Engineering topics

Klapp, S. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Klapp, S. T..

4 records

NASA NTRS1986

Hesitation in tracking induced by a concurrent manual task

When people are required to track with one hand and perform occasional discrete responses with the other hand, there is a strong possibility that errors will be induced in tracking attributable to the simultaneous action by the other. This problem was investigated by pairing pursuit tracking (right hand) with a handle movement response (left hand) guided by an auditory stimulus. Tracking is assumed to represent flight control and the left hand response to represent other aspects of aircraft system management. The general goal of this research is to identify the types of errors induced into tracking by the requirement of a secondary response with the other hand. An attempt is reported to determine if hesitations can be reduced further by combining tracking emphasis with a higher degree of practice. It is concluded that there is a tendency to freeze the tracking response when a discrete simultaneous response is required of the other hand. By contrast, practice seems to reduce hesitations while also improving left hand reaction time. Thus there appears to be a mode of control which permits tracking and discrete simultaneous responses to occur together.

Kelly, P. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Hesitations in continuous tracking induced by a concurrent discrete task

Subjects performed a continuous visually-guided pursuit tracking task with the right hand. From time to time (intervals averaging 30 sec) an auditory tone appeared signaling the subjects to perform a discrete response with the left hand. The presence of this tone was frequently associated with a hesitation in right-hand tracking which lasted 1/3 sec or longer. The rate of occurrence of these hesitations was about the same when the left-hand response involved a choice between competing responses as when the left hand responded in a predetermined direction. Hesitations occurred for three different mechanical tracking manipulanda using different controlling muscles, and appeared to be due to freezing rather than to relaxation of muscular action. The rate of occurrence of hesitations declined with practice, and this improvement in right-hand performance was accompanied by an improvement in performance of the concurrent left-hand response. The presence of hesitations, and their reduction with practice, can be interpreted within several viewpoints.

Klapp, S. T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

On marching to two different drummers - Perceptual aspects of the difficulties

Three experiments which reveal that the difficulties involved in processing conflicting rhythms occur when monitoring a stimuli and indicating termination of one rhythmic sequence or tapping with one hand are described. The relation between perceiving and acting in temporal tapping tasks is studied. The effects of varying temporal compatibility on perceptual monitoring and one-hand tapping are examined. It is observed that the difficulty of two-handed tapping to polyrhythms with two different tones decreases as pitch differences between tones decrease, and the difficulty of rhythmic coordination can be perceptually controlled. It is noted that the evaluation of polyrhythmic performance provides a useful means of examining the interactions of perceptual and motor organizations.

Klapp, S. T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Types of Tracking Errors Induced by Concurrent Secondary Manual Task

Future one-man helicopters may require the pilot to control flight with one hand, and simultaneously manipulate other instruments using the other hand. The nature of errors induced in a right hand tracking task (simulating flight control) when responses are required by the left hand are examined. The present experiment focused on detection of hesitations in which the tracking joy stick remained motionless for 1/3 sec. or longer.

Klapp, S. T.↗