Stimulus-central processing-response compatibility: Guidelines for the optimal use of speech technology

Abstract

With the emergence of speech technology as a viable display/control alternative, the question of guidelines is of importance. Stimulus-central processing-response (S-C-R) compatibility is proposed as a preliminary set of guidelines. S-C-R compatibility makes a two-part set of predictions about the best input/output (I/O) configuration for a task on the basis of the type of central processing that the task requires. For tasks with predominately spatial central processing demands, the best I/O configuration is predicted to be visual/manual. For tasks with predominately verbal central processing demands, the best I/O configuration is expected to be auditory/speech. A series of three experiments testing these predictions is reviewed. The results are interpreted as supporting the concept of S-C-R compatibility.