Automated visual attention manipulation

Abstract

In this paper a system for visual attention manipulation is introduced and formally described. This system is part of the design of a software agent that supports naval crew in her task to compile a tactical picture of the situation in the field. A case study is described in which the system is used to manipulate a human subject's attention. To this end the system includes a Theory of Mind about human attention and uses this to estimate the subject's current attention, and to determine how features of displayed objects have to be adjusted to make the attention shift in a desired direction. Manipulation of attention is done by adjusting illumination according to the calculated difference between a model describing the subject's attention and a model prescribing it. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.