A comparison of semantic and spatial stimulus-response compatibility effects for human-machine interface design

The effects of semantic and spatial stimulus-response (S-R) compatibility were examined and compared with the use of an auditory choice reaction task paradigm in this experiment. Twenty-two participants responded to speech and non-speech signals presented at the left and right ears and were asked to respond to different conditions of congruence and incongruence of semantic and location codes of signals and responses. The results showed that participants processed the non-speech signals faster than the speech signals. The presence of both semantic and spatial compatibility for signals and responses was found to improve reaction time and response accuracy. Compared with spatial compatibility, the effect of semantic compatibility influences human performance more. Based on the results, practical ergonomics recommendations for enhanced human-machine interfaces were formulated which help industrial designers to improve overall system performance in machinery and equipment design. [Received 30 June 2010; Revised 5 January 2011; Accepted 18 April 2011]