Development of human factors guidelines for advanced traveler information systems and commercial vehicle operations : identification of the strengths and weaknesses of alternative information display formats

Hulse, M.C.; Dingus, T.A.; Mollenhauer, M.A.; Liu, Y.; Jahns, S.K.; Brown, T. · 1998 · ROSA P / Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

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Summary

This report addresses the critical challenge of designing safe and usable in-vehicle displays for Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) and Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO). The primary motivation is the risk that poorly designed systems may overload drivers’ limited information-processing resources, thereby reducing safety rather than improving it, or failing to gain driver acceptance. The study aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative information display formats and to develop precise human factors design guidelines. Specifically, it seeks to determine the optimal sensory modality, trip status timing, display format, and physical location for presenting various types of driving information. The research was conducted during the analytic phase of a larger contractual effort sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration. Rather than relying solely on new empirical data, the authors synthesized existing knowledge from literature reviews, previous task reports, and psychological principles to create four primary design-decision tools. These tools are intended to assist both professional and nonprofessional designers in making tradeoff decisions. The tools include: (1) Sensory Modality Allocation, which determines whether information should be presented visually, auditorily, or tactilely; (2) Trip Status Allocation, which decides if information should be displayed predrive, at zero speed, or in transit; (3) Display Format Allocation, which selects the presentation format (e.g., text, map, voice); and (4) Display Location, which identifies the physical placement of visual displays, such as head-up displays or dashboards. The development of these tools involved categorizing information into six functional groups (e.g., route planning, warning systems) and assessing the criticality of each information requirement while driving. The authors applied these tools to assess more than 400 distinct ATIS/CVO driver information requirements. The analysis revealed that while the tools generally produced reasonable decisions, the confidence in specific recommendations varied based on the quality and consistency of the underlying research. The authors noted that existing ITS literature often provided contradictory results or measures that were difficult to apply directly, leading to gaps in the decision-making process for certain complex scenarios. Consequently, the report highlights general trends in the data rather than absolute prescriptions for every individual requirement. For instance, the tools suggested that excessive visual information could overload the driver, while excessive auditory information could lead to user frustration. The study also identified specific conditions under which head-up displays might improve safety, such as when presenting limited, legible information. The significance of this work lies in its provision of a structured framework for ATIS/CVO display design, transforming scattered empirical findings into actionable design tools. The report concludes that while these tools represent a major step toward comprehensive human factors guidelines, further research is necessary to validate the tools and assess their usability by designers. Additionally, future studies must investigate the interactions between various ATIS functions and subsystems, as current knowledge is largely based on isolated function testing. The findings underscore the need for systematic design approaches to ensure that advanced traveler information systems enhance, rather than compromise, driving safety and usability.

Key finding

The project successfully developed four primary design-decision tools for sensory modality, trip status, display format, and display location to guide the creation of safer and more effective ATIS displays.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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Topics

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• feedback modes
• hud ar windshield
• in vehicle displays
• ehmi external hmi
• haptic feedback
• display design

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: design guidelines