An Evaluation of Alphanumeric, Graphic, and Color Information Displays

Four different types of CRT display formats were evaluated in the context of a computer-based telephone line testing system. The formats considered were narrative, which used complete words and phrases; structured, which used a tabular format; black-and-white graphics, which used a schematic of the telephone line; and color graphics, which also used a schematic but added color coding. The evaluation measured speed and accuracy of the subjects' interpretation of the displays of test results. Accuracy did not significantly vary with format but speed did. Response times for both graphic formats were consistently shorter than those for the narrative format. With additional practice, however, response times for the structured format were just as short. There was no significant difference between response times for the black-and-white graphic and color graphic formats.