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Grids, matrices, and tables are commonly used to organize information. A number of design techniques and psychological principles address how viewers’ eyes can be guided through a visual work. Designers refer to such objectives as "creating visual flow." One common technique, “zebra-shading,” is intended to guide eyes through the grid by alternating shaded and unshaded rows or columns. However, the effects of these manipulations have largely not been explored experimentally. We will review the techniques designers use to guide the eyes of their audience, associated psychological foundations, and outline some research done on the graphic design of a specific type of grid: tables. Then, we will describe an experiment wherein participants conducted a visual search task in grids with different shading manipulations. The analysis showed data trending toward improved response time when the target followed the shading.

This study tested the effects of a motion-coupled display on task performance and self-reports of motion sickness for subjects experiencing motion at a frequency and intensity previously found to be nauseogenic. Subjects were randomly assigned to a control condition or a treatment condition. Both groups performed a simple computer game (Tetris) for a 30-minute period while moving forward and backward at 0.2 Hz in an enclosed chamber. In the treatment condition, a visual flow field whose movement was coupled to the motion of the enclosed test chamber was displayed behind and around a window in which subjects performed the computer game. For the control condition, the visual flow field elements were kept stationary. Contrary to expectations, no differences were found between the two groups on self-reported motion sickness symptoms; however, the treatment group performed significantly better than the control group on the computer game.

In order to investigate level of experienced sickness symptoms in a VR based air combat simulator, a combined methodology was used. Before, during, and after simulation the participants repeatedly answered a VR sickness symptoms questionnaire (VRSQ). In addition, before and after simulation their postural stability was measured. In order to investigate if measurements of postural stability can be made more sensitive to changes in postural stability, during the measurements a sideways rolling wide angular visual flow was presented to half of the participants. Only low levels of VR-sickness symptoms and effects on postural stability were found. However, headache caused by the Head Mounted Display was a major concern for most participants. The presentation of a visual flow during the measurements of postural stability led to generally higher levels of postural instability, but did not increase the sensitivity of the measurements.

Despite considerable efforts to diminish critical spatial disorientation incidents during flight, they persist at constant rate. In instrument meteorological conditions, significantly enhanced support of spatial orientation (SO) could be achieved by displays of peripheral visual flow with conformal horizon. Focused depth related effectiveness of peripheral visual flow needs however to be investigated because of the pilot is changing depth focus in the cockpit. This was investigated in two experiments by manipulating relative depths of peripheral/central presentations and measuring their effects on postural instability. The results show that focused depth close-by with peripheral displays further away have less impact on perceived SO than focusing further away with peripheral displays closer. We conclude that focused depth drives the effects of peripheral visual flow on SO, and implementation implications are shortly discussed.