Using spatial warning signals to capture a driver's visual attention

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the potential benefits of using spatial auditory or vibrotactile warning signals in the domain of driving performance, using a simulated driving task. Across six experiments, participants had to monitor a rapidly presented stream of distractor letters for occasional target digits (simulating an attention-demanding visual task, such as driving). Whenever participants heard an auditory cue (E1-E4) or felt a vibration (E5-E6), they had to check the front and the rearview mirror for the rapid approach of a car from in front or behind and respond accordingly (either by accelerating or braking). The efficacy of various auditory and vibrotactile warning signals in directing a participant's visual attention to the correct environmental position was compared (see Table 1). The results demonstrate the potential utility of semantically-meaningful or spatial auditory, and/or vibrotactile warning signals in interface design for directing a driver's, or other interface-operator's, visual attention to time-critical events or information.