Abstract
This paper reports the results of a study investigating the role of cognitive compatibility in the design of aircraft dials. Of particular relevance to this study is the relationship between the visual display and the required response. Using a four-by-four layout of aircraft engine dials, participants were instructed to respond to a single, disparate reading by making an appropriate left-right judgement. Both compatible and incompatible response mappings were tested: instruments grouped by engine (left and right), and instruments grouped by status (primary and secondary), respectively. The results indicated that a layout incompatible with the response significantly increased reaction times and error rate, regardless of graphical cues to encourage perceptual grouping into the correct response mapping. Finally, disparities between dial readings were harder to detect at oblique angles compared to those oriented to the horizontal axis. These results are interpreted in the light of current theories regarding cognitive compatibility and the oblique effect, and design guidelines for dials are discussed.
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