This paper summarizes the lessons drawn from twelve focus groups that discussed Advanced Traveler Information Systems - the first stage of a USDoT-supported project to appraise potential customer acceptance for certain ITS products and services. Reactions to the several ATIS concepts discussed in the groups demonstrated general consumer interest in improving travel choices through enhanced information, but also revealed some scepticism about (most importantly) the magnitude of the information improvement, and the incremental value over the low cost "baseline" methods currently used: broadcast traffic reports, maps, local knowledge, and calling ahead to get directions. Of the ideas discussed, "Mayday" systems appear to have the most immediate customer appeal. The paper discusses "conventional wisdom" about ATIS in the light of the limited focus group evidence, and draws conclusions about the implications for future quantitative surveys to appraise ATIS customer acceptance.
Abstract