Engineering topics

Kaiser, Mary K.

Publications and source records attributed to Kaiser, Mary K..

At least 55 records · Page 3

NASA NTRS1992

Perceptual bias for forward-facing motion

When an occluded horizontal row of shapes is shifted laterally, apparent motion can be experienced in either the leftward or the rightward direction. Four experiments provide evidence for a motion bias in the direction that shapes appear to face. The bias tended to be largest when directionality was specified geometrically (e.g., triangles), next largest when it was specified biologically (e.g., mice), and absent when it was specified calligraphically (e.g., letter R). The bias increased parametrically as a function of triangle pointedness and was consistent with the directional interpretation of an ambiguous duck-rabbit. The results support the existence of a cognitively specified forward-facing attribute that can influence experienced direction of motion.

Mcbeath, Michael K.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Using the stereokinetic effect to convey depth - Computationally efficient depth-from-motion displays

Recent developments in microelectronics have encouraged the use of 3D data bases to create compelling volumetric renderings of graphical objects. However, even with the computational capabilities of current-generation graphical systems, real-time displays of such objects are difficult, particularly when dynamic spatial transformations are involved. In this paper we discuss a type of visual stimulus (the stereokinetic effect display) that is computationally far less complex than a true three-dimensional transformation but yields an equally compelling depth impression, often perceptually indiscriminable from the true spatial transformation. Several possible applications for this technique are discussed (e.g., animating contour maps and air traffic control displays so as to evoke accurate depth percepts).

Kaiser, Mary K.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Systematic Disturbance Of Optimal Rotational Trajectory

Algorithm introduces systematic disturbance into otherwise optimal rotation of body from prescribed initial to prescribed final orientation. Disturbance introduced as deviation of actual axis of rotation from optimal one, like wobble of top. Algorithm effects rotational transformations and solves differential equations necessary to compute disturbed trajectory. Devised for use with motion-control program and three-dimensional computer-graphical display to study ability of observers to distinguish between optimal and suboptimal rotational trajectories.

Grunwald, Arthur J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Influence of animation on dynamical judgments

The motions of objects in the environment reflect underlying dynamical constraints and regularities. The conditions under which people are sensitive to natural dynamics are considered. In particular, the article considers what determines whether observers can distinguish canonical and anomalous dynamics when viewing ongoing events. The extent to which such perceptual appreciations are integrated with and influence common-sense reasoning about mechanical events is examined. It is concluded that animation evokes accurate dynamical intuitions when there is only 1 dimension of information that is of dynamical relevance. This advantage is lost when the observed motion reflects higher dimension dynamics or when the kinematic information is removed or degraded.

Kaiser, Mary K.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Visual cues in low-level flight - Implications for pilotage, training, simulation, and enhanced/synthetic vision systems

This paper reviews some of the sources of visual information that are available in the out-the-window scene and describes how these visual cues are important for routine pilotage and training, as well as the development of simulator visual systems and enhanced or synthetic vision systems for aircraft cockpits. It is shown how these visual cues may change or disappear under environmental or sensor conditions, and how the visual scene can be augmented by advanced displays to capitalize on the pilot's excellent ability to extract visual information from the visual scene.

Foyle, David C.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Visual augmentation for night flight over featureless terrain

Visual augmentation technique based on infrared cueing lights which project from the aircraft to the terrain is proposed to mitigate the problems associated with night flight over regions with featureless terrains. A series of simulation studies evaluated the effectiveness of several cueing light configurations. Results indicate that certain relatively low-cost cueing light configurations can be effectively used as pseudo-flight directors without impairing the pilot's use of available natural cues in the scene. Pilots prefer configurations which provide multiple samples of the forward terrain. Providing several 'look-aheads' helps to resolve potential vehicle/terrain state ambiguities. It is concluded that cueing lights are capable of creating visual patterns which are readily interpreted and translated to control commands, thus providing pilots with intuitive, low-workload decision aids.

Kaiser, Mary K.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Visually Guided Control of Movement

The papers given at an intensive, three-week workshop on visually guided control of movement are presented. The participants were researchers from academia, industry, and government, with backgrounds in visual perception, control theory, and rotorcraft operations. The papers included invited lectures and preliminary reports of research initiated during the workshop. Three major topics are addressed: extraction of environmental structure from motion; perception and control of self motion; and spatial orientation. Each topic is considered from both theoretical and applied perspectives. Implications for control and display are suggested.

Johnson, Walter W.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Observer properties for understanding dynamical displays: Capacities, limitations, and defaults

People's ability to extract relevant information while viewing ongoing events is discussed in terms of human capabilities, limitations, and defaults. A taxonomy of event complexity is developed which predicts which dynamical events people can and cannot construe. This taxonomy is related to the distinction drawn in classical mechanics between particle and extended body motions. People's commonsense understandings of simple mechanical systems are impacted little by formal training, but rather reflect heuristical simplifications that focus on a single dimension of perceived dynamical relevance.

Proffitt, Dennis R.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Factors influencing perceived angular velocity

Angular velocity perception is examined for rotations both in depth and in the image plane and the influence of several object properties on this motion parameter is explored. Two major object properties are considered, namely, texture density which determines the rate of edge transitions for rotations in depth, i.e., the number of texture elements that pass an object's boundary per unit of time, and object size which determines the tangential linear velocities and 2D image velocities of texture elements for a given angular velocity. Results of experiments show that edge-transition rate biased angular velocity estimates only when edges were highly salient. Element velocities had an impact on perceived angular velocity; this bias was associated with 2D image velocity rather than 3D tangential velocity. Despite these biases judgements were most strongly determined by the true angular velocity. Sensitivity to this higher order motion parameter appeared to be good for rotations both in depth (y-axis) and parallel to the line of sight (z-axis).

Kaiser, Mary K.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Human factors issues in the use of night vision devices

An account is given of the critical human factors that arise in field data on the differences between night vision displays and unaided day vision. Attention is given to the findings of empirical studies of performance on rotorcraft-flight-relevant perceptual tasks in which depth and distance perception are critical factors. Suggestions are made for man-machine-critical component design modifications in current night vision systems.

Kaiser, Mary K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Human Factors In The Design Of Video Displays

Good designs take account of perceptual tendencies and conceptual biases in observers. Report presents overview of evolving knowledge of interactions between video displays and human observers. Discusses relative advantages and disadvantages of static and dynamic displays, with attention to human factors combining with characteristics of video-display medium to affect observer's percepts.

Kaiser, Mary K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Human motion perception: Higher-order organization

An overview is given of higher-order motion perception and organization. It is argued that motion is sufficient to fully specify a number of environmental properties, including: depth order, three-dimensional form, object displacement, and dynamics. A grammar of motion perception is proposed; applications of this work for display design are discussed.

Kaiser, Mary K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Computer Animation In Perception Research

Artificiality of images apparent to subjects and influences experimental results. Report evalutes computer-generated animation in research on perception of motion. Such research programs not pursued without computer animation, report notes. Computer-generated displays afford variability and control almost impossible to achieve otherwise. Medium limited in that computer-generated images present simplified approximations of dynamics of natural events.

Kaiser, Mary K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Angular velocity discrimination

Three experiments designed to investigate the ability of naive observers to discriminate rotational velocities of two simultaneously viewed objects are described. Rotations are constrained to occur about the x and y axes, resulting in linear two-dimensional image trajectories. The results indicate that observers can discriminate angular velocities with a competence near that for linear velocities. However, perceived angular rate is influenced by structural aspects of the stimuli.

Kaiser, Mary K.↗

NASA NTRS1989

An algorithm for the systematic disturbance of optimal rotational solutions

An algorithm for introducing a systematic rotational disturbance into an optimal (i.e., single axis) rotational trajectory is described. This disturbance introduces a motion vector orthogonal to the quaternion-defined optimal rotation axis. By altering the magnitude of this vector, the degree of non-optimality can be controlled. The metric properties of the distortion parameter are described, with analogies to two-dimensional translational motion. This algorithm was implemented in a motion-control program on a three-dimensional graphic workstation. It supports a series of human performance studies on the detectability of rotational trajectory optimality by naive observers.

Grunwald, Arthur J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Spatial Displays and Spatial Instruments

The conference proceedings topics are divided into two main areas: (1) issues of spatial and picture perception raised by graphical electronic displays of spatial information; and (2) design questions raised by the practical experience of designers actually defining new spatial instruments for use in new aircraft and spacecraft. Each topic is considered from both a theoretical and an applied direction. Emphasis is placed on discussion of phenomena and determination of design principles.

Ellis, Stephen R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Perceiving environmental properties from motion information: Minimal conditions

The status of motion as a minimal information source for perceiving the environmental properties of surface segregation, three-dimensional (3-D) form, displacement, and dynamics is discussed. The selection of these particular properties was motivated by a desire to present research on perceiving properties that span the range of dimensional complexity.

Proffitt, Dennis R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Visual acceleration detection - Effect of sign and motion orientation

Thresholds for the detection of constant acceleration and deceleration of a discrete object moving along horizontal and vertical axes were studied. A staircase methodology was used to determine thresholds for three average velocities (0.7, 1.2, and 1.7 deg/sec). Thresholds, expressed as the proportion of velocity change, did not differ significantly among the average velocities; thus, a consistent Weber-like fraction is suggested by the data. Furthermore, there was an interaction between the axis of motion (horizontal or vertical) and the sign of the velocity change (acceleration or deceleration): accelerations were easier to detect along the vertical axis, decelerations along the horizontal axis.

Calderone, Jack B.↗