aimed to determine how three-dimensional visual search is affected by radiologist experience and the physical properties of stimuli. Radiologists, residents, and medical students accomplished visual search tasks with varying set sizes and target-distractor similarities. Search items were presented on multiple display planes and image manipulation was conducted using a computer keyboard. We compared the search outcome and strategy among three groups of participants. All three groups submitted a similar number of correct responses depending on target-distractor similarity. However, in contrast to radiologists and residents, it took a considerably longer time for students to find the targets. The major differences were evident in search strategy when comparing the image manipulations of radiologists with those of residents and students. Our results demonstrated that experienced radiologists’ search performance benefited from seeing the entire three-dimensional view of an image, whereas residents and students focused instead on reducing the amount of information and searched in a selective manner. These findings should be taken into account when planning the implementation of new workstations with three-dimensional visualization in radiology.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alasdair D F Clarke ◽  
Jessica Irons ◽  
Warren James ◽  
Andrew B. Leber ◽  
Amelia R. Hunt

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.


Author(s):  
Thomas Z. Strybel ◽  
Jan M. Boucher ◽  
Greg E. Fujawa ◽  
Craig S. Volp

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.


Author(s):  
Rachel J. Cunio ◽  
David Dommett ◽  
Joseph Houpt

Maintaining spatial awareness is a primary concern for operators, but relying only on visual displays can cause visual system overload and lead to performance decrements. Our study examined the benefits of providing spatialized auditory cues for maintaining visual awareness as a method of combating visual system overload. We examined visual search performance of seven participants in an immersive, dynamic (moving), three-dimensional, virtual reality environment both with no cues, non-masked, spatialized auditory cues, and masked, spatialized auditory cues. Results indicated a significant reduction in visual search time from the no-cue condition when either auditory cue type was presented, with the masked auditory condition slower. The results of this study can inform attempts to improve visual search performance in operational environments, such as determining appropriate display types for providing spatial information.


Author(s):  
Gyouhyung Kyung ◽  
Sungryul Park

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.


1993 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristinn R. Thorisson

The most common visual feedback technique in teleoperation is in the form of monoscopic video displays. As robotic autonomy increases and the human operator takes on the role of a supervisor, three-dimensional information is effectively presented by multiple, televised, two-dimensional (2-D) projections showing the same scene from different angles. To analyze how people go about using such segmented information for estimations about three-dimensional (3-D) space, 18 subjects were asked to determine the position of a stationary pointer in space; eye movements and reaction times (RTs) were recorded during a period when either two or three 2-D views were presented simultaneously, each showing the same scene from a different angle. The results revealed that subjects estimated 3-D space by using a simple algorithm of feature search. Eye movement analysis supported the conclusion that people can efficiently use multiple 2-D projections to make estimations about 3-D space without reconstructing the scene mentally in three dimensions. The major limiting factor on RT in such situations is the subjects' visual search performance, giving in this experiment a mean of 2270 msec (SD = 468; N = 18). This conclusion was supported by predictions of the Model Human Processor (Card, Moran, & Newell, 1983), which predicted a mean RT of 1820 msec given the general eye movement patterns observed. Single-subject analysis of the experimental data suggested further that in some cases people may base their judgments on a more elaborate 3-D mental model reconstructed from the available 2-D views. In such situations, RTs and visual search patterns closely resemble those found in the mental rotation paradigm (Just & Carpenter, 1976), giving RTs in the range of 5-10 sec.


2021 ◽  
pp. 174702182110502
Author(s):  
Azuwan Musa ◽  
Alison R Lane ◽  
Amanda Ellison

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.


Vision ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Alasdair D. F. Clarke ◽  
Anna Nowakowska ◽  
Amelia R. Hunt

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.


Author(s):  
Tatjana Pladere ◽  
Mara Velina ◽  
Vita Konosonoka ◽  
Kristaps Klava ◽  
Marina Seleznova ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Mary P. Czerwinski ◽  
Evan M. Feldman ◽  
Edward Cutrell

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.


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