Investigating visual dominance with a virtual driving task

Using auditory menus on a mobile device has been studied in depth with standard flicking, as well as wheeling and tapping interactions. Here, we introduce and evaluate a new type of interaction with auditory menus, intended to speed up movement through a list. This multimodal “sliding index” was compared to use of the standard flicking interaction on a phone, while the user was also engaged in a driving task. The sliding index was found to require less mental workload than flicking. What’s more, the way participants used the sliding index technique modulated their preferences, including their reactions to the presence of audio cues. Follow-on work should study how sliding index use evolves with practice.

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Safety Enhancement by Automated Driving: What are the Relevant Scenarios?

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1071181320641409 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 1686-1690

Author(s):

Niklas Grabbe ◽

Michael Höcher ◽

Alexander Thanos ◽

Klaus Bengler

Keyword(s):

Traffic Safety ◽

Road Traffic ◽

Test Cases ◽

Automated Driving ◽

Road Traffic Safety ◽

Human Driver ◽

Driving Task ◽

Promising Solution ◽

Vehicle Automation ◽

Safety Enhancement

Automated driving offers great possibilities in traffic safety advancement. However, evidence of safety cannot be provided by current validation methods. One promising solution to overcome the approval trap (Winner, 2015) could be the scenario-based approach. Unfortunately, this approach still results in a huge number of test cases. One possible way out is to show the current, incorrect path in the argumentation and strategy of vehicle automation, and focus on the systemic mechanisms of road traffic safety. This paper therefore argues the case for defining relevant scenarios and analysing them systemically in order to ultimately reduce the test cases. The relevant scenarios are based on the strengths and weaknesses, in terms of the driving task, for both the human driver and automation. Finally, scenarios as criteria for exclusion are being proposed in order to systemically assess the contribution of the human driver and automation to road safety.

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Driver intervention performance assessment as a key aspect of L3–L4 automated vehicles deployment

Open Engineering ◽

10.1515/eng-2021-0079 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 845-852

Author(s):

Aleksandra Rodak ◽

Paweł Budziszewski ◽

Małgorzata Pędzierska ◽

Mikołaj Kruszewski

Keyword(s):

Performance Assessment ◽

Minimal Risk ◽

Automated Vehicles ◽

Automated Driving ◽

Driving System ◽

Driving Task ◽

Driving Conditions

Abstract In L3–L4 vehicles, driving task is performed primarily by automated driving system (ADS). Automation mode permits to engage in non-driving-related tasks; however, it necessitates continuous vigilance and attention. Although the driver may be distracted, a request to intervene may suddenly occur, requiring immediate and appropriate response to driving conditions. To increase safety, automated vehicles should be equipped with a Driver Intervention Performance Assessment module (DIPA), ensuring that the driver is able to take the control of the vehicle and maintain it safely. Otherwise, ADS should regain control from the driver and perform a minimal risk manoeuvre. The paper explains the essence of DIPA, indicates possible measures, and describes a concept of DIPA framework being developed in the project.

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Drivers’ Attention Strategies before Eyes-off-Road in Different Traffic Scenarios: Adaptation and Anticipation

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073716 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3716

Author(s):

Zhuofan Liu ◽

Wei Yuan ◽

Yong Ma

Keyword(s):

Visual Attention ◽

Driving Simulator ◽

Test Drive ◽

Urban Road ◽

Strong Shift ◽

Related Information ◽

Road Users ◽

Urban Rural ◽

Within Subjects ◽

Driving Task

The distribution of drivers’ visual attention prior to diverting focus from the driving task is critical for safety. The object of this study is to investigate drivers’ attention strategy before they occlude their vision for different durations under different driving scenarios. A total of 3 (scenarios) × 3 (durations) within-subjects design was applied. Twenty-three participants completed three durations of occlusion (0, 1, and 2 s) test drive in a motion-based driving simulator under three scenarios (urban, rural, motorway). Drivers’ occlusion behaviour, driving behaviour, and visual behaviour in 6 s before occlusion was analyzed and compared. The results showed that drivers tended to slow down and increased their attention on driving task to keep safety in occlusion 2 s condition. The distribution of attention differed among different driving scenarios and occlusion durations. More attention was directed to Forward position and Speedometer in occlusion conditions, and a strong shift in attention from Forward position to Road users and Speedometer was found in occlusion 2 s condition. Road users was glanced more frequently in urban road with a higher percentage of attention transitions from Forward position to Road users. While gaze switching to Speedometer with a higher intensity was found on motorway. It suggests that drivers could adapt their visual attention to driving demand and anticipate the development of upcoming situations by sampling enough driving-related information before eyes-off-road. Moreover, the adaptation and anticipation are in accordance with driving situation and expected eyes-off-road duration. Better knowledge about attentional strategies before attention away from road contributes to more efficient and safe interaction with additional tasks.

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Assessing the role of stimulus probability on the Colavita visual dominance effect

Neuroscience Letters ◽

10.1016/j.neulet.2007.03.032 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 418 (3) ◽

pp. 266-271 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Camille Koppen ◽

Charles Spence

Keyword(s):

Dominance Effect ◽

Visual Dominance ◽

Stimulus Probability ◽

Visual Dominance Effect

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A Driving Simulator Study of the Performance Effects of Low Blood Alcohol Concentration

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129604001817 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 40 (18) ◽

pp. 943-946 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. Wade Allen ◽

Zareh Parseghian ◽

Anthony C. Stein

Keyword(s):

Divided Attention ◽

Driving Simulator ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Large Body ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Blood Alcohol ◽

Performance Effects ◽

Driving Task ◽

Simulator Study ◽

And Performance

There is a large body of research that documents the impairing effect of alcohol on driving behavior and performance. Some of the most significant alcohol influence seems to occur in divided attention situations when the driver must simultaneously attend to several aspects of the driving task. This paper describes a driving simulator study of the effect of a low alcohol dose, .055 BAC (blood alcohol concentration %/wt), on divided attention performance. The simulation was mechanized on a PC and presented visual and auditory feedback in a truck cab surround. Subjects were required to control speed and steering on a rural two lane road while attending to a peripheral secondary task. The subject population was composed of 33 heavy equipment operators who were tested during both placebo and drinking sessions. Multivariate Analysis of Variance showed a significant and practical alcohol effect on a range of variables in the divided attention driving task.

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