The aim was to study the performance of an in-car information system relying exclusively on information presented peripherally by "running light" stimuli. The information was presented on displays placed in four different positions: upper, lower, to the right, and to the left. Two levels regarding driving task demands were used. Thirty-two subjects participated in the study. A repeated measures design was used. The study was performed in an advanced driving simulator. The subjects' task was to report the direction of motion of the peripheral stimuli as quickly as possible. The upper display was fixated to a smaller extent than the left or the right one. Differences in number of fixations between the displays appeared only when the demands of the driving task were high. There were very few errors regarding the identification of the direction of the stimulus, regardless of whether the stimulus was fixated or not. The response time was shortest for the right and lower displays, but somewhat longer for the others. Information presented peripherally in the field of vision by moving stimuli can be acquired quickly and correctly without fixation of the stimuli. An information system using this method of presenting information appears promising. Of the four display positions, the lower one seems to be preferable. (Author/publisher)
Abstract