Methods for the systematic consideration of driver’s cognitive workload during the development of in-vehicle information systems

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Date

2025-04-16

Authors

von Janczewski, Nikolai

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Dissertation

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Abstract

While operating in-vehicle information systems (IVIS), drivers can be exposed to various forms of distraction that influence driving safety. Besides visual distraction, one kind of distraction is caused by cognitive load, which describes in particular the amount of information processing required. There is a need for methods to measure cognitive load in order to ensure that the concepts and designs of IVIS do not require too much cognitive load while driving. These methods have to fulfill specific requirements to be implemented into the development process of IVIS. This cumulative thesis therefore focuses on providing methods for IVIS designers in the development process to consider the construct of cognitive load (in addition to other factors such as visual distraction and usability). Since the methods are to be used by practitioners, an easy access and a certain level of efficiency to carry out the methods are postulated as requirements. To describe the information processing in IVIS operation, the in-vehicle information processing analysis tool (IVIPAT) is presented in study I. The study consists of two phases, in each of which N=15 IVIS practitioners and university researchers use this method to analyze a video-recorded IVIS operation sequence. By this analytic method developers can reflect the interaction based on information processing steps (e.g. search, identify, interpret). The steps are estimated in terms of the expected intensity. According to the results of study I IVIPAT helps to identify differences between concept variants, to uncover critical points in the process and to generate hypotheses for empirical tests. For empirical measurement of cognitive load when using IVIS, a subjective one-item measure based on the NASA-TLX mental dimension is presented in study II. In three different experiments, N=107 subjects are confronted with different levels of demand, which they then evaluate using the one-item measure. As part of the study, the scale is validated in the IVIS research environment and the capabilities are emphasized. In conclusion, since it is a one-item measure, the survey is time-saving and allows a large number of repetitions, e.g. when comparing numerous concept variants within one experiment. As a calibration method for cognitive load when using IVIS the n-back task is presented in study III. The meta-analysis with N=20 studies and more than 800 subjects aims to confirms the validity of the n-back task and identifies moderator variables that need to be considered when designing empirical measurements with the help of the n-back task. Finally, the thesis provides a proposal for using IVIPAT, subjective measurement of cognitive load and the n-back task in combination within the development process. This should ultimately help to develop IVIS with adequate cognitive workload during user operation.

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Faculties

Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften, Informatik und Psychologie

Institutions

Institut für Psychologie und Pädagogik

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EU Project THU

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Keywords

Cognitive workload, In-vehicle information system (IVIS), Driver distraction, Research methods, Workload calibration, One-item measure, In-vehicle information processing analysis tool (IVIPAT), N-back task, Fahrerassistenzsystem, Mensch-Maschine-System, Benutzeroberfläche, Ablenkung, Verkehrssicherheit, Automobiles; Instruments; Display systems, Multimedia information systems, User interfaces (Computer systems), Human-machine systems, Distraction (Psychology), DDC 620 / Engineering & allied operations