Abstract
Visual attention is essential to select and process relevant visual information while filtering out irrelevant stimuli. Thus, the visual attentional function is critical for aviation workers to perform workplace tasks effectively and safely. Emerging extended reality technology, including virtual and augmented reality, is increasingly used in aviation. This technology may heavily impact the user’s visual attentional processing due to its innovative methods of presenting visual information to the users, as well as its technical limitations. We reviewed various extended reality applications in aviation, which may involve differential demands and challenges for aviation workers’ attentional performance. Then, we presented a multifaceted construct of attention involving distinct functions such as alerting, orienting, executive, and spatial attention. Prior research suggests that alerting, orienting, and executive attention may have unique impacts on how effectively users can process virtual cues presented via extended reality and resolve conflict in the combination of virtual and physical visual stimuli. Cluttering and decluttering in extended reality may significantly impact executive attentional performance. Furthermore, head-mounted display (HMD) extended reality may change the spatial distribution of visual attention due to its restricted field of view and use of a cluttered focal visual field. Future research is warranted to investigate whether this innovative extended reality technology could present significant, possibly permanent, changes to the user’s various attentional functions.
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Valentin, Y., Choi, H. (2023). Visual Attention in Extended Reality and Implications for Aviation Safety. In: Chen, J.Y.C., Fragomeni, G. (eds) Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14027. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35634-6_42
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