Visual Attention Demand Evaluation of Conventional and Multifunction in-Vehicle Information Systems

This paper describes part of a larger on-road test of a candidate control layout and system organization for a reconfigurable, automotive multifunction information system. Driver visual scanning behavior and task performance were examined. Six younger and six older drivers each performed 15 in-vehicle tasks while driving. Drivers executed functions for both current vehicle systems (e.g., audio, climate, and cell phone) and advanced/future vehicle systems (e.g., navigation, email, and communications/video). Six similar tasks were performed using both the experimental vehicle's conventional information systems and the candidate design multifunction information system. Results showed that task completion times were longer for tasks performed using the multifunction information system, compared to the conventional vehicle systems. Longer tasks completion times were associated with higher frequency of driver eye glances to the in-vehicle system. In addition, task completion times were found to be related to certain measures of driving task performance, most notably lateral control and speed control.