Auditory interfaces in automated driving: an international survey

Abstract

This study investigated peoples' opinion on auditory interfaces in contemporary cars and their willingness to be exposed to auditory feedback in automated driving. We used an Internet-based survey to collect 1,205 responses from 91 countries. The respondents stated their attitudes towards two existing auditory driver assistance systems, a parking assistant (PA) and a forward collision warning system (FCWS), as well as towards a futuristic augmented sound system (FS) proposed for fully automated driving. The respondents were positive towards the PA and FCWS, and rated the willingness to have automated versions of these systems as 3.87 and 3.77, respectively (on a scale from 1 = disagree strongly to 5 = agree strongly). The respondents tolerated the FS (the mean willingness to use was 3.00 on the same scale). The results showed that among the available response options, the female voice was the most preferred feedback type for takeover requests in highly automated driving, regardless of whether the respondents' country was English speaking or not. The present results could be useful for designers of automated vehicles and other stakeholders. Practitioner Summary: In an Internet-based survey, peoples' opinion on auditory interfaces in contemporary cars and people's willingness to be exposed to auditory feedback in automated driving were evaluated. The results showed that a female voice was the most preferred feedback mode for takeover requests in highly automated driving.