Designing in-vehicle signs for connected vehicle features : does appropriateness guarantee comprehension?
- Submitting institution
-
Coventry University
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 21457063
- Type
- D - Journal article
- DOI
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10.1016/j.apergo.2019.05.006
- Title of journal
- Applied Ergonomics
- Article number
- -
- First page
- 102
- Volume
- 80
- Issue
- -
- ISSN
- 0003-6870
- Open access status
- Compliant
- Month of publication
- May
- Year of publication
- 2019
- URL
-
-
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- Yes
- Number of additional authors
-
1
- Research group(s)
-
-
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- Undertaken as part of the Innovate UK-funded United Kingdom Connected Intelligent Transport Environment (UKCITE) project, this research explored the design and evaluation of connected and cooperative vehicle in-vehicle sign designs displayed on a mobile phone. Traffic symbols are not always understood by drivers, posing risk to them and other road users. Compatibility (e.g. spatial, conceptual movement and modality) and situation awareness are concepts identified in the literature to contribute to the comprehension of traffic signs. This study is the first in which these concepts have been articulated together in the design process.
This interdisciplinary research applied concepts (i.e. compatibility, situational awareness) and methods (i.e. iterative design,) from a number of different disciplines (i.e. user experience design, psychology, ergonomics), along with standardized approaches (i.e. ISO, Highways England) to the design of new symbols illustrating safety-related driving features and hazardous situations.
Connected and cooperative vehicle in-vehicle sign designs (Emergency Electronic Brake Lights, Emergency Vehicle Warning, Traffic Condition Warning, and Road Works Warning) were developed and displayed on a mobile phone. The appropriateness and comprehension of each design alternative was assessed using quantitative (i.e. Likert scales) and qualitative methods with forty-four participants who were shown eleven design alternatives, displayed with or without a legend.
The research demonstrates that asking individuals to rate a design’s appropriateness may not allow designers to improve usability and acceptance. Legends can be crucial to avoid misinterpretation of additional warning features, especially in a critical situations; and additional safety-related in-vehicle information should be displayed in low visibility situations to improve drivers’ situation awareness. The important of ‘distraction’ is a potential limit that should be considered when implementing and designing new features.
The research has been further disseminated through the Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics conference in 2017.
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -
