Evaluating Adaptive Multisensory Displays for Target Localization in a Flight Task

This study was designed to determine the efficacy of providing target location information via head-coupled visual and spatial audio displays presented in adaptive and nonadaptive configurations. Twelve United States Air Force pilots performed a simulated flight task in which they were instructed to maintain flight parameters while searching for ground and air targets. The integration of visual displays with spatial audio cueing enhanced performance efficiency, especially when targets were most difficult to detect. Several of the interface conditions were also associated with lower ratings of perceived mental workload. The benefits associated with multisensory cueing were equivalent in both adaptive and nonadaptive configurations.