Efficiency of searchpatterns

Search theory deals with the efficiency of covering searchpatterns; a classical example is systematic row search with sweep spacing dependent upon window size. Human visual search is a function of contrast and size of the targets and of effective visual lobe size, this latter influenced by clutter and foveal load. Human searchpatterns often are optimal covers. Experimental results presented in this paper demonstrate that this is true for instrumental search with display windows controlled by human subjects and quantified with a formula for efficiency. Visual searchpatterns using free eye movements often develop complex irregular sequential searchpatterns.