title: Effect of background scene complexity and field dependence on the legibility of head-up displays for automotive applications.
abstract: This study examined the legibility of information presented on head-up displays (HUDs) for automotive application as a function of background scene complexity, the position of the HUD within field of view relative to the background scene, and the perceptual capacity of the perceiver. Groups of field-dependent and field-independent subjects viewed video footage from the perspective of following a lead car on an open road with low, moderate, and high scene complexity. Subjects were required to track the lead vehicle and identify HUD-presented targets of a specified orientation and specified changes in a HUD-presented speedometer. The results indicate that (a) HUD legibility deteriorated with increased visual complexity of the background scene; (b) positioning the HUD on the roadway reduced the effect of background scene complexity on HUD legibility; and (c) field-dependent subjects made fewer correct and more false positive target identifications than did field-independent subjects.
authors.affiliation: Loughborough University of Technology, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parkes
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Crone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001336:Automobiles; D003198:Computer Simulation; D016288:Computer Terminals; D003626:Data Display; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D005364:Field Dependence-Independence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009949:Orientation; D014796:Visual Perception