A pilot study of the impact of animation on decision-making

Recent years have seen the introduction and growth of graphical animation in simulation. Animation is frequently extolled for its use as a debugging aid, as a communication aid, and as a decision aid. This paper reports on a pilot study that was undertaken to measure the impact of animation as a decision aid. Two versions of a simulation model of a flexible manufacturing system were developed; one with animation and one without. Subjects were given a problem scenario involving a design decision concerning the flexible manufacturing system. Half were given the animated simulation model as a tool to assist in the design decision and half were given the nonaminated simulation model. The assingment of subjects to type of simulation model was made randomly. The results of the experiment are presented in terms of five variables: decision quality, decision speed, task performance, problem comprehension, and viewer preference. Based on this pilot study, suggestions are made for improving the experimental design of future studies.