Video Cartographic Image Interpretability Assessed by Response Surface Methodology

The technique of response surface methodology was used to obtain multiple regression prediction equations of performance on a video cartographic symbol search task. Observers were required to locate the position of designated target symbols on a series of maps displayed on black and white and color TV monitors. The variables used to predict both detection and latency performance were focus, density of non-target symbols, visual angle of the observer, and TV lines per mm. of map area displayed. Prediction equations were compared for black and white and color television monitors, and the results indicate that performance on the black and white monitor was primarily a function of focus and density, whereas performance on the color monitor was a function of all four variables. The differences in the two systems were discussed in terms of overall resolution quality. (Author) Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Human Factors Society (15th) Held in New York.