ABSTRACT
Redundant coding can increase the bandwidth of communication and the robustness of channel, and in some cases, reduce response time. In this research, six designs of multidimensional warning of a lane deviation warning system (LDWS) are compared in a simulated driving environment: (1) directional auditory (DA): warning sound rendered to the left or right ear, (2) directional visual (DV): flashing light signal in the left or right visual field, (3) directional auditory and visual (DADV): directional warning sound and flashing light, (4) directional auditory and non-directional tactile (DANDT): directional warning sound and vibrating steering wheel, (5) directional visual and non-directional tactile (DVNDT): directional flashing light and vibrating steering wheel, and (6) directional auditory and visual and non-directional tactile (DADVNDT): directional warning sound and flashing light signal and vibrating steering wheel. Within-subject design is used to compare these designs. Response time (signal onset time to response) and error rate (percentage of time turning the steering wheel to the wrong direction) are recorded and compared. Correct response to the warning message of LDWS is almost as important as the primary driving task. The results of this research have important implications for the warning message design with directional dimension.
