How Do Different Feedback Modalities Affect Drivers' Attention and Task Performance When Interacting with In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems

Interacting with in-vehicle infotainment screens (IVIS) while driving influences how drivers allocate attention to the road, which can affect task and driving proficiency. Haptic feedback in IVIs has emerged as a promising avenue to support drivers’ interactions. Little is known about the impact of diverse feedback modalities on different types of interactions commonly carried out when interacting with IVIS. Two studies were conducted utilising production vehicles to understand the effects of IVIS featuring haptic feedback modalities (vibration and force touch) compared to other modalities (audio-only and no haptic feedback) for different types of interactions. Findings indicate that vibration and audio-only feedback supported drivers’ attention to the road and increased task performance in most types of interactions. Conversely, force touch did not support the driver and yielded the same results as having no haptic feedback. These results can support the design and enhancement of IVIS systems to support the drivers.