Information Access Costs With an Augmented Reality Head-Mounted Display

Objective This work examined performance costs for a spatial integration task when two sources of information were presented at increasing eccentricities with an augmented-reality (AR) head-mounted display (HMD). Background Several studies have noted that different types of tasks have varying costs associated with the spatial proximity of information that requires mental integration. Additionally, prior work has found a relatively negligible role of head movements associated with performance costs. However, currently no studies have examined the magnitude of costs for spatial integration tasks when information is separated laterally using an AR-HMD. Methods Participants completed a spatial integration task in which information to be integrated was separated by multiple lateral visual angles. Participants were required to judge whether XY coordinate numbers were located within a designated red zone presented on a map. Results A significant effect of separation distance was found on response time, with no impact on accuracy. The effect of separation on response time increased considerably in the AR-HMD format compared to prior work examining the performance costs on a wide-angle monitor. Head movements became more costly to response time once information began to enter the head field at around 32 degrees of separation. Conclusions The current results taken with previous work indicate a task-device interaction, in which head movements become more costly dependent upon the type of information to be integrated. Application Our findings imply the need for careful evaluation of task characteristics when modeling information separation costs on a desktop display for an AR-HMD format.