A predictive model of the visual demand associated with in-vehicle touchscreens

Large, David; Burnett, Gary; Crundall, Elizabeth; van Loon, Editha; Eren, Ayse; Skrypchuk, Lee

Abstract

Touchscreen-HMIs are increasingly popular within vehicles. Understanding the likely visual demand of new designs is therefore important but typically requires time-consuming and costly testing with functioning prototypes. Theoretical modelling allows performance to be determined much earlier in the design cycle, but has seldom been applied to touch-screen interfaces in divided-attention contexts, such as driving. We describe a theoretical model of human performance – derived from empirical testing – that makes a priori predictions of the visual demand (total glance time, number of glances and mean glance duration) elicited by finger-touch pointing tasks in a driving context. The model integrates two well-established laws of human behaviour – the Hick-Hyman Law, concerning decision/search behaviour, and Fitts’ Law, which considers the movement to acquire a visual target. The model also recognises that menus with greater depth will extend decision/search time and delay the time taken to achieve expert status. Preliminary validation work, comparing predictions for a real-world prototype touchscreen interface with empirically-obtained data, suggests that the model may provide an effective design and evaluation tool capable of making valuable predictions regarding the limits of visual demand/performance associated with in-vehicle interfaces, enabling designers to explore a wide range of possible designs before implementation, and permitting cost-effective redesign. Further work is required to refine the model, particularly in consideration of more complex tasks, involving multiple screen interactions.

Citation

Large, D., Burnett, G., Crundall, E., van Loon, E., Eren, A., & Skrypchuk, L. (2017, March). A predictive model of the visual demand associated with in-vehicle touchscreens. Presented at 5th International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention (DDI2017), Paris, France

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: 5th International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention (DDI2017)
• Start Date: Mar 20, 2017
• End Date: Mar 22, 2017
• Acceptance Date: Mar 20, 2017
• Publication Date: Mar 20, 2017
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: May 23, 2019
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2035010
• Related Public URLs: https://www.ifsttar.fr/collections/ActesInteractifs/AII2/index.html
• Contract Date: May 9, 2019