Interface Familiarity Restores Active Advantage in a Virtual Exploration and Reconstruction Task in Children

Abstract

Active exploration is reportedly better than passive observation of spatial displacements in real environments, for the acquisition of relational spatial information, especially by children. However, a previous study using a virtual environment (VE) showed that children in a passive observation condition performed better than actives when asked to reconstruct in reality the environment explored virtually. Active children were unpractised in using the input device, which may have detracted from any active advantage, since input device operation may be regarded as a concurrent task, increasing cognitive load and spatial working memory demands. To examine this possibility, 7–8-year-old children in the present study were given 5 minutes of training with the joystick input device. When compared with passive participants for spatial learning, active participants gave a better performance than passives, placing objects significantly more accurately. The importance of interface training when using VEs for assessment and training was discussed.     

Advanced Data Management Experiment

This project is to demonstrate and refine a computer programming concept known as Generalized Data Management as exemplified by the Advanced Data Management (ADAM) System developed by the MITRE Corporation for the Electronic Systems Division/MITRE Systems Design Laboratory. ADAM is designed to provide generalized routines for functions common to a large class of command and management problems. Although earlier implementations of the Generalized Data Management concept have been demonstrated, ADAM has not been demonstrated in an operational application. The Air Force Logistics Command has provided an application (Category I and IIR Consumption Item Requirements Computation System) with which to test ADAM. The Requirements System provides Logistics Command managers with information concerning stock items to buy, procurement contracts to terminate, items to repair, and budgets. ADAM implementation will provide an on-line real-time information system; the present Requirements System operates in a non-real-time batch processing mode. The usefulness of providing an on-line system, which can be easily modified, will be evaluated.