Mary K. Kaiser

Biography

Mary K. Kaiser is a research psychologist in the Human Factors Research and Technology Division (IH) at NASA Ames Research Center. She received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Virginia, and spent two years as an NIMH postdoc in Applied Experimental Psychology at the University of Michigan. Mary joined the Aerospace Human Factors Research Division at Ames in 1985. Her areas of research include human motion perception, visually-guided control, and dynamic spatial display design. Her current research projects include Perceptually-Tuned Visual Simulation, Human Perception of Range and Closure, and Synthetic Vision. Mary is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. She and Walt Johnson hold a patent for their Double-Delta Cueing Light Configuration.

Pointers

Email:

: mkaiser@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Address:

: Mail Stop 262-2; NASA Ames Research Center; Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

Phone:

: (650) 604-4448; (650) 604-0255 (FAX)

Selected Publications

REFEREED JOURNALS

Kaiser, M. K. & Montegut, M. J. (1997). Of red planets and Indigo computers: Mars database visualization as an example of platform downsizing. Behvior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 29, 48-53.
Hecht, H., Kaiser, M. K., & Banks, M. S. (1996). Gravitational acceleration as a cue for absolute size and distance. Perception & Psychophysics, 58, 1066-1075.
Kaiser, M. K. (1996). High power graphic computers for visual simultation: A real-time rendering revolution. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 28, 233-238.
Kaiser, M. K., Montegut, M. J., & Proffitt, D. R. (1995) Rotational and translational components of motion parallax: Observers' sensitivity and implications for 3-D computer graphics. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 1, 321-331.
Kaiser, M. K. & Hecht, H. (1995). Time-to-passage judgments in non-constant optical flow fields. Perception & Psychophysics, 57, 817-825.
McBeath, M. K., Shaffer, D. M., & Kaiser, M. K. (1995) How baseball outfielders determine where to run to catch fly balls. Science, 268, 569-573.
Kellman, P. J. & Kaiser, M. K. (1995). Extracting object motion without distance information: Combining constraints from optic flow and binocular disparity. Journal of the Optical Society of America (A), 12, 623-625.
Kaiser, M. K. & Mowafy, L. (1993). Optical specification of time-to-passage: Observers' sensitivity to global tau. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 19, 1028-1040.
Kaiser, M. K. & Phatak, A. V. (1993). Things that go bump in the light: On the optical specification of contact severity. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 19, 194-202.
Kaiser, M. K. & Proffitt, D. R. (1992). Using the stereokinetic effect to convey depth: Computationally efficient depth-from-motion displays. Human Factors, 34, 583-600.
McBeath, M. K., Morikawa, K., & Kaiser, M. K. (1992). Perceptual bias for forward-facing motion. Psychological Science, 3, 362-367.
Kaiser, M. K., Proffitt, D. R., Whelan, S. M., & Hecht, H. (1992). The influence of animation on dynamical judgments. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 18, 669-690.
Kaiser, M. K. & Calderone, J. (1991). Factors influencing perceived angular velocity. Perception & Psychophysics, 50, 428-434.
Proffitt, D. R., Kaiser, M. K., & Whelan, S. M. (1990). Understanding wheel dynamics. Cognitive Psychology, 22, 342-373.
Kaiser, M. K. (1990). Angular velocity discrimination. Perception & Psychophysics, 47, 149-156.
Calderone, J. B. & Kaiser, M. K. (1989). Visual acceleration detection: Effect of sign and motion orientation. Perception & Psychophysics, 45, 391-394.
Ronis, D. L. & Kaiser, M. K. (1989). Correlates of breast self-examination in a sample of college women: Analyses of linear structural relations. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 19, 1068-1084.
Proffitt, D. R., Gilden, D. L., Kaiser, M. K., & Whelan, S. M. (1988). The effect of configural orientation on apparent motion. Perception & Psychophysics, 43, 465-474.
Kaiser, M. K. & Proffitt, D. R. (1987). Observers' sensitivity to dynamic anomalies in collisions. Perception & Psychophysics, 42, 275-280.
Proffitt, D. R. & Kaiser, M. K. (1986). The use of computer graphics animation in motion perception research. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 18, 487-492.
Kaiser, M. K., Jonides, J., & Alexander, J. (1986). Intuitve reasoning on abstract and familiar physics problems. Memory & Cognition, 14, 308-312.
Kaiser, M. K., McCloskey, M., & Proffitt, D. R. (1986). Development of intuitive theories of motion: Curvilinear motion in the absence of external forces. Developmental Psychology, 22, 67-71.
Kaiser, M. K., Proffitt, D. R., & McCloskey, M. (1985). The development of beliefs about falling objects. Perception & Psychophysics, 38, 533-539.
Kaiser, M. K., Proffitt, D. R., & Anderson, K. (1985). Judgments of natural and anomalous trajectories in the presence and absence of motion. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 11, 795-803.
O'Brien, R. G. & Kaiser, M. K. (1985). The MANOVA approach for analyzing repeated measures designs: An extensive primer. Psychological Bulletin, 97, 316-333.

BOOKS AND CHAPTERS

Kaiser, M. K. (1998). The perception of dynamical constancies. In V. Walsh & J. Kulikowski (Eds.), Perceptual constancies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Proffitt, D. R. & Kaiser, M. K. (1998). Mental structure hypothesized as internalized physical structure. In J. Hochberg (Ed.), Perception and cognition at century's end: History, philosophy, theory. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
Proffitt, D. R. & Kaiser, M. K. (1995). Perceiving events. In W. Epstein and S. J. Rogers (Eds.), Handbook of perception and cognition, volume 5: Perception of space and motion. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
Kaiser, M. K., Jonides, J., & Alexander, J. (1991). Intuitive reasoning about abstract and familiar physics problems. In R. P. Honeck, T. J. S. Case, & M. J. Firment (Eds.), Introductory Readings for Cognitive Psychology. Guilford, CT: Dushkin Publishing Group.
Proffitt, D. R. & Kaiser, M. K. (1991). Perceiving environmental properties from motion information: Minimal conditions. In S. R. Ellis, M. K. Kaiser, & A. J. Grunwald (Eds.), Pictorial communication in virtual and real environments. London: Taylor & Francis.
Ellis, S. R., Kaiser, M. K., & Grunwald, A. J. (1991). Pictorial communication in virtual and real environments. London: Taylor & Francis (2nd Edition, 1993).

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Kaiser, M. K. (1998). The surface operations research and evaluation vehicle (SOREV): A testbed for HSCT taxi issues. Paper 985558, World Aviation Conference.
Kaiser, M. K. (1998) Perceptual properties of immersive environments: Differentiating necessary, sufficient, and nice. SIGGRAPH98 Course Notes 38, Immersive Environments: Research, Applications, and Magic.
McCandless, J. W. & Kaiser, M. K. (1997). Obstacle detection in air-to-air images. In J. G. Verly (Ed.), Enhanced and Synthetic Vision 1997: SPIE Proceedings Volume 3088.
Proffit, D. R. & Kaiser, M. K. (1996). Hi-Lo stereo fusion. Visual Proceedings of SIGGRAPH96, pp. 146.
Johnson, W. W. & Kaiser, M. K. (1996). Virtual windows for vehicle simulation. Proceedings of the 1996 IMAGE Conference.
Johnson, W. W. & Kaiser, M. K. (1995). Perspective imagery in synthetic scenes used to control and guide aircraft during landing and taxi: Some issues and concerns. In J. G. Verly (Ed.), Synthetic Vision for Vehicle Guidance and Control: SPIE Proceedings Volume 2463, 194-204.
Kellman, P. J. & Kaiser, M. K. (1994). Perceptual learning modules in flight training. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 38th Annual Meeting.
Kaiser, M. K. & Jenkins, J. P. (1994). Enhanced/synthetic vision systems for advanced flight decks. SID International Symposium Digest of Technical Papers, XXV, 93-96.
Jenkins, J. P. & Kaiser, M. K. (1994). Advanced enhanced visual systems for next generation aircraft. Proceedings of the Royal Aeronautical Society: Synthetic Vision Systems for Civil Aviation, 1.1 - 1.10.
Kaiser, M. K. & Sweet, B. T. (1993). Proceedings of the Augmented VIsual Display (AVID) Research Workshop. NASA Conference Proceedings #10128.
Kaiser, M. K., Perrone, J. A., Stone, L., Banks, M. S., and Crowell, J. A. (1993). Extracting heading and temporal range from optic flow: Human performance issues. In M. K. Kaiser & B. T. Sweet (Eds.), Proceedings of the Augmented VIsual Display (AVID) Research Workshop. NASA Conference Proceedings #10128.
Kaiser, M. K. & Johnson, W. J. (1993). Visual cues for vehicle control. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 37th Annual Meeting, 1375-1377.
Kaiser, M. K. & Mowafy, L. (1993). Visual information for judging temporal range. Proceedings of Piloting Vertical Flight Aircraft: A Conference on Flying Qualities and Human Factors, 4-23.
Kaiser, M. K., Johnson, W. W., Mowafy, M., Hennessy, R. T., & Matsumoto, J. A. (1992). Visual augmentation for night flight over featureless terrain. Proceedings of the American Helicopter Society 48th Annual Forum, Vol 1, 275-280.
Foyle, D. C., Kaiser, M. K., & Johnson, W. W. (1992). Visual cues in low-level flight: Implications for pilotage, training, simulation, and enhanced/synthetic vision systems. Proceedings of the American Helicopter Society 48th Annual Forum, Vol. 1, 253-260.
Kaiser, M. K. & Foyle, D. C. (1991). Human factors issues in the use of night vision devices. Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting, 1502-1506.
Foyle, D. C. & Kaiser, M. K. (1991). Pilot distance estimation with unaided vision, night vision goggles and infrared imagery. SID International Symposium Digest of Technical Papers, XXII, 314-317.
Johnson, W. W. & Kaiser, M. K. (1991). Visually Guided Control of Movement. NASA Conference Proceedings #3118.
Kaiser, M. K. & Proffitt, D. R. (1989). Human motion perception: Higher order organization. In A. B. Watson & J. B. Mulligan (Eds.), Vision Science and Technology at NASA: Results of a Workshop. NASA Technical Memorandum #102214.
Kaiser, M. K. & Proffitt, D. R. (1989). Perceptual issues in scientific visualization. In W. E. Robbins & S. S. Fisher (Eds.), Three-Dimensional Visualization and Display Technologies: Proceedings of SPIE 1083.
Proffitt, D. R. & Kaiser, M. K. (1989). Perceiving environmental properties from motion information: Minimal conditions. In S. R. Ellis, M. K. Kaiser, & A. J. Grunwald (Eds.), Spatial Displays and Spatial Instruments. NASA Conference Publication #10032.
Ellis, S. R., Kaiser, M. K., & Grunwald, A. J. (1989). Spatial Displays and Spatial Instruments. NASA Conference Publication #10032.
Kaiser, M. K. & Remington, R. (1988). Spatial cognition. In T. Tanner, Y. A. Clearwater, & M. M. Cohen (Eds.) Space Station Human Factors Research Review, Volume IV. NASA Conference Publication #2426.

TECHNICAL REPORTS

Bradley, A. & Kaiser, M. K. (1994). Evaluation of Visual Acuity with Gen III Night Vision Goggles. NASA Technical Memorandum #108792.
Proffitt, D. R. & Kaiser, M. K. (1991). Observer Properties for Understanding Dynamical Displays: Capacities, Limitations, and Defaults. NASA Technical Memorandum #102812.
Grunwald, A. J. & Kaiser, M. K. (1989) An Algorithm for the Systematic Disturbance of Optimal Rotational Solutions. NASA Technical Memorandum #92654.
Kaiser, M. K. & Proffitt, D. R. (1987). Human-Display Interactions: Context Specific Biases. NASA Technical Memorandum #89430.
Proffitt, D. R. & Kaiser, M. K. (1986). Applications of Computer-Graphics Animation for Motion-Perception Research. NASA Technical Memorandum #88335.

FILMS

"Seeing Beyond the Obvious: Understanding Perception in Everyday and Novel Environments." Produced by Mary K. Kaiser; Directed and Edited by Ellen A. McAfee; Written by Dennis R. Proffitt, Mary K. Kaiser, & Ellen A. McAfee. Presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society (November, 1990) and at the 35th Annual Meeting of the Human Factors Society (September, 1991).

PATENTS

"Cueing Light Configuration for Aircraft Navigation," Patent No. 5,315,296 (NASA Case No. ARC 11982), Issue Date 5/24/94. (Mary K. Kaiser & Walter W. Johnson, Inventors)

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (1995 - Present)

Kaiser, M. K., Lathrop, W. B., & Logan, M. (November, 1998). Exploring physical and virtual environments. Presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society.
Kaiser, M. K. (November, 1997). What becomes a window most: Perceptual tuning of virtual windows. Presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society.
Kaiser, M. K. (July, 1997). Moving through time: The utiliity of a temporal metric for vehicle control. Presented at the Ninth International Conference on Perception and Action.
Bernstein, L. J., Kaiser, M. K., & Johnson, W. W. (March, 1977). Contingency of integrating multiple features as revealed by illusory conjunctions. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society.
Hecht, H., Kaiser, M. K., Savelsbergh, G. J. P., & van der Kamp, J. (November, 1996). The effect of time-sampling on temporal range judgments in real and simulated environments. Presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society.
Bernstein, L. J., Kaiser, M. K., & Johnson, W. W. (November, 1996). Illusory conjunctions of shape, color, and motion. Presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society.
Kaiser, M. K. (June, 1996). Perceptually tuned visual stimuli. Presented at the American Psychological Society 8th Annual Convention.
Kaiser, M. K. (May, 1996). Downsizing visualization platforms: From Crays to Indigos and beyond. Presented at the Symposium on High-Performance Computer Applications in the Behavioral Sciences.
Kaiser, M. K., Sweet, B. T., & Shafto, M. (November, 1995). Depth cue integration in an active control paradigm. Presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society.
Kaiser, M. K. (November, 1995) Supercomputers and visual simulation. Presented at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Society for Computers in Psychology.
Hecht, H., Kaiser, M. K., & Aikens, W. (May, 1995). Extracting depth from motion parallax in real-world and synthetic displays. Presented at the Annual Meeting of ARVO.
Kaiser, M. K. & Hecht, H. (April, 1995). Human performance issues of lunar-sited teleoperations. Presented at the XX General Assembly of the European Geophysical Society.