Visual Searches

You probably notice every day that some objects in theenvironment are easier to notice than other objects. For example,workers at sports stadiums often wear bright yellow shirts, whichare very easy to see. While the crowd may blend in together, theworkers are prominent and are easy to notice when you want a drinkor something to eat. In this assignment, you will further explorehow people engage in visual searches and what features of astimulus make a search easier.

Think of a time when you had to locate someone in a crowd, suchas a participant in a parade, a friend in a packed theater, or arunner in a marathon. Based on your experience, respond to thefollowing:

Were you successful in locating the person? What strategy didyou use?

Did your search make use of the pop-out effect? How? If not, howmight using the pop-out effect have resulted in a successful orquicker search?

Did you conduct a conjunctive search? If yes, how did the numberof distracters and features affect your search?

Using the principles thereof, how would you make material in along e-mail stand out in order to ensure that the reader noticesit?

Visual searches are also very important in warnings. Warningsneed to stand out from their background. The warning must first benoticed, then read and understood. For example, a stick figurecould be performing an ambiguous action and have an \"X\" through it.You therefore understand that while you are not supposed to performsome action, you do not understand what that action actuallyis.

Give two examples of a poor warning. Did you understand them?Why did you have difficulties with them? What features could bemodified to make the warnings more effective?