Experimental Studies on Driver’s Expectations Regarding the Positions of Display and Control Elements in the Car Cockpit

Abstract

The number of functions within the car cockpit is increasing continuously independent from the class of vehicle. The driver’s cognitive resources are mainly occupied by the traffic, while there are several other possible tasks which can be diverting. Driver’s tasks include tasks of controlling the vehicle, checking relevant display information, adjusting navigation or infotainment systems etc. Despite these sources of diversion in safety relevant situations the driver must be able to find crucial display and control elements immediately and without confusion to avoid an accident. In these situations the driver is using evolutionary developed patterns of behaviour which are activated unconsciously and differing from learned system knowledge. The present work is meant to reveal driver’s expectations regarding the positions of relevant interface elements in the car cockpit. Results are concluded on the basis of a standardised cockpit to give independent design recommendations. The effects and relevance of intuitively expected positions in comparison to unfavourable positions of different interface elements are verified by reaction time measurements.

Keywords: Driver’s Expectations, Positions of Display and Control Elements, Car Cockpit, Interface Design

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe100699