Year: 2010
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Based on a review of relevant literature, it is argued, that the capacity-based model of human dual-task performance forms the foundation for the traditional experimental approaches to assess the mechanisms of driver distraction by in-vehicle tasks. According to this psychologically well-grounded view, human dual-task performance is limited by the reserve capacity of operator's information processing resources, which can be overloaded by overlapping demands of tasks. However, it is further claimed that there are additional levels of control available for the driver in realistic dual-tasking situations above this level of operational control, in particular the levels of tactical and strategic control. The objective of this research is to explicate the limitations and scope of the capacity-based paradigm in experimental driver distraction research and to develop a novel, content-based approach in order to address the found deficiencies. The primary tool of research used here is the foundational analysis, a metascientific method for improving the validity of scientific argumentation. A series of eight experiments were conducted in a driving simulation environment in order to test the applicability of the proposed approach. The research indicates the scope of the dominant capacity-based paradigm and illustrates the demands for more holistic approaches for assessing driver distraction in order to improve the validity and utility of experimental results. The empirical results suggest that the metrics of time-sharing efficiency, ie., metrics of variance in in-vehicle glance duration distributions, can be used in an efficient manner for evaluating driver's tactical dual-tasking models and capabilities with visual in-vehicle tasks. In addition, the time-sharing metrics can be utilized for assessing visual-manual user interfaces support for task predictability and interruptability. The significance of these types of metrics is argued to increase the more information is provided for the driver by the systems under testing. Experiments with the novel metrics indicated distraction effects of three user interface features on drivers tactical allocation of visual attention between the driving task and the in-vehicle tasks. Consistency, and thus, predictability of task steps with the user interface was attributed as a major factor determining drivers' possibilities to utilize tactical control for overcoming their capacity limitations. At a general level, the empirical research indicates that the analysis of the information contents of drivers mental representations related to situation awareness and tactical as well as strategic thinking can be used to explain drivers' dual-task behaviors with in-vehicle information systems.
Author: Tuomo Kujala
Language: English
Subfield: Human Factors and Ergonomics
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2335806275