The Effect of Stimulus-Central Processing-Response Compatibility and Resource Competition on Pilot Performance

摘要

The concept of stimulus-central processing-response compatibility is described as a principle by which a task with verbal central-processing components is best served by auditory input and speech response, while a task with spatial processing components is best served by visual input and manual response. A model is proposed that predicts the joint effects of S-C-R compatibility and resource competition when a spatial and verbal task, each paired with all four input/output modality combinations, is time-shared with a visually displayed manual control task. This model was tested in an F-18 flight simulator. Nine subjects time-shared a discrete verbal (communication, navigation, and identification), and spatial (target acquisition) task with the task of flying the simulator through two-dimensional 'tunnel' in the sky. Each discrete task was performed singly with all four i/o combinations, and also concurrently with the flight task. The predictions of the model were upheld. Single task performance on each task benefitted from increasing levels of S-C-R compatability. In dual task conditions, performance was influenced jointly by compatibility and by resource competition as predicted from the multiple resource model. Furthermore, conditions of high compatibility were uninfluenced by increases in flight task difficulty, while conditions of low compatibility suffered degradation from the difficulty increase.