Classification of Multidimensional Data under Time Constraints: Evaluating Digital and Configural Display Representations

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to evaluate differences in processing ability between integral and separable representations of process control data under conditions of time constraints. Subjects were trained as “operators” to identify system states and subsequently participated in time constrained (100%, 50% and 25% paced) sessions. Findings revealed that operators in both display conditions were able to respond significantly faster (while maintaining fairly high degrees of accuracy) under 100% and 50% time constrained conditions than in self-paced conditions. Classification accuracy suffered more for the separable than the integral display during the 25% paced condition.