The division of attention between a primary tracking task and secondary tasks of pointing with a stylus or speaking in a simulated ship's-gunfire-control task

Abstract

The effects of two alternative secondary-task configurations upon a primary tracking task were assessed experimentally. The primary task was a simulation of a ship's-gunfire-control task. The simulation featured a compensatory tracking task, incorporating the effects of ships' motion into the display. The secondary task involved either pointing (designating a location on the screen with a stylus) or speaking the co-ordinates of the location. All tasks were tested under single- and dual-task conditions. Speed and error scores were recorded for the secondary tasks; tracking error score for the primary task. The results showed: (i) simultaneous pointing with a stylus adversely and significantly affected tracking, (ii) simultaneous speaking degraded tracking only slightly and non-significantly, (iii) simultaneous tracking did not adversely affect either pointing or speaking and (iv) pointing took about half the time of speaking. The results are discussed with respect to their possible application to the ship's-gunfire-control task. Speaking as a secondary task. is recommended on this evidence over pointing. A number of related issues are raised and discussed. The results are also interpreted within the wider context of recent research on divided attention.

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Notes on contributors

JOHN MARTIN

Now at the Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 5XH, England.