Human factors issues of tactice displays for military environments

The overall goal of this chapter is to give the reader insights into the human factors issues related to the use of tactile displays. Torso-mounted displays, which are particularly suited for direction and orientation cues, are emphasized. First, perceptual issues relevant to tactile stimulation are discussed. These include issues regarding spatial acuity and absolute localization of tactile cues on the torso, such as internal reference points, anchor points, and spatial accuracy. In addition, tactile illusions, burst durations, and temporal effects are discussed in relation to tactile torso display design. A second section focuses on issues related to coding principles; that is, how best to develop tactile patterns to be intuitively understood within a specific operational context. Cognitive issues are then addressed, such as how tactile stimulation can either alleviate or exacerbate attention tunneling, and the extent to which multiple tactile patterns can be used effectively. Cognitive processes related to tactile cueing are described, followed by issues related to multisensory integration and multifunction displays. Finally, issues related to user acceptance are discussed