Sub-Task 1-2: Eye-Movement Metrics for Monitoring Human Perception

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Background

Standard psychophysical methods cannot be used in applied settings without interfering with the task being performed. This fact limits our ability to evaluate the effects of display configuration or task requirements on human visual perception during the performance of aerospace related tasks. However, eye-movement measurement and analysis offers new possibilities for monitoring and evaluating human perceptual performance non-intrusively. This project will develop new technologies for the quantitative assessment of specific display and interface designs on human visual perceptual performance, for the identification of potential perceptual constraints related to aerospace safety, and for the testing/refinement/validation of predictive models of human visual perception and visuo-motor control.

Objectives

This sub-task has seven interrelated objectives:

1. To develop eye-movement metrics for human visual perception
2. To determine if eye-movement metrics of visual perception can be as precise and accurate as those obtained using standard psychophysical techniques.
3. To establish those conditions under which eye-movement metrics are valid measures of perception
4. To develop of improved eye-tracker technologies.
5. To develop methods for collecting eye movement data in applied contexts without head restraint
6. To evaluate the usefulness of eye-movement metrics in the design and evaluation of training paradigms, displays, and interfaces, and,
7. To develop computational models of human visual perception and visuo-motor control that predict display conditions that promote human errors.

Approach

The approach of this sub-task involves four separate activities:

1. To measure human performance in visual and visuo-motor control tasks, and the concomitant eye-movement responses simultaneously;
2. To develop analysis techniques (eye-movement metrics) that relate eye movements and perceptual performance, and compare them with standard metrics of human performance;
3. To develop technology as needed to insure that measurements can be made in laboratory and applied settings with sufficient accuracy.
4. To use human performance data to develop and test computational models of human perception and eye-movement control.

Level 3 Milestones

FY98 Quantitative validation of eye-movement metrics of motion perception.
FY98 Quantitative validation of eye-movement metrics of spatial localization.
FY98 Free-head tracking system ready for fielding.
FY99 Model predictions of visual cues for manual control.
FY99 Demonstrate use of free-head tracking system in flight simulator.
FY99 Fixation-based analysis of interface operation.
FY00 Model of information storage and retrieval during flight operations.
FY00 Model of human eye movements during search.
FY01 Guidelines for using eye-movement metrics for display design.
FY02 Guidelines for using eye-movement feedback during training.
FY03 Guidelines for hands-free eye-movement interfaces.

Points of Contact

Lee Stone

(650) 604-3240
(650) 604-0255 (FAX)

lstone@mail.arc.nasa.gov

 

Jeffrey B. Mulligan

(650) 604-3745
(650) 604-3323 (FAX)

jbm@vision.arc.nasa.gov

 

Barb T. Sweet

(650) 604-0006
(650) 604-0255 (FAX)

bsweet@mail.arc.nasa.gov