Human Performance Assessments when Using Augmented Reality for Navigation

Human performance executing search and rescue type of navigation is one area that can benefit from augmented reality technology when the proper computer generated information is added to a real scene. Search and rescue is characterized by the need to completely inspect a space, find an objective, and exit the space. Time is of the essence in completing this type of task and the environment is normally not familiar to the user, and lacks known landmarks. We briefly report on an experiment that demonstrated the benefits of augmented reality in a search and rescue task. Specifically, 120 participants, equally divided by gender, were tested in speed and accuracy using augmented reality in a search and rescue task. Accuracy performance was improved using augmented reality as compared to the control conditions. Additionally, a user controlled On-Demand display resulted in better performance than a Continuously On display. We report on additional analysis performed on data gathered during the augmented reality experiment. Specifically the data involves whether the sense of presence occurred during the task, how one can measure presence in augmented reality environments, and the extent to which individual differences were factors in performance. While presence was not found in the experiments, new insights and measurement approaches emerged. Individual differences also exhibited some interesting results. Spatial recall and ingress-egress time were the independent variables measured against various factors obtained from demographics. Briefly