Distance Estimation of Frequency-Coded and Uniformly Flashing Lights

摘要

The accuracy with which pilots can judge the distance to a uniformly flashing light and to a light providing flash rate cues of distance was measured in a laboratory setting, for the purpose of determining whether distance cues improved accuracy. For each kind of light, subjects made practice judgments in which they were told their accuracy, then completed a series of test problems without accuracy information. Results indicate that judgments made without flash rate cues are as accurate as when these cues are provided. Nearer lights tend to be judged as being farther away then they actually are, and far lights are judged as being nearer than actual. At least within the short distances studied, extra cues to actual distances of a light of the type provided in this experiment do not improve accuracy of distance judgments when the observers have had practice. (Author)