Peripheral visual feedback: A powerful means of supporting effective attention allocation in event-driven, data-rich environments

Breakdowns in human-automation coordination in data-rich, event-driven doma ins such as aviation can be explained in part by a mismatch between the hig h degree of autonomy yet low observability of modern technology. To some ex tent, the latter is the result of an increasing reliance in feedback design on foveal vision - an approach that fails to support pilots in tracking sy stem-induced changes and events in parallel with performing concurrent nigh t-related tasks. One possible solution to the problem is the distribution o f tasks and information across sensory modalities and processing channels. A simulator study is presented that compared the effectiveness of current f oveal feedback and two implementations of peripheral visual feedback for ke eping pilots informed about uncommanded changes in the status of an automat ed cockpit system. Both peripheral visual displays resulted in higher detec tion rates and faster response times, without interfering with the performa nce of concurrent visual tasks any more than does currently available autom ation feedback. Potential applications include improved display designs tha t support effective attention allocation in a variety of complex dynamic en vironments, such as aviation, process control, and medicine.