A comparison of sequential and spatial displays in a complex monitoring task

A sequential or RAP COM (rapid communication) display was compared with a more conventional spatial display as participants monitored dynamically changing sets of three-digit numbers and responded to occasional target stimuli. In an effort to equate the stimulus-response compatibility of the two displays, we had participants respond to the targets with a chord keyboard in Experiment 1 and vocally in Experiment 2. We examined the influence of display duration on performance with the RAP COM and spatial formats by presenting stimuli at three different durations (400, 800, and 1200 ms). The influence of practice on performance with the RAP COM and spatial displays was also investigated. Participants responded to targets more quickly in the RAP COM than in the spatial displays at each of the three presentation durations and across more than 2000 trials of practice. Accuracy was influenced by the display presentation duration. Accuracy was higher for the RAP COM than for the spatial display at the 800-ms stimulus presentation duration in Experiment 1 and at the 800- and 1200-ms presentation durations in Experiment 2. The results are discussed in terms of the potential utility of RAP COM displays for complex, real-world systems.