The Effect of Visual Support Information Tracking Presentation on Task Performance and Workload

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of visual support information which tracks an operational object on task performance and workload. In the experiment, participants answered the number of the same objects on screen that is presented as visual support information. There were three conditions for presentation of visual support information; tracking condition in which support information tracked the motion of a mouse cursor on a screen, back monitor condition in which support information was presented on the right monitor of the screen, near monitor condition in which support information was presented on a monitor which is in front of participants. Participant’s fatigue was measured with flicker test and “Jikaku-shou sirabe”, and mental workload was measured with the Japanese version of NASA Task Load Index （NASA-TLX）. Results showed that reaction time was the shortest under tracking condition when the largest number of object was presented on the screen. Mental workload was the lowest under tracking condition. Therefore tracking presentation of visual support information facilitated the task performance and decreased mental workload.