Implementing the Tactile Detection Task in a Real Road Experiment to Assess a Traffic Light Assistant

The tactile detection task (TDT), a vibrating detection response task (DRT), was used to assess the mental demand of an in-vehicle information system (IVIS), which recommends a driving speed to the driver on a smartphone. In the experiment, the TDT was recorded as a single task, with the driving task as a baseline as well as with additional IVIS task, and with a cognitive task as reference and control. Results show that IVIS use did not significantly prolong the TDT reaction times, which can be interpreted as no increase in mental workload caused by the IVIS. The control task increased the reaction times significantly. The data of the real road experiment are analyzed in terms of correlations showing that the TDT was a reliable cognitive workload measurement tool in the experiment. Sideline: Driven speed revealed no correlation with TDT reaction times when the vehicle was in motion.     «

The tactile detection task (TDT), a vibrating detection response task (DRT), was used to assess the mental demand of an in-vehicle information system (IVIS), which recommends a driving speed to the driver on a smartphone. In the experiment, the TDT was recorded as a single task, with the driving task as a baseline as well as with additional IVIS task, and with a cognitive task as reference and control. Results show that IVIS use did not significantly prolong the TDT reaction times, which can be...     »