Introducing a Non-Vocal Parallel Feedback System into a Simulated Combat Situation

The non-verbal signals which in direct face-to-face communication indicate a request for clarification are lost in vocal radio communication where every request must be expressed verbally. However, such an expression entails a social cost which reduces the number of requests. Our hypothesis states that this cost can be reduce by supplying a secondary, non-vocal channel. To test this we introduced a parallel non-vocal radio feedback channel in to a simulated combat situation. In the experiment we measured the number of requests for clarification and the number of mistakes. No significant difference was found, which we attributed to methodological issues, but we believe that there are good reasons for continuing research on this issue.