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ReferencesNavigation arrowAuthorsNavigation arrowKevin Laxar
Jun 18

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Kevin Laxar

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Publications by Kevin Laxar (bibliography)

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1995
 
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Benoit, Sandra L. and Laxar, Kevin (1995): Spatial Configurations for Flashing Lights as Marine Aids to Navigation. In: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 39th Annual Meeting 1995. p. 948.

“Lights used as marine aids to navigation are typically point sources that are easily confused with the background clutter of lights on shore. The problem is one of relative conspicuity of signals, the likelihood that a stimulus will be noticed. Previous studies have shown that conspicuity is affected by such physical characteristics of the target as size, luminance, contrast, movement, spatial characteristics, and number of distractors in the surround. Practical considerations limit the use of increases in size, luminance, contrast, and motion characteristics for application to navigational lights. The present research was conducted to determine how well lights of various spatial configurations stand out from a background of lights, to serve as a basis for the design of lighted aids to navigation. In a prior experiment (Laxar and Benoit, 1993), we found that a flash frequency of 4 Hz and a duty cycle (proportion of time lit) of .5 maximized conspicuity of a point source target light against a background of small lights. We used this temporal characteristic in the present study. The measure of conspicuity was the response time for an observer to find a flashing target among backgrounds of steady lights on a CRT display. Twenty observers participated. Nine targets were tested, each at three temporal flash patterns and four background light densities. ANOVAS showed significant effects of target, flash pattern, and background. Simultaneously flashing the target elements of two horizontal bars of light produced the greatest conspicuity, followed by two diagonal bars, and a triad of lights. The Flashing pattern, in which all segments of the target were on for 125 ms and then off for 125 ms, always produced the quickest response times and the fewest errors. Alternately flashing the elements of the target always produced the longest response times and the greatest number of errors. Overall, search time increased with the density of background lights, with the Flashing targets least affected, and the Alternating targets most affected.”

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Jun 18

“ Computer programs emerge as the outcome of complex human processes of cognition, communication and negotiation, which serve to establish the meaningful embedding of the computer system in its intended use context. ”

-- Floyd, 1992, p. 24

 
 

Featured chapter

Read the fascinating history of Wearable Computing, told by its father, Steve Mann

Read Steve's chapter !

 
 

Latest books

The Social Design of Technical Systems: Building technologies for communities
by Brian Whitworth and Adnan Ahmad

 
Start reading

The Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction, 2nd Ed.
by Mads Soegaard and Rikke Friis Dam

 
Start reading
 
 

Help us help you!

 
 
 
 
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