Multimodal feedback: an assessment of performance and mental workload.

Multimodal interfaces offer great potential to humanize interactions with computers by employing a multitude of perceptual channels. This paper reports on a novel multimodal interface using auditory, haptic and visual feedback in a direct manipulation task to establish new recommendations for multimodal feedback, in particular uni-, bi- and trimodal feedback. A close examination of combinations of uni-, bi- and trimodal feedback is necessary to determine which enhances performance without increasing workload. Thirty-two participants were asked to complete a task consisting of a series of 'drag-and-drops' while the type of feedback was manipulated. Each participant was exposed to three unimodal feedback conditions, three bimodal feedback conditions and one trimodal feedback condition that used auditory, visual and haptic feedback alone, and in combination. Performance under the different conditions was assessed with measures of trial completion time, target highlight time and a self-reported workload assessment captured by the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). The findings suggest that certain types of bimodal feedback can enhance performance while lowering self-perceived mental demand.

Framework for usability: healthcare professionals and the Internet.

The vastness and diversity of the Internet make it an emerging choice as an information repository and dissemination mechanism for healthcare-related information. The objective of this research is to characterize empirically the use of the Internet by a variety of healthcare professionals as well as to gauge perceptions of the Internet as a tool for information retrieval. This was accomplished through use of a questionnaire explicitly designed to gauge usage and perceptions of the Internet. Differences were detected between individual occupations of healthcare professionals with respect to Internet use and opinions concerning possible enhancements to the Internet. It was found that users' subjective experiences with the World-Wide Web (WWW) were more important than self-reported user knowledge when indicating the value of enhancements to the search process on the WWW. The methodological implications of the research together with a conceptual framework for usability that captures the essence of Internet usability in healthcare are presented. Directions for future research are provided.

An investigation of tactile and visual stimuli in the roadway environment.

208 motorists were observed at Florida International University, in Miami, Florida as part of a study of the influence of speed humps on motorists' behavior at pedestrian crossings. It was hypothesized that the presence of a speed hump will affect motorists' behavior by compelling them either to yield or stop at a pedestrian crossing to enable a pedestrian to cross safely. A between-subjects experimental design was employed to measure motorists' reactions. Analysis indicated that the relationship is strong between drivers' behavior and the presence or absence of this roadway stimulus. There was also evidence that female drivers may take more precautionary actions than male drivers. This information is useful for roadway designers and traffic psychologists.

Psychology of computer use: XLVI. Age-related differences in the mapping of auditory icons to visual icons in computer interfaces for children.

An investigation was conducted to characterize how children ages 6 through 9 identify auditory icons present in educational software. 24 subjects were require to map auditory icons to visual icons, both present in a computer interface. The interface used in the experiment was constructed with Visual Basic and involved 40 auditory icons, 40 corresponding visual icons, and 66 extraneous visual icons. It was hypothesized that older children would be better able to map the auditory icons to visual icons due to more extensive exposure to everyday sounds. The results supported the hypothesis and suggestions for additional research were provided.