The impact of snap-to-target on speed and accuracy in a Go/No-Go target detection task

- Determine the effect of snap-to-target functionality on speed and accuracy during a timed Go/No-Go task.

- Baseline speed and accuracy data from Mensen et al. (2024), which required a motor task, were compared to data that implemented a snap-to-target modification to determine if replacing the motor task with automation would affect speed and accuracy performance.

- Participants performed an online Go/No-Go agricultural based detection task, where they selected Go stimuli presented as images of weeds but were required to withhold on No-Go stimuli presented as images of soybean plants.

- The present study which removed the motor task utilized in Mensen et al. (2024) demonstrated a decreased response time for stimuli that previously required a motor task, but there was a clear speed accuracy trade-off. The previously observed accuracy benefits observed in Mensen et al. (2024) when a motor task was required were not present in the current study.

- Implementation of snap-to-target capabilities, while decreasing response time, presents serious issues if implemented for tasks where high levels of accuracy are desired or required. The results of the study show that designers should be cautious of the accuracy implications particularly for the ability to withhold to infrequent or unexpected stimuli when implementing a snap-to-target system.

Confirms a serious human factors liability of automated target detection and snap-to-target systems.