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Driving and side task performance: the effects of display clutter, separation, and modality.
William J Horrey1, Christopher D Wickens
1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Savoy, Illinois 61874, USA.
Human Factors
|February 16, 2005
Summary
In-vehicle technologies (IVTs) impact driver safety. Adjacent visual displays minimized performance costs, unlike head-down displays or auditory alerts, enhancing driving and IVT task performance.
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Automotive Safety
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- In-vehicle technologies (IVTs) introduce driver distractions, potentially compromising road safety.
- Understanding how display design (clutter, separation, modality) affects driver performance is crucial for IVT development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of display location (head-up vs. head-down) and modality (visual vs. auditory) on driving and in-vehicle task performance.
- To evaluate the effects of display separation (overlay vs. adjacent) on driver performance.
Main Methods:
- A fixed-base driving simulator study with 22 participants.
- Participants performed a phone number entry task while navigating and responding to simulated road hazards.
- IVT information was presented via head-up displays (overlay/adjacent), a head-down display (HDD), or auditory signals.
Main Results:
- No significant performance differences were observed between overlay and adjacent head-up displays.
- Head-down displays (HDD) and auditory displays resulted in performance costs for certain measures.
- Hazard response times were notably slower when drivers used the HDD.
Conclusions:
- Adjacent visual displays appear to be the most effective for supporting both driving and IVT task performance.
- The design and placement of IVTs significantly influence driver safety and task efficiency.
- Findings inform the optimal design of in-vehicle systems regarding display location and modality.