Human-machine interactions involving space, time and uncertainty in real and virtual environments

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The focus of the research is the use of time (T), space (S) and uncertainty (U) information for human control of dynamic systems. Six themes, each representing some combination of T, S and U are proposed. Theme 1 (S+T) addresses the need for trading off large versus small field of view (FOV) requirements, which typifies many visual search and surveillance tasks. In one case, visual search will be facilitated by providing operators with large FOV displays created through real-time mosaicing. A second project aims to reduce the load of monitoring large banks of video monitors by providing integrated displays comprising spatially interpolated images from multiple cameras. Theme 2 (S+U) also addresses the low versus high FOV tradeoff problem, this time for precise high magnification operations, such as microscopic surgery. The research will explore the parameters of digital lens software which will provide operators with both a high magnification central FOV and lower magnification peripheral information. Theme 3 (S+T) will evaluate the use of real-time video image stabilisation software for applications such as acquiring stable images for cinematography and orientation enhancement in endoscopic surgery. Theme 4 (S+T+U) relates to tasks that demand simultaneous processing of multiple sources of information, and will investigate the use of self-paced visual occlusion for modelling how humans adopt a certain level of subjective uncertainty about the state of a task being managed versus the cost of sampling new information. Theme 5 (S+T+U) addresses the issue of whether operators are able to make use of explicit displays of uncertainty, such as probability of conflict, to maintain a consistent criterion for making appropriate decisions. The concepts will be explored by means of a simulated air traffic control platform which spatially presents explicit temporal and probabilistic information about potential conflicts. The sixth theme (S+T) will explore the principle of influencing driver braking performance by means of dynamic, but imperceptible, manipulation of lead vehicle size during braking.