Citation

Strayer DL, Cooper JM, Turrill J, Coleman JR, Hopman RJ. Cogn. Res. Princ. Implic. 2016; 1(1): 16.

Affiliation

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1186/s41235-016-0018-3

PMID

28180167

PMCID

PMC5256443

Abstract

This research examined the impact of in-vehicle information system (IVIS) interactions on the driver's cognitive workload; 257 subjects participated in a weeklong evaluation of the IVIS interaction in one of ten different model-year 2015 automobiles. After an initial assessment of the cognitive workload associated with using the IVIS, participants took the vehicle home for 5 days and practiced using the system. At the end of the 5 days of practice, participants returned and the workload of these IVIS interactions was reassessed. The cognitive workload was found to be moderate to high, averaging 3.34 on a 5-point scale and ranged from 2.37 to 4.57. The workload was associated with the intuitiveness and complexity of the system and the time it took participants to complete the interaction. The workload experienced by older drivers was significantly greater than that experienced by younger drivers performing the same operations. Practice did not eliminate the interference from IVIS interactions. In fact, IVIS interactions that were difficult on the first day were still relatively difficult to perform after a week of practice. Finally, there were long-lasting residual costs after the IVIS interactions had terminated. The higher levels of workload should serve as a caution that these voice-based interactions can be cognitively demanding and ought not to be used indiscriminately while operating a motor vehicle.

Language: en

Keywords

Aging; Cognitive distraction; Cognitive workload; Divided attention; Driver distraction; Driving; Multitasking