In-vehicle information systems (IVIS) are becoming more and more common these days. While driving, these systems provide information about the status of the vehicle, the optimal route, traffic jams, etc. Despite their usefulness, one could be concerned about the potential distraction and the additional cognitive load these systems impose on the driver, leading to an increased risk of accidents. Proper design of the human-machine interface (HMI) is unequivocally a key factor in balancing the demands for increasing functionality with the already existing physical and mental load of the driver. It becomes obvious that methods for assessing the HMI of IVIS for safety are urgently needed. One possibility is to investigate new systems on-board while driving in real traffic or a driving simulator. Because this approach is very demanding and expensive, looking for a method that is easy to use and applicable in the very early stages of system development would be worthwile. The occlusion technique has recently come under consideration as a candidate for an assessment tool that includes these requirements. The technique is based on the systematic control of the permitted time intervals for a person to look at a scene. The period during which the relevant piece of information is visible (viewing or presentation time) and the period during which it is not visible (occlusion time) are the two essential parameters. The major aim of this special issue of Applied Ergonomics is to collect studies that evaluate and discuss the validity and utility of the occlusion technique as a method for the HMI assessment of IVIS.
Samenvatting