Andrew M. Parkes

The Alcohol Hangover Research Group Consensus Statement on Best Practice in Alcohol Hangover Research

Alcohol-induced hangover, defined by a series of symptoms, is the most commonly reported consequence of excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol hangovers contribute to workplace absenteeism, impaired job performance, reduced productivity, poor academic achievement, and may compromise potentially dangerous daily activities such as driving a car or operating heavy machinery. These socioeconomic consequences and health risks of alcohol hangover are much higher when compared to various common diseases and other health risk factors. Nevertheless, unlike alcohol intoxication the hangover has received very little scientific attention and studies have often yielded inconclusive results. Systematic research is important to increase our knowledge on alcohol hangover and its consequences. This consensus paper of the Alcohol Hangover Research Group discusses methodological issues that should be taken into account when performing future alcohol hangover research. Future research should aim to (1) further determine the pathology of alcohol hangover, (2) examine the role of genetics, (3) determine the economic costs of alcohol hangover, (4) examine sex and age differences, (5) develop common research tools and methodologies to study hangover effects, (6) focus on factor that aggravate hangover severity (e.g., congeners), and (7) develop effective hangover remedies.

Head-up displays and their automotive application: An overview of human factors issues affecting safety

In response to the recent innovations to use head-up displays (HUDs) in vehicles, this paper discusses the relevant human factors issues arising from this display format and the potential safety implications. A review is made of the relevant HUD literature, primarily from the aviation field. The primary issues for automotive HUDs relevant to system performance and safety in the driving task involve interference from background scene complexity, system novelty, user perceptual style, cognitive disruption, and perceptual tunnelling. Basic research is necessary to investigate the extent of these issues as well as to resolve fundamental design specifications (e.g. HUD size, shape, placement, information content). It is suggested that the introduction of HUDs into vehicles be carefully considered. This will necessitate not only the reconsideration what constitutes an in-vehicle display, but also what constitutes the information to be conveyed.

An investigation of train driver visual strategies

Train driving is primarily a visual task; train drivers are required to monitor the dynamic scene visually both outside and inside the train cab. Poor performance on this visual task may lead to errors, such as signals passed at danger. It is therefore important to understand the visual strategies that train drivers employ when monitoring and searching the visual scene for key items, such as signals. Prior to this investigation, a pilot study had already been carried out using an eye tracking technique to investigate train drivers’ visual behaviour and to collect data on driver monitoring of the visual environment, Groeger et al. (2003) Pilot study of train drivers’ eye movements, University of Surrey. However, a larger set of data was needed in order to understand more fully train driver visual behaviour and strategies. In light of this need, the Transport Research Laboratory produced a methodology for the assessment of UK train driver visual strategies, on behalf of the Rail Safety and Standards Board and applied this methodology to conduct a large-scale trial. The study collected a wealth of data on train drivers’ visual behaviour with the aim of providing a greater understanding of the strategies adopted. The corneal dark-eye tracking system chosen for these trials tracks human visual search and scanning patterns, and was fitted to 86 drivers whilst driving in-service trains. Data collected include the duration and frequency of glances made towards different elements of the visual scene. In addition, the train drivers were interviewed after driving the routes, to try and understand the thought processes behind the behaviour observed. Statistical analysis of over 600 signal approaches was conducted. This analysis revealed that signal aspect, preceding signal aspect, signal type and signal complexity are important factors, which affect the visual behaviour of train drivers. Train driver interview data revealed that driver expectation also plays a significant role in train driving. The findings of this study have implications for the rail industry in terms of infrastructure design, design of the driving task and driver training. However, train driving is extremely complex and the data from this study only begin to describe and explain train driver visual strategies in the specific context of signal approaches. This study has provided a wealth of data and further analysis of it is needed to investigate the role of other factors and the complex relationships between factors during signal approaches and other driving situations systematically. Finally, there are important aspects of visual behaviour that cannot be examined using these data or this method. Investigation of other aspects of visual behaviour, such as peripheral vision, will require other methods such as simulation.

Effect of Background Scene Complexity and Field Dependence on the Legibility of Head-Up Displays for Automotive Applications

This study examined the legibility of information presented on head-up displays (HUDs) for automotive application as a function of background scene complexity, the position of the HUD within field of view relative to the background scene, and the perceptual capacity of the perceiver. Groups of field-dependent and fieldindependent subjects viewed video footage from the perspective of following a lead caron an open road with low, moderate, and high scene complexity. Subjects were required to track the lead vehicle and identify HUD-presented targets of a specified orientation and specified changes in a HUD-presented speedometer. The results indicate that (a) HUD legibility deteriorated with increased visual complexity of the background scene; (b) positioning the HUD on the roadway reduced the effect of background scene complexity on HUD legibility; and (c) field-dependent subjects made fewer correct and more false positive target identifications than did field-independent subjects.

The effects of different in-vehicle route information displays on driver behaviour

The paper reports two experiments conducted within the Driver Behaviour and Traffic Safety research strand of the European DRIVE programme. Each experiment was conducted using members of the general public, driving specially adapted road vehicles, in real urban environments. The first experiment, conducted in Loughborough can be seen as a validation of a multi-level evaluation methodology developed within the project as applied to two modes of route information presentation: paper map or text display on LCD screen. The second experiment used similar data collection techniques, but was conducted in Berlin with two real route information systems (LISB and Bosch Travelpilot). Assessing the results of these two experiments shows that there is a greater degree of visual workload associated with drawing information off a map display. This is the result of analysing a combination of measures, including vehicle control data, physiological stress indices, visual attention data and a variety of subjective response measures. This form of information presentation may be less than compatible with the task of navigating a vehicle whilst interacting with the road infrastructures of today.

An evaluation of medium range "advance information" in route-guidance displays for use in vehicles

Methods of presenting route guidance information to drivers are compared. Field trials are conducted, with each of 16 subjects undertaking two driving conditions, each on a different route, one with visual guidance information only, and the other with both visual and auditory information. Half the subjects immediately after completing a manoeuvre are briefly given advance information messages warning them of the distance to, and nature of the next turn from the road ahead. Perceived mental workload, frequency and duration of glances to the display, and subjective views are measured. The presentation of visual and auditory information is the preferred mode, reducing both mental workload and time spent looking at the display. Advance information helps in the navigation task, but does not reduce the glance frequency or duration to the guidance display.

The effect of background scene complexity on the legibility of head-up-displays for automotive applications

This study examined the effect of background scene complexity on the legibility of head-up display (HUD) presented information for automotive applications. Subjects viewed video footage following a car on an open road with low, moderate and high scene complexity. Subjects were required to track the lead vehicle and identify HUD presented targets of a specified orientation and specified changes in a HUD presented speedometer. The results indicate that: 1) HUD legibility deteriorated with increased visual complexity of the background scene; and 2) positioning the HUD on the roadway ameliorated the effect.<<ETX>>

The role of the media in the public perception of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

We are still some distance from seeing the routine flight of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in national airspace. Apart from issues associated with technology and regulatory requirements and constraints, a key factor will be the perceptions and acceptance of UAVs held by the general public. A number of surveys have started to examine the views and attitudes held by different sectors of the population and these begin to reveal the nature of concerns about UAV operations. However, one key aspect of how an attitude develops and forms is the manner in which information is conveyed to us. This paper examines the role that the media has in conveying information pertaining to UAV news articles and features using a survey (N=48) that examines the perception of UAVs merely by the manner in which the headline is conveyed. A sample of 60 UAV media headlines from three media sources (BBC, CNN and Shephard) were selected and tested for how the public perceived them. Results indicated that attitude towards headlines reported in both BBC and CNN were very similar, but not in comparison to the industry publication. Also, the theme within which the headline was framed appeared to influence whether it was perceived as either positive or negative. The importance of understanding public attitude and the role of the media is discussed.