Time-Critical Supportive Augmented Reality – Issues on Cognitive Capture and Perceptional Tunnelling

Augmented Reality (AR) enables user-centred applications. The user can use additional information to execute his work. But in case of time critical tasks, supplementary information can become a drawback. Such tasks, as driving a car or performing a surgery, require the full attention of the user. Any supplementary information can probably gather the user’s attention too long, generating the risk of causing serious harm. In the two given examples, accidents can occur or an artery, for instance, could loose too much blood. This effect is not only based on the additional information in general, but on two special factors [4]: Perceptual Tunnelling and Cognitive Capture.