Impact of multi-sensory on-bicycle rider assistance devices on rider concentration and safety

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of multi-sensory information cues from on-bicycle rider information assistance devices (OBRAD) on hazard perception performance. Experiments tested the impact of distraction from different combinations of visual, auditory and tactile sensory aids on the subject's ability to maintain peddling frequency while conducting eight different tasks. The results indicate that the integrated use of different sensory cues (e.g., text, audible alerts and vibration) can decrease cognitive loading, with each sensory combination, particularly those involving tactile stimulation, having different levels of effect. Tactile sensory aids helped reduce the degree of rider distraction, thus helping maintain a high sensitivity to danger (hit rate mean: 0.34). Cycling performance was further improved through combining tactile stimuli with auditory cues for assistance in the secondary task. The implications of these findings and the need to integrate and manage complex OBRAD information systems are discussed. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014.