Abstract:
Visual workload demand within the cockpit is reaching saturation, whereas the
haptic sense (proprioceptive and tactile sensation) is relatively untapped,
despite studies suggesting the benefits of haptic displays.
MRT suggests that inputs from haptic displays will not interfere with inputs from
visual or auditory displays. MRT is based on the premise that multisensory
integration occurs only after unisensory processing. However, recent
neuroscientific findings suggest that the distinction between unisensory versus
multisensory processing is much more blurred than previously thought.
This programme of work had the following two research objectives:
1. To examine whether multiple haptic inputs can be processed at the same
time without performance decrement
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Study One
2. To examine whether haptic inputs can be processed at the same time as
visual or auditory inputs without performance decrement
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Study Two
In Study One participants performed dual-tasks, consisting of same-sense
tasks (tactile or proprioceptive) or different-sense tasks (tactile and
proprioceptive). These tasks also varied in terms of processing code, in line with
MRT. The results found significantly more performance decrement for the
same-sense dual-tasks than for the different-sense dual-tasks, in accordance
with MRT, suggesting that performance will suffer if two haptic displays of the
same type are used concurrently. An adjustment to the MRT model is
suggested to incorporate these results.
In Study Two, participants performed different-sense dual-tasks, consisting of
auditory or visual tasks with tactile or proprioceptive tasks. The tasks also
varied in terms of processing code. Contrary to MRT, the results found that
when processing code was different, there was significant performance
decrement for all of the dual-tasks, but not when processing code was the
same. These results reveal an exception to two key MRT rules, the sensory
resource rule and the processing code rule. It is suggested that MRT may be
oversimplistic and other factors highlighted by recent neuroscientific research
should be taken into account in theories of dual-task performance.
