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Displays that support complex graphics in driver information (DI) systems allow for the presentation of detailed visual data by employing a range of static (fixed image) and/or dynamic (moving image) design approaches. Such displays are gaining market share across a wide range of mainstream vehicles as the availability and cost of such technologies improves. Although a range of 2D, rendered 3D, and 3D imaging (or stereoscopic) information displays have been demonstrated throughout the automotive industry in recent years, there is limited empirical research examining consumer preference of the respective approaches or their influence on driving related tasks. The vehicle environment is known to be a demanding context for efficiently displaying information to the driver. Research in 3D [1, 2] reveals some of the factors that influence its acceptance and effective use, but there is limited research on the effects of 3D-related design elements when used in a driver-vehicle interface.

The vehicle environment is known to be a demanding context for efficiently displaying information to the driver. Research in typography reveals some factors that influence reading performance measures, but there is limited research on the influence of typographic design elements in a driver-vehicle interface on user performance with a simulated driver task. Participants in these studies completed a set of vehicle infotainment tasks that involved a text-based item search in a custom-designed interface that employed a family of Helvetica Neue fonts, in a static environment and a driving simulator environment. Analysis of the data from the two studies reveals a modest but statistically significant effect of font on certain driving-related task performance measures. In both studies, fonts with intermediate values of character width and line thickness were associated with the best performance on a simulated driving task.

Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) refers to a method of displaying information in serial fashion on a display mounted at a fixed focal position relative to the viewer. RSVP is used in cognitive and perceptual psychology research and shows some promise in applications that involve reading text on displays. This preliminary research examines the potential for RSVP as a means of presenting driver information in automotive use cases. We investigated how RSVP influenced subjective impressions, participant recall of information, and the impact of its use while performing a simulated driving task. We describe the results of two studies and discuss future directions for research.

This paper describes two studies; each conducted concurrently in North America and Europe to assess subjective impressions and simulated driving task performance using a touch screen interface with different types of auditory and haptic feedback. The first study investigated subjective impressions of four types of touch screen feedback in a static laboratory setting. The second study investigated the influence of the same four touch screen feedback types on simulated driving task performance using the lane change test (LCT). Results of the first study revealed significant similarities and differences in subjective impressions between respondents in each of the two regions studied. Results of the second study revealed differences in task performance that suggest distinct participant strategies in each of the two regions studied.

Touch screens provide substantial benefits as a control and display system but still have some disadvantages. The availability of haptic (tactile) technology allows touch screens to function similarly to traditional mechanical controls. Two studies were undertaken to investigate the addition of haptic feedback as well as auditory feedback on user perceptions of the touch screen experience. The first study was conducted in a desktop setting and the second study was conducted with the touch screen integrated in a vehicle. In both studies, participants assessed four different types of feedback conditions: visual feedback only (V), auditory and visual feedback (AV), haptic and visual feedback (HV), and auditory, haptic, and visual feedback combined (AHV). The results of these studies support the claim that individuals strongly prefer touch screen implementations that incorporate haptic elements and also provide insights on regional differences in their perception.