Multitasking Tug-of-War: Exploring the Impact of Task Modality, Task Load Level, and Task Load Type on Dual-Task...

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Cognitive Psychology
• Virtual Reality

Background:

• Dual-task interference is a known phenomenon where performing two tasks simultaneously degrades performance.
• Perceptual modality and task load are established factors influencing dual-task interference.
• The interplay of these factors within immersive virtual reality (VR) environments remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of task modality (visual, auditory), task load level, and task load type on dual-task interference in VR.
• To examine how target-distractor similarity and display rate impact performance decrements during dual-tasking.
• To understand the interaction between task characteristics and dual-task costs in immersive virtual environments.

Main Methods:

• Participants engaged in visual tracking and visual/auditory detection tasks, both individually and concurrently in VR.
• Experiment 1 manipulated tracking task load (target-distractor similarity) and detection task load (display rate).
• Experiment 2 manipulated detection task load via target-distractor similarity.

Main Results:

• Increased detection task load significantly elevated dual-task costs (DTC) in the detection task, irrespective of modality.
• Tracking task DTC was unaffected by increased tracking task loads.
• Higher detection task loads led to greater DTC in visual detection tasks but not auditory ones.

Conclusions:

• Tasks sharing the same perceptual modality may experience heightened dual-task interference.
• The degree of interference depends on the specific task load levels and types encountered.
• Findings can guide the design of effective multimodal interfaces for high-workload scenarios.