A wearable surveillance system: implications for human memory and performance
Baber Chris, Sutherland Andrew, Cross James, Woolley Sandra · 2023
In this paper, the potential application of wearable imaging equipment for search and surveillance tasks is explored from the perspective of engineering psychology. In particular, the study reported in the paper is aimed at addressing the question of whether such technology imposes constraints on the ability of users to search for, and remember, targets in the real environment. The study compares two means of capturing images, i.e., an instamatic camera versus wearable imaging equipment, against a control condition, i.e., no technology. It was assumed that the technology would affect both the search strategy employed and the participants’ ability to remember the targets in a subsequent recall task. The results demonstrate that the camera significantly enhances search activity, but that there is little difference between the control and wearable imaging conditions in terms of search-time and targets found. Furthermore, performance on the recall task suggests that the camera impairs participants’ ability to recall targets, and the wearable imaging device affects sequencing of information.