Instrument panels in modem vehicles are often equipped with numeric readout and digital bargraph displays instead of (or in addition to) traditional analog displays. An informal survey of 1990 model cars found a wide variety of vehicle displays. In general, three major classes of displays were found: (1) traditional analog, (2) bargraph, and (3) readout displays (which include numeric and binary readout displays). There has been little systematic examination of the differences in speed, ease and accuracy of use of these various types of displays. It is important to identify displays and configurations of displays that demand the least attention or effort from drivers who must simultaneously drive and monitor displays. As the population ages, issues like this become even more important because of known age-related decrements in ability to divide attention and slower response times. Displays that require longer to read and understand put all drivers-especially older drivers-at greater risk of a driving error. (Author/publisher)
Abstract