Further In-Depth Investigation of Precuing Effect on Tracking and Discrete Dual-Task Performance with Different Spatial Mappings

The objective of this study was to establish data for making ergonomics recommendations for human-machine interface design in control consoles. The results showed significant precuing effect and spatial S-R compatibility effect, leading to different response times of the participants. Compatibility in both orientations (BC condition) resulted in a better reaction time. The performance of the primary tracking task was subject to its level of difficulty. For secondary discrete task, there was a significant effect of S-R mapping condition. There was also a significant interaction between S-R mapping conditions and the position of signal and that of precue. The same position between signal and precue under BC and TC S-R mapping led to faster reaction times, while the opposite position between signal and precue under BI and LC S-R mapping exhibited faster reaction times. Tactile precue and auditory precue can always improve the performance in reaction time for four S-R mapping conditions with visual stimulus while the visual precue worsens the performance.