Smooth Rotation of 2-D and 3-D Representations of Terrain: An Investigation Into the Utility of Visual Momentum

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The potential advantage of visual momentum in the form of smooth rotation between two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) displays of geographic terrain was examined. The relative effectiveness of 2-D and 3-D displays is task dependent, leading to the need for multiple frames of reference as users switch tasks. The use of smooth rotation to provide visual momentum has received little scrutiny in the task-switching context. A cognitive model of the processes involved in switching viewpoints on a set of spatial elements is proposed. In three experiments, participants judged the properties of two points placed on terrain depicted as 2-D or 3-D displays. Participants indicated whether Point A was higher than Point B, or whether Point B could be seen from Point A. Participants performed the two tasks in pairs of trials, switching tasks and displays within the pair. In the continuous transition condition the display dynamically rotated in depth from one display format to the other. In the discrete condition there was an instantaneous viewpoint shift that varied across experiments (Experiment 1: immediate; Experiment 2: delay; Experiment 3: preview). Performance after continuous transition was superior to that after discrete transition. The visual momentum provided by smooth rotation helped users switch tasks. The use of dynamic transition is recommended when observers examine multiple views of terrain over time. The model may serve as a useful heuristic for designers. The results are pertinent to command and control, geological engineering, urban planning, and imagery analysis domains.