Maps help navigators determine their position in the world. Navigational checking is defined as an aviator's task of continually comparing a map with the forward field of view (FFOV). This paper presents the results of two experiments using static three-dimensional (3D) images as the map and FFOV. Participants were asked to judge as quickly and accurately as possible whether the map and FFOV matched or mismatched. Elevation angle, azimuth angle, type of mismatch trial, and image complexity were manipulated; both response time and accuracy were recorded. Results were generally as predicted. Of greatest interest were the findings that a fairly linear performance decrement was associated with the difference in foreshortening between the two views (a trigonometric conversion of elevation angle disparity), a somewhat nonlinear performance decrement was associated with azimuth angle disparity, and no interaction was found between the two. The influences of elevation and azimuth on 3D map display design are discussed.
Abstract