Effects of elevation angle disparity, complexity, and feature type on relating out-of-cockpit field of view to an electronic cartographic map

This study examined 3 variables relating out-of-cockpit field of view to an electronic cartographic map. The primary independent variable was the diff erence between the sine of the elevation angles of the map and the sine of the elevation angles of the forward field of view (FFOV). Complexity level and feature type (anthropogenic vs. natural) were also investigated. Using a same-different paradigm, participants compared a cartographic "map" with a corresponding FFOV. Dependent measures were reaction time (RT) and error rate. Main effects were found for the sine disparity of the map and FFOV, c omplexity (RT only), and feature type. All interactions were significant an d in the expected direction. Main effects of trial type (same or different) and an interaction with complexity were also investigated to examine the p articipants' search strategy. Conclusions are made and implications for the design of three-dimensional maps are discussed.