Useful Field of View Task¶
HED Task ID: hedtsk_useful_field_of_view
Also known as: Useful Field of View, UFOV
Brief central identification combined with peripheral localization under increasing distractor and divided-attention load; thresholds index processing speed and divided attention.
Description¶
The Useful Field of View test measures the visual field area over which information can be rapidly extracted without eye or head movements. It consists of three subtests of increasing complexity: (1) central target identification (processing speed), (2) central identification with simultaneous peripheral target localization (divided attention), and (3) the same dual-task with embedded distractors (selective attention). Each subtest uses a staircase procedure to determine the shortest display duration achieving 75% accuracy. The UFOV was originally developed for assessing driving fitness in older adults and has become the standard measure of functional visual attention, with strong predictive validity for crash risk, instrumental activities of daily living, and cognitive decline.
Inclusion test¶
Procedure |
Three subtests of increasing demand: central target identification, divided attention (central + peripheral targets simultaneously), and selective attention (peripheral target among distractors). |
Manipulation |
Display duration (thresholded per subtest); distractor density; eccentricity of peripheral target. |
Measurement |
Display duration threshold for 75% accuracy per subtest; UFOV composite score; correlation with driving safety measures. |
Variations¶
Variation |
Description |
Justification |
|---|---|---|
Subtest 1: Central Processing Speed |
Identify a central target (car or truck) at varying display durations. |
Central target discrimination; measures processing speed component |
Subtest 2: Divided Attention |
Central identification plus localization of a peripheral target. |
Central + peripheral target; divided attention component |
Subtest 3: Selective Attention |
Subtest 2 with distracting triangles surrounding the peripheral target. |
Peripheral target with distractors; selective attention component |
UFOV with Varying Eccentricities |
Peripheral targets at different distances from center. |
Peripheral target at different distances; tests eccentricity function |
Cognitive processes¶
This task engages the following cognitive processes:
Key references¶
{‘authors’: ‘Ball, K., Owsley, C., Roenker, D., & Sloane, M.’, ‘year’: 1993, ‘title’: ‘Isolating Risk Factors for Crash Frequency among Older Drivers’, ‘venue’: ‘Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting’, ‘volume’: ‘37’, ‘issue’: ‘2’, ‘pages’: ‘211-214’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1177/154193129303700212’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Ball, K., Owsley, C., Sloane, M. E., Roenker, D. L., & Bruni, J. R. (1993). Visual attention problems as a predictor of vehicle crashes in older drivers. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 34(11), 3110–3123.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1177/154193129303700212’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}
{‘authors’: ‘Edwards, J. D., Vance, D. E., Wadley, V. G., Cissell, G. M., Roenker, D. L., & Ball, K. K.’, ‘year’: 2005, ‘title’: ‘Reliability and Validity of Useful Field of View Test Scores as Administered by Personal Computer’, ‘venue’: ‘Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology’, ‘volume’: ‘27’, ‘issue’: ‘5’, ‘pages’: ‘529-543’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1080/13803390490515432’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Edwards, J. D., Vance, D. E., Wadley, V. G., Cissell, G. M., Roenker, D. L., & Ball, K. K. (2005). Reliability and validity of useful field of view test scores as administered by personal computer. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 27(5), 529–543.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1080/13803390490515432’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}
Recent references¶
{‘authors’: ‘Edwards, J. D., Lunsman, M., Perkins, M., Rebok, G. W., & Roth, D. L.’, ‘year’: 2009, ‘title’: ‘Driving Cessation and Health Trajectories in Older Adults’, ‘venue’: ‘The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences’, ‘volume’: ‘64A’, ‘issue’: ‘12’, ‘pages’: ‘1290-1295’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1093/gerona/glp114’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Edwards, J. D., Lunsman, M., Perkins, M., Rebok, G. W., & Roth, D. L. (2009). Driving cessation and health trajectories in older adults. Journals of Gerontology Series A, 64(12), 1290–1295.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glp114’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}
{‘authors’: ‘Ball, K., Edwards, J. D., & Ross, L. A.’, ‘year’: 2007, ‘title’: ‘The Impact of Speed of Processing Training on Cognitive and Everyday Functions’, ‘venue’: ‘The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences’, ‘volume’: ‘62’, ‘issue’: ‘Special_Issue_1’, ‘pages’: ‘19-31’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1093/geronb/62.special_issue_1.19’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Ball, K., Edwards, J. D., & Ross, L. A. (2007). The impact of speed of processing training on cognitive and everyday functions. Journals of Gerontology Series B, 62(Special Issue 1), 19–31.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/62.special_issue_1.19’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}
{‘authors’: ‘Wolfe, B., Dobres, J., Rosenholtz, R., & Reimer, B.’, ‘year’: 2017, ‘title’: ‘More than the Useful Field: Considering peripheral vision in driving’, ‘venue’: ‘Applied Ergonomics’, ‘venue_type’: ‘journal’, ‘journal’: ‘Applied Ergonomics’, ‘volume’: ‘65’, ‘issue’: None, ‘pages’: ‘316-325’, ‘doi’: ‘10.1016/j.apergo.2017.07.009’, ‘openalex_id’: None, ‘pmid’: None, ‘citation_string’: ‘Wolfe, B., Dobres, J., Rosenholtz, R., & Reimer, B. (2017). More than the Useful Field: Considering peripheral vision in driving. Applied Ergonomics, 65, 316–325.’, ‘url’: ‘https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2017.07.009’, ‘source’: ‘crossref’, ‘confidence’: ‘high’, ‘verified_on’: ‘2026-04-20’}