LOW-TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE ROLE OF PERIPHERAL VISION IN HUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS

This paper provides two demonstrations that highlight the importance of peripheral vision issues in system design. The first demonstration concems the ability of the visual system to detect motion, while the second addresses the impact of reduction of visual field on the perception of optical flow data. Educators can use these demonstrations as the basis for discussions about the design implications for waming displays, attention gathering devices, optical flow, off-axis accidents, aging, attention, and night vision goggles. These demonstrations can be used at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Relevant research findings are also discussed, and references for hrther exploration of the topics are provided. Concepts to be demonstrated: The peripheral visual "system " is usually taken for granted, until the system's owner is denied access to the information derived from it. This two-part demonstration illustrates: 1) The ability of the peripheral vision system to detec