Human Response Characteristics According to the Location of Visual Stimuli

Abstract

The correct perception of visual information in the design of human-machine systems is one of the most important factors to consider for improving the usability and safety of systems. Humans rely on sight for more than 80% of the information that is processed in their work performance and daily lives. However, the recognition of visual stimuli is not always accurate. Human beings do not recognize the subtle changes in visual stimuli. Such characteristics should be considered in the visual information design of human-machine systems. The study was conducted on the assumption that the layout of visual stimuli could affect human cognitive performance. The effect of signal stimulus location on the visual stimulus array was investigated through the experiments. Three black circles were used as an experimental stimulus. The reference stimulus was a 30 mm diameter circle and the signal stimulus was a 30.8 mm diameter circle. The signal stimulus was the size that 90% of the subjects correctly determined in the JND measurement experiment. The experimental equipment was a tachistoscope and 20 college students participated as subjects. The subjects judged whether the three circles presented in the horizontal or vertical direction were the same size. They pressed the left button if they were the same and pressed the right button for the other. As a result, the location of the signal stimulus in the horizontal arrangement of visual stimuli did not significantly affect the error rate and response time of the stimulus judgment. However, the location of the signal stimulus in the vertical arrangement had a significant effect on the error rate and response time, and the error rate and response time were the smallest when the signal stimulus was located at the center. These results should be considered in the visual information design or interface design.