Influence of Different Fields of View on Decision-Making in a Search-and-Shoot Scenario

Indirect visual displays (IVDs) play a significant role in providing full-spectrum views of the immediate environment in closed systems (e.g., tanks). However, currently little is known about how different fields of views (FoVs) in IVDs influence operator's decision-making in scenarios requiring search and shoot operations. The primary objective of this study was to determine the influence of varying degrees of FoVs on human decision-making in a terrainbased search-and-shoot scenario. A total of 25 participants performed in two FoV designs that were presented to them in a random order: A 180*2 FoV, where the computer screen was split into two sections (top and bottom) and each section provided a 180° FoV of the outside scene (front and back); and, a 90*4 FoV, where the computer screen was split into four sections, where each section provided a 90° FoV of the outside scene (front, back, left, and right). Results revealed that performance was better, frustration was less, and effort was less in the 180*2 FoV compared to the 90*4 FoV; however, the mental demand was more in the 180*2 FoV compared to the 90*4 FoV. We highlight the implication of our results for operator's decision-making in IVD tasks.