Research on when and how to use 3-D perspective views on flat screens for operational tasks such as air traffic control is complex. In this paper, the authors propose a functional distinction between tasks: those that require shape understanding vs. those that require precise judgments of relative position. The distortions inherent in 3-D displays hamper judging relative positions, whereas the integration of dimensions in 3-D displays facilitates shape understanding. These hypotheses were confirmed with 2 initial experiments involving simple block shapes. The shape-understanding tasks were identification or mental rotation. The relative-position tasks were locating shadows and determining directions and distances between objects. The results were then extended to 4 experiments involving complex natural terrain. The authors distinction is compared with the integral/separable task distinction of Haskel and Wickens (1993).
Abstract