Title
Nonexplicit change detection in complex dynamic settings: what eye movements reveal.
Abstract
Objective: We employed a computer-controlled command-and-control (C2) simulation and recorded eye movements to examine the extent and nature of the inability to detect critical changes in dynamic displays when change detection is implicit (i.e., requires no explicit report) to the operator's task. Background: Change blindness-the failure to notice significant changes to a visual scene-may have dire consequences on performance in C2 and sur-veillance operations. Method: Participants performed a radar-based risk-assessment task involving multiple subtasks. Although participants were not required to explicitly report critical changes to the operational display, change detection was critical in informing decision making. Participants' eye movements were used as an index of visual attention across the display. Results: Nonfixated (i.e., unattended) changes were more likely to be missed than were fixated (i.e., attended) changes, supporting the idea that focused attention is necessary for conscious change detection. The finding of significant pupil dilation for changes undetected but fixated suggests that attended changes can nonetheless be missed because of a failure of attentional processes. Conclusion: Change blindness in complex dynamic displays takes the form of failures in establishing task-appropriate patterns of attentional allocation. Application: These findings have implications in the design of change-detection support tools for dynamic displays and work procedure in C2 and surveillance.
Year
DOI
Venue
2012
10.1177/0018720812443066
HUMAN FACTORS
Keywords
Field
DocType
change detection,focused attention,dynamic displays,command and control,eye tracking,pupillometry,microworld
Social psychology,Radar,Change detection,Command and control,Simulation,Psychology,Visual attention,Eye tracking,Eye movement,Notice,Pupillometry
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
54
6
0018-7208
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
3
0.81
7
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
François Vachon1296.33
Benoît R. Vallières2112.24
Dylan M. Jones3304129.26
Sébastien Tremblay4233.52