Visual tracking: IV. Interrelations of target speed and aided-tracking ratio in defining tracing accuracy

Abstract

To investigate the effect of variation in tracking speed and aided-tracking time constant on accuracy of visual pursuit, S operated an aided-pursuit tracking device by keeping a cursor aligned with a moving target by adjusting a handwheel control. Each of three Ss performed on one of nine combinations of target speed (23, 30, and 37 r.p.m.) and aided-tracking time constants (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 sec.). Time scores which integrated time on target and magnitude of error provided the measure of tracking accuracy. "The time constant of 0.5 sec. remained optimum over the range of target speeds used… . The 1.0-sec. time constant was significantly inferior at all… speeds. The main finding… was the significant interaction between… time constant and target speed… . A motion resonance theory of tracking was proposed to account for the main phenomena of aided tracking." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)