Remote Operator Performance Comparing Mono and Stereo TV Displays: the Effects of Visibility, Learning and Task Factors

Abstract

An analysis of visual perception related to the underwater environment is presented, followed by a discussion of 3-dimensional space perception, and the absolute and relative cues employed by the operator during task performance. Using a category 1 task, experiment 1 employed highly practiced subjects to reduce the effects of learning. Mono and stereo TV performance was measured under three levels of visibility degradation (simulated by contrast reduction). As predicted, stereo was superior to mono under all conditions tested. Performance using both mono and stereo displays were both affected by degraded visibility. Experiment 2 was conducted with naive subjects using an experimental design which enabled an assessment of the degree of learning under operator testing conditions. We hypothesized that the category 1 task would show significantly less advantage for stereo, but that the effects of degraded visibility would continue to occur. The results are consistent with our interpretation. In experiment 3, the more visually complex category 2 task was employed. The design of the experiment was similar to experiment 2 so that evidence for learning could be assessed under these different conditions. Predictions concerning the degree of performance advantage for stereo vs mono displays were supported. This advantage was observed to increase with decreasing visibility, a finding which is consistent with our earlier predictions.

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