Compensatory tracking task

Screenshot of PEBL Compensatory Tracking Task

Compensatory tracking task

A compensatory tracking task is a type of experimental task used in the field of psychology and human factors engineering. It involves a participant attempting to keep a moving target centered on a display screen by manipulating a control input. The task is designed to assess the participant's ability to make continuous adjustments in response to a changing stimulus.

Overview

In a compensatory tracking task, the participant is typically presented with a visual display that includes a moving target, such as a moving dot or cursor. The participant's goal is to use a control input, such as a joystick or mouse, to keep the target centered on the screen as accurately as possible. The difficulty of the task can be varied by adjusting the speed and trajectory of the target.

History

Compensatory tracking tasks have been used in research since the mid-20th century. They were originally developed to study human performance in tracking moving targets, particularly in the context of aviation and other high-stakes environments where precise manual control is required.

Applications

Compensatory tracking tasks have been used in a variety of research areas, including studies of motor control, attention, and decision-making. They are also used in the design and evaluation of human-machine interfaces, such as aircraft controls and video game controllers.

Variants

There are several variants of compensatory tracking tasks, including pursuit tracking tasks, in which the participant must predict the future position of the target, and compensatory tracking tasks with added cognitive load, such as dual-task paradigms.

See also

• Motor control
• Human factors engineering
• Attention
• Decision-making