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J R Tole

Publications and source records attributed to J R Tole.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Visual scanning behavior and mental workload in aircraft pilots.

This paper describes an experimental paradigm and a set of preliminary results which demonstrate a relationship between the level of performance on a skilled man-machine control task, the skill of the operator, the level of mental difficulty induced by an additional task imposed on the basic control task, and visual scanning performance. During a constant, simulated piloting task, visual scanning of instruments was found to vary as a function of the level of difficulty of a verbal loading task. The average dwell time of each fixation on the pilot's primary instrument increased as a function of the loading. The scanning behavior was also a function of the estimated skill level of the pilots, with novices being affected by the loading task much more than experts. The results suggest that visual scanning of instruments in a controlled task may be an indicator of both workload and skill.

Aerospace Medicine

Visual scanning behavior and pilot workload.

This paper describes an experimental paradigm and a set of results which demonstrate a relationship between the level of performance on a skilled man-machine control task, the skill of the operator, the level of mental difficulty induced by an additional task imposed on the basic control task, and visual scanning performance. During a constant, simulated piloting task, visual scanning of instruments was found to vary with the difficulty of a verbal mental loading task. The average dwell time of each fixation on the pilot's primary instrument increased with the estimated skill level of the pilot, with novices being affected by the loading task much more than experts. The results suggest that visual scanning of instruments in a controlled task may be an indicator of both workload and skill.

Aerospace Medicine

A protocol for the air caloric test and a comparison with a standard water caloric test.

This communication describes the development of a protocol for the air caloric stimulus for vestibular testing. The protocol is based on matching the peak responses of air and water caloric stimuli and minimizing subject discomfort. Air stimulus temperatures of 30 and 44 degrees C are used, and these appear to minimize subject complaints of pain with the test. Composite data are presented from 16 normal subjects who were tested with the protocol. A comparison is made with their responses to a standard water protocol. Test-retest data for both air and water protocols are also presented, and these data indicate similar day-to-day variation in the two methods. On the basis of the work presented, it is concluded that the air protocol produces responses equivalent to that of standard water calorics in a group of normal subjects. Neither test was found, in the present experiments, to be particularly sensitive.

Air