The Rate Of Handling Information

Abstract

Several tests were given to determine the rate of transmission of information through the human channel when the information was encoded in one to five flashing lights and S's output was pressing corresponding keys. All possible stimulus bulbs were equally probable and any number could be lighted simultaneously. (1) Increasing the stimulus rate increased the information transmission rate only up to a point where S was making a few errors. (2) Increasing the number of possible light bulbs from one through five more than tripled the maximum transmission rate. (3) Reaction time was not a function of stimulus rate. (4) The reaction time increased with the number of possible light bulbs in the stimulus but not linearly. (5) Maximum transmission occurred at a rate very close numerically to the reciprocal of the reaction time. (6) The self-pacing test resulted in as high transmission as the forced rate tests.