Joseph F. Szczerba

The Use of Stereoscopic Depth in an Automotive Instrument Display: Evaluating User-Performance in Visual Search and Change Detection

Automotive instrument displays commonly use telltale indicators to inform drivers of vehicle system status or to alert them to system underperformance. For greatest usability, telltales should be easy to locate with any change in status being readily apparent. An instrument cluster was designed with telltales presented in a stereoscopic plane closer to the observer and tested for usability in a desktop study. Participants answered questions regarding the presence or absence of specific telltales on the display. Usability was assessed by measuring the reaction time to locate a telltale and the sensitivity of the participants’ response to a change in telltale presence. The results indicated that the use of stereoscopic depth on telltales in an automotive display can improve user-performance when the number of telltales presented in 3D is restricted to three or less.

A Wearable Vibrotactile Display for Automotive Route Guidance: Evaluating Usability, Workload, Performance and Preference

Automotive navigation systems typically provide distance and directional information of an ensuing maneuver by means of visual indicators and audible instructions. These systems, however, use the same human perception channels that are required to perform the primary task of driving, and may consequently increase cognitive workload. A vibrotactile display was designed as an alternative to voice instruction and implemented in a consumer wearable device (smart-glasses). Using a driving simulator, the prototype system was compared to conventional navigation systems by assessing usability, workload, performance and preference. Results indicated that the use of haptic feedback in smart-glasses can improve secondary task performance over the conventional visual/auditory navigation system. Additionally, users preferred the haptic system over the other conventional systems. This study indicates that existing technologies found in consumer wearable devices may be leveraged to enhance the user-interface of vehicle navigation systems.

Design and Evaluation of a Differential Speedometer

Differential speedometers are gauges that continually display real-time over/under vehicle speed relative to the current speed limit. Use of these gauges may increase situation awareness and reduce driver workload. The design of such a gauge, however, is critical to its usability and its effect on driver performance. Thirty differential speedometer designs were brainstormed and subsequently down-selected to nine gauges using a heuristic assessment. The selected gauges were then tested for usability in a desktop study. Participants answered questions regarding vehicle speed with respect to the current speed limit using information presented on the gauges. Understanding was assessed by measuring the response time and accuracy of the participants’ response. Subjective ratings of usability and overall gauge preference were also obtained. Results were used to select three gauge designs for future study in a vehicle simulator for the purpose of selecting an optimal design of a differential speedometer.