Research Group
Modern Human-Machine Systems [MoSys]
Modern working environments contain an ever increasing number of information and communication systems aimed at supporting and taking advantage of cognitive abilities. The development and evaluation of such systems therefore requires a detailed understanding of how cognitive and psychophysiological factors play a role in human-machine interactions. However, these factors are often ignored in favor of marketing and technical arguments. The goal of our research group is to apply current concepts and methodologies from the domains of cognitive psychology and psychophysiology to study perception-, decision- and action-related processes in the context of modern working environments.
Scientific Members
Current Research
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Field of Research "Attention in 3D Space"
Cognitive psychology has traditionally focused on visual attention mechanisms in 2D (planar) space. One aim of our research is to determine whether and to what degree these mechanisms generalize to the processing of information in virtual and real 3D space (in particular, in depth) (more ...). -
Field of Research "Action Preparation"
Basic research has shown that providing people with adequate advance information helps them to respond faster and more accurately. We assess how such findings may be generalized to technical environments.Specifically, we investigate how advance information about temporal and spatial movement parameters can help to prepare driving maneuvres (more ...). -
Field of Research "Perception-Action Interactions"
In addition to studying how perceptual processes are linked and influence action-related processes, we are interested in how the planning and execution of actions can guide and sometimes interfere with perception (more ...). -
Intergroup Research Initiative "Head-Up Displays"
(Research groups "Individual Visual Performance" and "Modern Human-Machine Systems")
Head-up displays (HUDs) are transparent displays in which information is presented to an observer without blocking their view. There is an increasing use of HUDs in modern cars and their primary advantage is that drivers can obtain relevant information without looking away from the road. Problems related to the use of such displays may arise, however, because of the costs associated with switching and/or dividing the focus of attention between the HUD and other sources of environmental information (more ...).
Research Facilities
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Virtual-Reality Laboratory: This laboratory is equipped with various devices that allow us to present 3D stimuli and create virtual environments: Autostereoscopic displays, head-mounted displays, shutter glasses, and half-way mirror systems. For 3D motion tracking we employ Flock of Birds, Optotrak (Certus) and data gloves.
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EEG and Behavioral Laboratories: Two laboratories are equipped with 72-channel EEG-recording systems and devices for presenting 2D and 3D visual stimuli with a high spatial and temporal resolution. Furthermore, there are three behavioral labs available with different setups for 3D stimulus presentation (shutter glasses, stereo beamers, and half-way mirror systems).
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Additional Possibilities:
- Bodyscanner
- Head- and non-head-mounted eye-tracking
- Force measurement and haptic feedback
Current Funding
- 2009 - 2013 European Commission: Marie Curie Initial Training Network Grant, ADAPTATION: Drivers' behavioural adaptation over time in response to ADAS use. Project at the IfADo: Adaptation in different age groups to ADAS: Effects of practice
- 2009 - 2010 Federal Highway Research Institute, Verkehrssicherheitsrelevante Leistungspotenziale, Defizite und Kompensationsmöglichkeiten [Road traffic safety: Performance abilities, deficits, and compensation]
- 2009 - 2010 German Social Accident Insurance / German Road Safety Council, Fahrleistung depressiver Patienten unter Einwirkung von Escitalopram [Driving performance in depressed patients under the influence of escitalopram]
- 2006 - 2012 Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Entwicklung und Umsetzung eines Verwertungskonzeptes zur Verbesserung der schutz-rechtlichen Sicherung und Professionalisierung der Verwertung am IfADo [Development and application of an intellectual property framework for the IfADo]
- 2006 - 2011 German Research Foundation, Positive und negative Effekte von Head-Up-Displays in Kraftfahrzeugen und ihre psychischen Grundlagen [Positive and negative effects of head-up displays in car driving]
Cooperation Partners
- Prof. Dr. Günther Knoblich, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Prof. Dr. Cathleen Moore, Dr. Elisabeth Hein, University of Iowa, USA
- Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Prinz, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- PD Dr. Rosa Maria Puca, University of Paderborn, Germany
- Prof. Dr. Michael Stark, University of Applied Sciences Dortmund, Germany
- Dr. Jan Zwickel, University of Munich, Germany
- PROvendis GmbH: Intellectual property support
Selected Publications
- Hofmann, P., Rinkenauer, G., & Gude, D. (2010). Preparing lane changes while driving in a fixed-base simulator: Effects of advance information about direction and amplitude on reaction time and steering kinematics. Transportation Research Part F, 13, 255-268.
- Sülzenbrück, S., Hegele, M., Heuer, H., & Rinkenauer, G. (in press). Generalized slowing is not that general in older adults: Evidence from a tracing task. Occupational Ergonomics.
- Grosjean, M., Zwickel, J., & Prinz, W. (2009). Acting while perceiving: Assimilation precedes contrast. Psychological Research, 73, 3-13.
- Moore, C. M., Hein, E., Grosjean, M., & Rinkenauer, G. (2009). Limited influence of perceptual organization on the precision of attentional control. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics, 71, 971-983.
- Rinkenauer, G., & Grosjean, M. (2009). Altersabhängigkeiten der visuell-räumlichen Aufmerksamkeitsverteilung im dreidimensionalen Raum [Age dependencies in the visuo-spatial distribution of attention in three-dimensional space]. In Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft (Ed.), Arbeit, Beschäftigungsfähigkeit und Produktivität im 21. Jahrhundert [Work, employability and productivity in the 21st century] (pp. 69-72). Dortmund: GfA Press.
- Gude, D., Bräuning, C., & Stark, M. (2008). ErgoViz - Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur ergonomischen Darstellung räumlicher Tiefe in virtuellen Umgebungen. In Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft (Eds.), Produkt- und Produktions-Ergonomie - Aufgabe für Entwickler und Planer [Product and production ergonomics - Challenges for developers and planers] (pp. 725-728). Dortmund: GfA Press.
- Hofmann, P., Rinkenauer, G., & Gude, D. (2008). Head-up-displays support response preparation in a lane change task. In Proceedings of the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (pp. 1233-1237). Santa Monica, CA: HFES.
- Rinkenauer, G., & Grosjean, M. (2008). Mapping the distribution of focused visual attention in real 3D space: Potential implications for interface design. Zeitschrift für Arbeitswissenschaft, 62, 145-155.
- Schankin, A., & Wascher, E. (2008). Unvoluntary attentional capture in change blindness. Psychophysiology, 45, 742-750.
- Grosjean, M., Shiffrar, M., Knoblich, G. (2007). Fitts's law holds for action perception. Psychological Science, 18, 95-99.
- Gude, D. (2007). Kompetenzentwicklung im Bereich der ergonomischen Systemanalyse mit labor- und webgestützten Techniken der virtuellen Realität. In Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft (Eds.), Kompetenzentwicklung in realen und virtuellen Arbeitssystemen (pp. 287-290). Dortmund: GfA Press.
- Hackley, S. A., Schankin, A., Wohlschlaeger, A., & Wascher, E. (2007). Localization of temporal preparation effects via trisected reaction time. Psychophysiology, 44, 334-338.
- Rolke, B., & Hofmann, P. (2007). Temporal uncertainty degrades perceptual processing. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14, 522-526.
- Rinkenauer, G., & Grosjean, M. (2007). Aufmerksamkeitsprozesse in realen und virtuellen dreidimensionalen Umgebungen [Attentional processes in real and virtual three-dimensional environments]. In M. Rötting, G. Wozny, A. Klostermann & J. Huss (Eds.), Prospektive Gestaltung von Mensch-Technik-Interaktion [Prospective design of human-machine interaction] (pp. 471-476). Düsseldorf: VDI Press.
