The Effects of Symbol Rotation and Matrix Size on Visual Search Performance

This experiment is one of a series of studies about visual task performance with dot-matrix displays. In this study, the variables of matrix size and symbol rotation are evaluated for their effects on visual search time for familiar alphanumerics as well as for dot-matrix-formed U.S. Army symbols. The results show that increasing the size of the matrix from 7 x 9 to 9 x 11 or even to 11 x 15 dots significantly improves performance for alphanumerics as well as Army symbols, particularly for the more difficult and confusable symbols. Search accuracy improves in much the same manner as search time does.