Gaze-contingent interfaces: The effect on noticing times of time critical warning messages under Level 2 driving conditions while interacting with in-vehicle technology
R. Addi (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
Y.B. Eisma – Mentor (TU Delft - Human-Robot Interaction)
D. Dodou – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology)
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Abstract
With the introduction of automated driving systems come benefits such as the improvement of traffic safety. However, with an increasing level of automation in vehicles also comes an increase in interaction with in-vehicle technology by drivers while they are meant to supervise the automated driving systems. Due to more interaction with in-vehicle technology and a vigilance decrement of the driver in Level 2 driving, an increase in reaction time of the driver is seen when intervention is needed by the means of a take over request. This delay in reaction by the driver opposes the benefit of the introduction of automated driving systems and causes hazardous situations. To try and circumvent the effect of vigilance decrement, this paper attempts to demonstrate the reduction of noticing time of the Hands-On-Wheel warning message for drivers of Level 2 vehicles while interacting with in-vehicle technology through the implementation of a gaze-contingent interface. The results of this experiment indicate a 79.3% lower noticing time of the Hands-On-Wheel warning message when the stimulus is placed in a gazecontingent manner, while the participants engage in secondary tasks on the in-vehicle technology. The placement of the stimulus on the head unit when the participant is already looking at it reduces the primary task load of touching the steering wheel and causes for the stimulus to be seen quicker as compared to a static interface. However, the performance of the secondary task seems to decrease when using a gaze-contingent interface. This is due to the intrusive nature of the placement of the stimulus, which demands the driver to store information regarding the secondary task in their working memory while they attend to the primary task. Despite the decline in secondary task performance, the reduction of noticing times of time critical messages when placed in a gaze-contingent manner could be beneficial to the safety of autonomous driving functions where the driver has a vigilance task and is engaging in secondary tasks.