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Recovering from interruptions: implications for driver distraction research
Christopher A Monk1, Deborah A Boehm-Davis, J Gregory Trafton
1George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA. christopher.a.monk@saic.com
Human Factors
|February 16, 2005
Summary
Interruption timing significantly impacts task performance, with mid-task interruptions being most disruptive. Older adults experienced greater performance declines, and interruptions preventing goal rehearsal prolonged task resumption.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Factors Engineering
- Gerontology
Background:
- Understanding interrupted task performance is crucial for optimizing human-computer interaction.
- Driver distraction and in-vehicle task design necessitate research into attention switching and interruption effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of interrupted task performance using a goal activation model.
- To examine the influence of interruption timing, type, and participant age on task and resumption times.
Main Methods:
- Adopted a goal activation model to simulate attention switching between primary and secondary tasks.
- Varied interruption timing and type, comparing performance between younger and older participants.
Main Results:
- Interruption timing significantly affected task resumption, with mid-task interruptions being most detrimental.
- Older participants exhibited age-related performance decrements that overshadowed interruption timing effects.
- Interruptions preventing strategic goal rehearsal led to significantly longer resumption times.
Conclusions:
- Task interruption costs are influenced by timing, type, and individual differences like age.
- Findings inform the design of user interfaces and messaging for in-vehicle systems to mitigate driver distraction.
- The study highlights the importance of considering age-related factors in assessing driver distraction and designing safety interventions.