Assessment of Graphics and Text Formats for System Status Displays

Abstract

This study compared the relative effectiveness of three computer-based formats for displaying Navy system status data. Response speed and accuracy data were collected for each format on four tasks typically performed in a shipboard Combat Information Center (CIC). The three presentation formats were character readout (CRO), text-only, and text-graphics. Results showed the text-only and text-graphics formats produced faster, more accurate performance than the CRO on count and compare tasks; however, no reliable performance differences were found between presentation formats for identify and criterion tasks. Predictions concerning an advantage for the text-graphics format over the text-only format on certain types of tasks were not supported by the study findings. The practical applications and design implications of these findings are discussed.