Capability of the human visual system

Much of the guidance provided to designers of visual displays is highly simplified because of historical limitations of visual display hardware and software. Vast improvements have been made in processors, communication channel bandwidth, and display screen performance over the past 10 years; and the pace of these visual system improvements is accelerating. It is now time to undertake a critical review of the true performance capability of the human visual system (HVS). Designers can now expect to realize systems that optimize (increase) worker productivity rather than minimize the negative impact on human effectiveness of hardware artifacts like low resolution-spatial, gray level, and temporal-relative to the real world. Myths and realities of human vision are examined to show where some assumptions used by designers are not based on solid research. Some needed new human vision studies are identified. An ideal display system is described that would enable, rather than limit, full exploitation ofHVS capability.