Equipment Design Features (Impacts on Safety)

DISCUSSION ISSUES/TOPICS

Effective/Ineffective Designs & Countermeasures

• What technologies can be employed to develop less distracting devices (e.g., voice recognition, hands free operation)?
• To what extent does voice interaction (speech recognition, artificial speech) provide benefits over visual presentation? Under what conditions is voice communication distracting?
• Is there less driver distraction with the use of Head Up Displays (HUDs) than with traditional displays? Can everyone use HUDs effectively?
• How should information be structured, formatted, and searched? How much information is too much for drivers to handle?
• What designs and features (design soluations) have worked well in this or similar applications? What problems have been observed?
• What effective countermeasures can be used to combat distraction?

• What are the important unanswered questions regarding the design of in-vehicle technologies? Is research best directed at defining good design or developing tools to evaluate individual designs?

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Effective/Ineffective Designs & Countermeasures
	The Impact of Internal Distraction on Driver Visual Behavior   5/17/00 2:30:52 PM Authors:   Harbluk, J. L., Noy, Y. I. (Transport Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada), & Eizenman, M. (University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada). View Entire Paper Abstract Driver distraction can arise from sources internal as well as external to the driver. In this paper we describe a study (in progress) designed to examine the influence of internal distraction, created by cognitive tasks, on drivers’ visual behavior and vehicle control. Sixteen drivers will drive a city route while carrying out tasks of varying cognitive complexity. The tasks and their responses will be communicated via a handsfree cell phone so that drivers will not have to look away from the road or manually operate the phone. Driver performance will be examined under conditions of close vehicle following and more open driving conditions. Visual scanning patterns will be recorded using eyetracking equipment, measures of vehicle control will be obtained using the MicroDAS system, and drivers’ subjective evaluation of workload and safety will be assessed through questionnaires. Based on previous research, it is expected that increased cognitive load will result in a reduced area of visual inspection. In addition, detailed analyses will be made of the fixation distributions as a function of cognitive task. The results of this study will contribute to the understanding of driver internal distraction that may be associated with voice interactive technologies.   Divided Attention Ability of Young and Older Drivers   5/30/00 1:12:17 PM   Speech-based Interaction with In-vehicle Computers: The Effect of Speech-based E-mail on Drivers’ Attention to the Roadway   5/31/00 11:52:26 AM   Integration of Driver In-Vehicle ITS Information   5/31/00 11:53:14 AM   E-Distraction: The Challenges for Safe and Usable Internet Services in Vehicles   5/31/00 12:04:41 PM   Can Collision Warning Systems Mitigate Distraction Due to In-Vehicle Devices?   5/31/00 1:12:43 PM   In-Vehicle Communication and Driving: An Attempt to Overcome their Interference   6/1/00 11:55:10 AM   If purchasing an in-vehicle device, how much of an influence does the design and ease of use of devices have on your selection?      Can auditory systems (devices with the capability to interpret voice commands, or communicate using speech messages) address the safety concerns associated with operating in-vehicle technologies?      Do you believe hands-free technology is sufficient to address safety concerns related to cell phone use while driving?      Is it possible to design electronic maps that can be safely used while driving?      Is it possible to design wireless Internet devices (e.g., e-mail systems) that can be safely used while driving?      Integration of Driver in vehicle ITS   7/6/00 2:13:53 PM   In your opinion, what is the maximum number of recommended information displays a HUD should feature?    7/14/00 8:52:05 AM   Passenger Air Bag technology saves lives, BUT...   7/14/00 6:11:10 PM   Radio designs are needlessly dangerous   7/18/00 3:04:26 PM   Radio designs are needlessly dangerous, II   7/18/00 6:32:12 PM   Possible solution   7/18/00 6:44:54 PM   disable devices while car is in motion   7/19/00 11:19:00 AM   low cost "black-box" equipment for motor vehicles   7/19/00 11:50:17 AM   In your opinion, what is the maximum number of recommended information displays a HUD should feature? Can you specify related references?   7/19/00 4:11:36 PM   What role can automation play in reducing the driver distraction problem? What automated or assistance systems can we expect to see in the future?   7/20/00 7:47:20 AM   Confusing radio controls   7/20/00 4:05:31 PM   Older vs. Younger   7/24/00 9:47:24 PM   E-mail in the car   7/24/00 10:09:21 PM   HUD usage   7/26/00 1:46:27 PM   HUD usage   7/26/00 1:47:16 PM   Radio/CD player designs need standards   7/31/00 2:13:49 AM   Integration and solutions causing potential new problems   8/1/00 10:09:55 AM   Radio content can be distracting   8/1/00 10:25:10 AM   Ergonomic design and visual pollution   8/3/00 2:14:33 PM   Ergonomic design and visual pollution (ergonomically improved!)   8/3/00 2:23:18 PM
Research Needs
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