Towards Interactive Search: Investigating Visual Search in a Novel Real-World Paradigm.

Marian Sauter,Wolfgang Mack,Maximilian Stefani

doi:10.3390/brainsci10120927

Marian Sauter, Wolfgang Mack + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10120927

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Abstract

An overwhelming majority of studies on visual search and selective attention were conducted using computer screens. There are arguably shortcomings in transferring knowledge from computer-based studies to real-world search behavior as findings are based on viewing static pictures on computer screens. This does not go well with the dynamic and interactive nature of vision in the real world. It is crucial to take visual search research to the real world in order to study everyday visual search processes. The aim of the present study was to develop an interactive search paradigm that can serve as a “bridge” between classical computerized search and everyday interactive search. We based our search paradigm on simple LEGO® bricks arranged on tabletop trays to ensure comparability with classical computerized visual search studies while providing room for easily increasing the complexity of the search environment. We found that targets were grasped slower when there were more distractors (Experiment 1) and there were sizable differences between various search conditions (Experiment 2), largely in line with classical visual search research and revealing similarities to research in natural scenes. Therefore, our paradigm can be seen as a valuable asset complementing visual search research in an environment between computerized search and everyday search.

Highlights

We investigated the difference between color, shape and conjunction searches in an interactive real-world setting
We found that feature searches were fast searches in an interactive real-world setting
This is at odds with the computerized search literature, in which it is typically found that conjunction searches are generally slower than feature searches [2,18]

Summary

Introduction

We have searched for our keys, an important note on the desk or even a familiar person in a crowd. We have to search because we lack the capacity to identify our entire environment at once [1]. While early visual search experiments were presented on a tachistoscope [2], an overwhelming majority of visual search studies nowadays have been conducted using computer screens [3]. These all make use of peripheral response mechanisms that do not involve direct interaction with the search targets. Research often relies on simple static stimuli in extremely simplified search paradigms [2]

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