Influence of Age and Palm Surface Area on Secondary Task Performance in a Driving Simulator

FUCHS, Lukas; NARASINGHE, Netmi; SCHMID, Peter; MAIER, Thomas · 2026 · Crossref

DOI: 10.7307/ptt.v38i2.1116

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Summary

This study investigates the influence of age and palm surface area (PSA) on secondary task performance when using gesture control with mid-air haptic feedback in a driving simulator. Motivated by the need to reduce off-road glance times associated with touchscreens, the research addresses a gap in understanding how aging and hand size affect the reception and usability of mid-air haptics, which rely on ultrasonic waves to stimulate mechanoreceptors. The study specifically examines how introducing a characteristic feedback point on a virtual slider—via changes in intensity or snap distance—affects dual-task performance. The methodology involved 61 participants divided into younger (average age 31.0 years) and older (average age 61.8 years) groups. Participants performed a primary driving task using the Lane Change Test simulator while executing a secondary task: locating a characteristic point on a virtual haptic slider and setting it to a target value. The secondary task utilized nine study parameters varying haptic intensity and snap distances (symmetric and asymmetric). Hand measurements, including PSA, were calculated using MediaPipe software. Objective metrics included task fulfilment, setting time, lateral mean deviation, and mean speed. Subjective metrics included precision, learnability, mental demand, and User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ-S) ratings. Results indicated significant differences between age groups in both subjective and objective terms. Older participants exhibited higher lateral mean deviations and lower mean speeds during the driving task, particularly for specific study parameters. While task fulfilment rates were generally higher for younger participants, no statistically significant difference in task fulfilment between age groups was found. Symmetric snap distances (SP04–SP06) yielded the highest task fulfilment rates for both groups, with SP06 achieving the highest overall fulfilment (51.9% for younger, 33.3% for older participants). However, SP05 received superior subjective ratings for precision and learnability. Regarding PSA, significant negative correlations were found between PSA and mental demand for several parameters, suggesting larger palms may reduce perceived mental load. Additionally, women rated mental demand significantly higher than men. Three older participants could not perceive the haptics at all, highlighting age-related tactile sensitivity issues. The study concludes that age has a more substantial influence on primary and secondary task performance than palm surface area. Symmetric snap distances are preferred for haptic slider design, aligning with previous findings on rotary controls. The findings suggest that while mid-air haptics can reduce visual distraction, universal design must account for age-related declines in tactile sensitivity. Future research will evaluate these findings in a more immersive static driving simulator to further refine haptic interface design for diverse user populations.

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• manual
• temporal
• visual manual

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• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data