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Unconstrained design: improving multitasking with in-vehicle information systems through enhanced situation awareness

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Langdon, P 
Sawyer, BD 
Clarkson, PJ 

Abstract

In the age of information, in-vehicle multitasking is inevitable. The popularity of the automobile in combination with the demands of everyday life presents a demand to do more than simply focus on the road. Situation Awareness (SA) is a theory that allows designers to understand how operators interact in dynamic, complex environments. Unconstrained Design is proposed as a way of enhancing multitasking performance in-vehicle. This paper presents an experimental investigation into human-machine interface concepts that aim to support drivers to multitask in-vehicle when frequent task switching is required. Two SA-based approaches were investigated, one which focussed on supporting preparation for a Non-Driving Related Activity (NDRA), and one which focussed on supporting the Driving Related Activity (DRA) when an NDRA is active. While multitasking, Contextual Cueing, using a Head-up Display, produced significant reductions in NDRA response time while an auditory lane keeping aid increased the amount of time a driver spent in the central region of a lane. This provides evidence to suggest that using SA and Unconstrained Design as a philosophy for the design of IVIS that supports drivers’ ability to multitask in-vehicle, could lead to task performance improvements.

Description

Keywords

Automotive, human machine interface, situation awareness, multitasking, driver behaviour

Journal Title

Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1463-922X
1464-536X

Volume Title

21

Publisher

Informa UK Limited

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Jaguar Land Rover