This research study aims to determine if the visual medium is capable of significant discomfort and distraction.
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The purpose of this was to explore a less direct approach of riot control, but has been brought down to explore the idea in general for the sake of the experimentation and to be less contentious.
Methodology
Abstract images are a great way to investigate the specific mechanics as to why certain visual effects can cause discomfort and/or distraction.
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Additionally abstract images are not specific and most importantly not explicit, avoiding obvious issues of disturbing images that would not be considered humane or legal.
- An abstract image used in the experiment
For this experiment, participants were shown a set of 10 abstract images, including two neutral images that acted both as a buffer and control. Participants were seated at a distance of 1/2 a meter from a 17 inch, 60Hz monitor with full brightness and default color settings. Behind the monitor was a dark grey wall.
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Two of the images were abstract grayscale illusions. One of the images was a grayscale grid formation. One of the images was a pattern of complimentary colors. Two of the images were blurry collection of colors. Two of the images were non-complimentary high contrast colors.
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Each image was shown for 10 seconds, with a break in between for the participants to rate each image. Participants rated each image on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being of highest discomfort and 1 being not affected at all.
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Participants were asked additional questions prior to the experiment such as age range, visual ability and their thoughts on the sensitivity of the eyes. Additional questions after the experiment were done in a casual manner, allowing the participant to say as much or as little as they like.
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Changes were made to the methodology because in the initial experiment of 24 images with half of the images being neutral, participants voiced concerns that it was too much to take in. Additionally their response to each image became more severe after 12 images as they became more uncomfortable and strained. Participants also grew wary of the neutral images and began rating them as "slightly uncomfortable".
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As such it was decided that it was best to cut down the experiment and to make it short, ensuring that the participants' response to each image was individual and not affected by the running time of the experiment. The experiment was cut down to 10 images and as such only two of those images were "neutral", as the time between each image could act as a buffer.
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Results & Data
Majority of the participants found the images with color were more discomforting than grayscale. However there were a considerable amount of people who found the neutral images (images 4, & 7) to affect them. Images 1 & 2 which were the grayscale illusions and image 10 which was a high-contrast non-complimentary color image were the top 3 images that most participants found discomforting.
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Participants found the high-contrast non-complimentary color image (image 10) affected them more than the color pattern (image 3).
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A total of 50 people participated in the experiment. Majority of the participants were in the age range of 18 to 24. Majority of the participants were also Male.
Reflection
In reflection, this experiment could have been constructed better to eliminate the significant variation in rating from participants. Additionally this experiment could have narrowed more on the use of the visual medium to distract / cause discomfort in a person from their purpose.
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Another remedy which would have allowed for more images yet eliminated the strain and time affected bias would have been ideal for a much better experiment which would have yielded more data to investigate patterns and specific mechanics.
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A larger sample size would have also been ideal and most likely allowed for more data to find a pattern and for more significant majorities to develop.
Conclusion
Although in totals participants seemed to be more affected by colors and non-patterns, the actual difference between each total are not exactly major and each individual response varied significantly. This highlights that the visual medium is a very unique and individual thing, with people having different sensitivities and tolerances.
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The experiment could have been constructed better to eliminate significant variation and to narrow on the original intention to distract / cause discomfort a person from their purpose.
The visual medium is a viable means to distract / cause discomfort in a person but its effectiveness was not found to be consistent in this experiment.