A comparison of auditory and visual in-vehicle information displays

The vast majority of information used by automobile drivers is acquired visually, yet in many driving situations, driver's visual channel is perceptually overloaded. Despite this recognition of drivers' limitations to process more visual information, plans to add in-vehicle information systems have focused primarily on the use of visual display interfaces.; Two experiments examined the effectiveness of presenting in-vehicle auditory information to drivers to determine if this type of display could serve as a viable alternative to visual information display. In the first experiment, 24 participants were presented with roadway sign information using either graphic images or natural voice audio recordings. The road signs selected for display contained either symbolic or text-based messages. Following presentation of the information, participants were asked to identify whether the displayed message matched a projected sign image. Performance accuracy and reaction times for recognition of the projected signs were measured. Participants' use of information presented on auditory displays was as fast and accurate as their use of information presented on visual displays. Performance based on symbolic or text message type did not depend on the type of display used to present the information.; A second experiment looked at the effects of noise distracters on auditory and visual displays. The addition of music or talk radio background noise to the test environment did not differentially affect participant's reaction time or accuracy of performance to information presented via auditory or visual displays. The type of background noise made no difference in the driver's use of either text or symbol-based signs. However, there was some indication that background noise increases overall reaction time and this should be further studied.; This suggests that there are safety factors associated with adding in-vehicle visual displays to automobiles. However, the results of both experiments indicate that with consideration for message type, auditory information displays can effectively inform drivers and should be considered where feasible.