Tracking with a differential brightness display: I. Acquisition and transfer

Abstract

An experiment was conducted that investigated the comparative tracking performances using a differential brightness display (DBD) and a conventional positional display. The results indicated superior tracking performance with the positional display. When the percentage reduction of system error at the completion of training was computed, the differences between display groups was minimal. The inability of S to maintain precisely the same level of performance with the brightness display as with the positional display was attributed to an "area-of-uncertainty" around the reference brightness. Distinctions were made regarding performance between "early learning" and "late learning" for both displays. It was suggested that, during early learning, S established control-display relationships and learned the nature of the forcing function. During late learning, S's performance consisted of finer control adjustments. These adjustments were much finer for the positional display than for the DBD because of the area-of-uncertainty. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)