What does the Oscilloscope Say?: Comparing the Efficiency of In-Situ Visualisations during Circuit Analysis

Traditional measuring devices separate probes from their data visualisation, requiring the operator to switch attention between their metering and result frequently. We explored the efficiency of four different visualisation modalities during a circuit analysis task that utilises the output of an oscilloscope. We argue that the spatial alignment of an oscilloscope's display and probe interferes with the cognitive processing of data visualisations, hence increasing the probability of errors and required time. We compared a fixed placed oscilloscope, in-situ projections, user positioned tablets, and head-mounted display while measuring completion times, subjective workload, number of errors, and personal preferences after each task. Results indicate that the oscilloscope produced the lowest completion time compared to other modalities. However, visualising data on a user positioned tablet or through in-situ projections yielded lower subjective workload and a lower number of errors. We discuss how our work generalises for assistive systems that support practitioners during their training in circuit analysis.